It’s been 30 years that Keith McCullar and I have been together, and it was in moving into our first domestic abode I met his mother, JoNita. She and Keith’s father Noel assisted with Keith’s move in, and I must say helpfulness has been a cornerstone of the relationship I’ve enjoyed with both his parents.
Mind you, Keith was never in danger of becoming less than the apple of his mother’s eye, but for all the years I knew JoNita, she was never anything less than kind and hospitable- and fiercely loyal to Keith and his brother. If ever there was something either of them needed, if it was inconvenient for JoNita, it was never apparent. I’m wrong there- we did once ask that she not wear diamond jewelry whilst we were all of us in Rome. She steadfastly ignored us. Despite our worry about how we would weather the predations of the gypsy children at the entrance of the Forum, I was, mea culpa, glad that all gypsy eyes and legerdemain were focused on a pair of German tourists, whose manifest camera gear made them seem a more inviting target than JoNita.
In retirement, Noel and JoNita moved to Black Lake near San Luis Obispo, and both played a lot of golf, something Keith and I took up to spend time with both of them. JoNita couldn’t hit much of a drive- or line up with the flag- but once she finally did make it to the green, she was lethal and nearly unbeatable on short par-3’s. Though her illness made it impossible for her to play for the last several years, I must say, my favorite foursome will always be Keith and both his parents.
It is often said but now for me imminently understandable that someone remains in spirit, as JoNita now remains with me.