Joanne High

This earthly plane lost a good woman - my dear friend Joanne. I worked with her for 20 years and was blessed to become friends beyond the office. I often referred to her as my "Christian Mentor".

We had a very special friendship and she taught me allot about God, appreciating life and forgiving myself for being human. We did not see each other often, a friendship of quality, than quantity, it may go weeks or months, but when we did meet for a fun chatty breakfast it was as if we'd met just the day before.

Joanne had many gifts - her attentive listening ear was her most unselfish. She could listen completely and help clarify confusion or frustrations with grace and compassion. Although a very classy lovely lady, Joanne could easily see the ridiculous and ironic side of life and explode into a good hearty laugh with friends & family. Life was always good when you were blessed to be in her company.

Most of us have used the term "he is a "gentleman" - well Joanne was a true gentlewoman. She was an incredible human being who loved the Lord and was as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside.

Lately, I have observed some Christians that have become more mean spirited in their far right, sanctimonious, chest pounding, Bible thumping, and quick to finger point intolerance of others. This was never Joanne. She lovingly respected and treated others with dignity, kindness and compassion. She honored how Jesus would have wanted all of us to treat friend or stranger.

Joanne could light up a room with her smile and laughter, yet was never bold or loud. She had a quiet classy graciousness that you loved being around. Her spirit of "loving life" and "sharing the joy" was infectious to anyone she was around.

There is a photograph in her home - she and husband Leon, sitting on the stairs, with all their adult children, spouses and grandchildren all around smiling and loving each other. When I visited Joanne - I liked to look at this picture and comment on how much joy I saw in all the faces - "Just look Joanne, what you and Leon created - an incredible group of people. What a wonderful blessing for you two, but much more for the worlds they all touch each day."

Dear friend... your earthly life has ended and I miss you so. Thank you for all your love, encouragement and caring. God Bless you Joanne - I know you are in heaven, still praying for family and friends.

Thanks to Kim...

It's a cold snowy day in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, outside it's at least 20" and looks like "cool whip" all over the trees etc - reminds me a bit of when the Jiffy puff boy in the ghost busters movie exploded!



I am attempting to "electronically journal". Perhaps others in future will enjoy my off center - adult ADD, artistic view of life, for now, today, it's for my pleasure. This blog is mainly in gratitude to my dear friend - Kim. We met through http://www.grreat.org/ GRREAT - golden retriever rescue (more later).



Often in life we meet & enjoy people. They are our "church, work, or garden club friends" - for a set period of time you share an experience, sometimes for several years - as you grow older you know it is only for a "time connection".


Sometimes we get blessed to have a true friendship that grows beyond the original connection. The friend that can laugh with you, while accepting all your anxieties, frustrations, disappointments and silliness.

That's Kim, Life at Golden Pines - http://lifeatgoldenpines@blogspot.com/ - check out her blog and enjoy life on the farm in northern Virginia with Kim & Carl's beautiful dogs. Kim has inspired me to blog and I am thankful for her warm caring compassion, and whacky sense of humor, that has saved me out of the "black holes" we trip into - just life.


Time to get some boots on and brush off the snow on my satliette dish. I think that's why I lost signal at 4:30 am. Not to worry I have lots of choices to view from weeks of a busy DVR - Lost, Burn Notice, White Collar, Bones, Chuck, The Mentalist, - especially "Men of a Certain Age" - love the life observations in the Ray Romano's show. A few Bill Moyer's, Countdown with Keith and Washington Week - man I am "maturing" in my viewing pleasures - ha!