JANNA ... 06/14/00

Subj: Janna Synnestvedt Glebe
Date: 6/14/00 9:17:41 PM Eastern Daylight Time

It rocked me to hear this morning of Janna Glebe's death last night. She was just a kid, in her late 60s. I instinctively called Elsa at work, who - sensing my sadness and turmoil - suggested I use the rest of the day to think of how Janna touched my life.

The first time I set eyes on Janna, she was around 3 years old and her aunt, Anita Synnestvedt, was taking care of her and brought her by Harold and Clara Pitcairn's for a paddle in their pool. I was enchanted.

As they grew up and throughout their lives, the two Synnestvedt girls - Freya and Janna - were good foils for each other. Freya was outgoing and daring, ready to climb trees that left manly men of 12 years old quaking. Janna was quieter and quietly wound her way into my heart.

Our paths crossed over and over and over. I was a friend of her parents and had the fun of watching her grow up. Later, we had daughters - my youngest, her oldest - in the same class throughout elementary school and high school. Most of the time, we lived on the same side of town. Many's the time I would walk past their house - perched up on sort of a little bluff overlooking Fettersmill Road - on my way to or from the Valley and would hear, "Hello, Kay!" from the drive or from the way-high-up porch.

Our husbands, relatively quiet men, always found plenty to talk about, what with Ted being a builder and carpenter, Pete a lumberman and cabinetmaker.

Recently, we participated in the same discussion group, although I had not been since last year. As recently as last month, Janna wrote and called me - she was kicking herself for not stopping by to see me, but had been "under the weather." Even though Freya recently told me her sister was not doing well, I thought she must be mistaken - Janna sounded so good to me on the phone.

From the moment I saw her pool-side at Cairncrest, I sensed something magical about Janna. It went beyond her artistic talents, which included creating exquisite elf-land sculptures that stole the heart with their beauty and charm. Remarkably talented with her hands, Janna was talented at carefully crafting friendships as well. She was remarkably self-effacing, able to deflect a well-earned compliment with a laugh and light comment. I felt that Janna had difficulty seeing the incredible special qualities that were so apparent to my eye.

An interesting thing about her - she never seemed to age. They say that only the good die young, but I think that is twisted 'round - the truth is that the good seem always young.

This loss has hit me hard. The only thing that makes this moment, when my sadness is so fresh, bearable is remembering how Willard closed Pete's memorial service and applying it to my friend, Janna - she was taken from us because the Lord has need of her.

Sending out a cosmic hug tonight to my dear and doubly-appreciated circle of friends.

Love to all - Kay

reposted in sweet memory of its author, KATHARINE REYNOLDS LOCKHART, by her scribe/daughter, Elsa Lockhart Murphy aka Deev, in celebration of the 05/14 centenary of Kay's birth