- Written by Joyce Jansen:
- It’s easy for me to define friend when I think of Bonnie who gave me the option of writing her BLOG. We’ve been friends since the 2nd grade when we walked home from school together. What opposites we were and are. Bonnie won’t tell you what contributions she has made to this world in her own words because she still doesn’t know the joy she brings to any group as the fun she brought to me through hard times We continuously fight over things she remembers and I don’t, over the way we interpret our lives, over how to react to certain situations. She doesn’t know how much she has taught me and exampled for me such as the meanings of forgiveness and openness.
- We have laughed, shopped, cried, junked, mourned, raised our children and lost our parents together. Now grandchildren have stepped into our lives; she has teenage young ladies and I have “babies”. Bonnie goes to Field Hockey games and I go to swimming meets and tea parties(6, 4, and 3). We offer each other advice on how to raise these grandchildren, though we know we aren’t really raising them, just having fun as grandparents should.
- Her father called her “Bonnie Barbara” when he caught us smoking. My father called her “Bonnie Bon Bon,” because she was sooo-bonnie.”
- Bonnie has done lots of things in her life. She has been involved with her husband George, in building a future in real estate. As important as her working with George are her contributions to her community, Valley Station, through her church, her lasting friendships and her readiness to lend a hand wherever needed.
- The biggest joy in Bonnie's life has been raising her two children, Douglas and Kelly Kay. Kelly is happily married and lives in Lexington. Doug passed away in 1993, leaving behind two beautiful daughters, Portia and Lexie.
- There’s a lot to be said for knowing someone outside of your family for 60 years. Knowing your differences and still being accepted. I wrote a little penmanship exercise in the 4th grade saying “To have a friend is to be one.” I guess that’s true of us and will continue to be.