In Loving Memory

There are so many things we will miss about Jane. These are just a few.
Chocolate chip cookies
Chocolate cake
Pork roast w/onions
Deviled eggs
Potato salad
Macaroni salad
Chicken soup (the best in the world!)
Shrimp dip (tailgates just won't be the same without it)
Little notes/articles in the mail, sometimes for no reason
Birthday, Anniversary, Valentine's, Easter, Halloween cards (she never forgot anything)
Lamb cakes aka "Parade of Lambs"
Her laugh and sense of humor (nobody appreciated a dirty joke more than Jane)
Her standing at the bedroom window as we leave for Bears games
Bags of "shit"
Identical shirts for Rick, Ron and Ken
English toffee
Cornflake cookies
Hawaiian cake
And Ozzy will miss the bones she always saved for him

If you're wondering why so many things are food, it is because Jane was a fabulous cook. I think Rick is proof of that.

The very first time I met Jane, Rick and I had been dating for about a month. We had a lovely dinner at her house and she sent me home with 2 big bags of groceries since I had just moved into a new apartment. As a single mom working two jobs, I appreciated that more than you can imagine. Over the years there were many more bags of "shit" as we affectionately named them. Sometimes we would be leaving her house and she would be yelling, "Don't forget your bags of "shit!"

For years she would make us elaborate meals for tailgating at the Bears games. Keep in mind she did this for years before I came on the scene. We would arrive at her house on game day morning and she would be frantically packing up our meal. Ken would holler up from the basement, "Mother, are we ready yet? We have to go Mother!" I swore to her in her kitchen way back then that when she went I would not be making meals at 6am on game day. The boys would have to eat stadium hot dogs. Apparently, I lied. Because here I am making the tailgate meals. Not nearly as good or as elaborate as hers but I am doing it. She thought that was hysterical.

The first time she met Ozzy she said "He sure has a little dick!" We just about fell over with laughter. Of all things to notice. But its the truth. Poor Oz. And no balls to boot!

May she rest in peace until we meet again.