The Women in my Life…Loving, Supporting, Inspiring.
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This page was the one I submitted to Mystic Paper to audition for Design Team. Despite popular opinion, I am very proud of this page. I set about to make a page in a traditional collage style, something I had never done before. It sort of evolved over time into a study of femininity, and what that means in my life. I decided to focus the attention of the page on the women who have had the biggest influence on me and my life through the years. There are so many women I could have put on this page, but I narrowed it down to a handful of women I have known my whole life, or their whole life… Each of these women has celebrated with me during joyful times in my life, and wept with me during the difficult times. And so, it is with great pride that I introduce each of you to The Women in my Life!
Grandma Nancy Metzler: (denim vest, far right) Grandma Nancy is my Dad’s Mother. She was born and raised in Minnesota, and moved to Arizona with my Grandpa when her children were in their teens. Growing up, she lived only a few miles away from us, so I have many memories of her and her family from my childhood. As a child, she taught me to knit (I still remember how), to sew (that one didn’t stick), and instilled in all us kids a love of gourmet, elegant cooking at an early age. She is a firm believer in saving up for quality items that will last. Her laugh is infectious and memorable. The last few years of her life are proof that, despite what the calendar may say, you don’t ever have to grow old. She has learned how to use a computer, travels frequently, and goes on all sorts of adventures with her husband, Phillip.
Grandma Joni Judge: (top right) Oh, Grandma Joni, or Gigi as she has come to be known the last 8 years (it’s short for Great-Grandma!) There are so many memories from my life related to Grandma Joni, as she and my Papa also lived nearby during my whole childhood. (Am I lucky or what?!) The memories that stand out to me may seem a bit silly, but they are precious to me. I remember one Christmas (1985, to be sure!) where all 8 of us grandchildren each found an illusive, coveted Cabbage Patch Doll under Grandma’s tree. She worked for Osco Drug at the time, so that gave her a bit of an ‘in’ as to when new shipments of the hard-to-find dolls came in, but I have no doubt that she hunted and stalked those dolls, NO ONE would be disappointed. I also remember one afternoon when I was lucky enough to have some time alone with Grandma. She had a barrel palm tree in the back corner of her yard, and…could it be?… there was a tiny, snowy owl perched in the branches of the palm tree. Somehow or another, in a way only us Judge women can, we began to write a song about ‘The Owl in the Tree’. The lyrics have long since been lost to time, but a couple of years ago, I e-mailed her and asked her if she remembered our afternoon with the Owl. Her response? “Oh, dear Jenna, I think about that day all the time!”
One Generation down, more to come!