Sunday, July 21, 2024
During the summer of 2018, Janson became a very special friend. He had just moved back to MN, from IN, and I paid him to help me take care of the many flower gardens I had in my yard. While weeding, pruning, and trimming, we talked about all sorts of things. I got to know him pretty well. In June, a friend of his committed suicide, and Janson really struggled. We had property on a small lake north of Ely, MN, and asked him to join us for the 4th of July week there. We laughed, picked blueberries, watched the fireworks, bought taffy in town...but the best thing he did on that trip was find peace. He took the canoe one afternoon and paddled across the lake. There's a large rock, where he spent many hours, with his thoughts. When he returned, he said how much better that time made him feel. After that, we affectionately called it "Janson's Rock". When he told me of his plans in 2019 to propose to Savannah, he considered taking her back to the lake to do it, because it held such a special in his heart. I shared that story with Savannah last week. She hadn't known it before. Her and Janson did make a quick trip up to Ely last summer. (Janson had quickly become friends with our neighbors that lived next door on the lake). Janson and Savannah ended up slightly extending their visit by a day. Something related to a fishing outing in the boat, a fish hook in Savannah's leg, a visit to the small Ely emergency room... I hope it's now a funny story that will make Savannah smile. And our neighbors in Ely have extended an invitation to Savannah to visit anytime. I hope she takes them up on it; to paddle out to Janson's Rock, spend some time, and find the same sense of healing and peace that Janson found there.
Joanne Janke