Upon returning to civilization from the High Sierra's I found a phone message from our close friend and Dale's cousin, Rick Penner, that his mom Ella, had passed away. His mom had lived for many, many years in Shafter while our friend lived in L.A. Several years ago Ella moved to L.A. in order to be closer to her son, she was 89 and died in her sleep, What a great way to go.
Ella, was to be buried in Shafter so Rick and his wife were coming up for several days. We invited them over and opened up the house to them as good friends/family do.
The family is Mennonite so there are traditions that are followed here, mostly that after the service a meal is served to whoever whats to join. There are a selection of potato salad, macaroni salad, green salad, cold meats and cheese and zwieback, a sort of double roll made from yeast, butter and lots of butter. This roll is like a dinner roll with another pinch of dough on top. The meal is served by the “Fest Committee” a group of people who put together the dinners for the various occassions.
We came to Shafter in 1973 but prior to my arrival I really didn't know anything about the Mennonites but found that I just didn't exactly fit with the entire group. That is not to say I didn't like the people, I just didn't fit with the way they did things. We did try to fit in for a short time but then found that we were better suited to get together with the individuals rather than my joining the sewing circle, ect. We moved out of Shafter in 1991 and really haven't been back so we haven't seen most of these people since.
As we attended Ella's memorial service we didn't think much about the meal to follow, we just knew that there would be one. So when we went to the dining area I was struck by the fact that many people working with the Fest Committee were the same people who were there when we left.
Seeing some the people we used to know was like stepping back into another time. One couple we had been friends with had changes but seem to be making the best of their developments. The man has completely gone blind from glacoma and the wife has had a small stroke. The man still has his sense of humor telling me that I look better than ever. Easy to say when your blind! We both had to laugh.
The most shocking was seeing a friend who had lived with his family in the house closest to ours on the farm. This guy was so kind; after I'd gone thru a horrid bout of pnumenoia I'd developed a mass of junk in my lung and it had to be removed. I came thru the surgery and my friend, after working on his farm all day, went home BBQ'd up some venison, made artichokes and brought them to me still hot. The surgen said that it was the best food I could have eaten.
Unfortunately my friend has not been good to his body for the past 10 years. He is several years younger than I am but looks to be in his 70's. He uses a cane, is gaunt, long scraggly hair, almost looking like someone one would see homeless. This shook me.
I realize that everyone around us lost our farms and times were hard but most everyone made the best of life and made a new one. This friend did not use the incrediably great skills that he had but rather dwelt on his losses. I'm sad for this guy but happy nevertheless that we got to see him along with our other old friends. I think I'll keep on going to the gym and making the best of every day!
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