Bill Hemminger

Post date: May 8, 2013 4:05:47 PM

My knowledge of Jeannie Graetz--and of Carolyn and her dad too--stems from their early years living in The Promised Land, in Vinton County, Ohio. That Jeannie was special in so many ways was obvious, but one particular memory sticks with me. My wife Jill and I were always excited to be invited up to The Promised Land: with the invitation came the promise of a wild ride through the stream bed (that was the roadbed as well), the promise of great conversation once we lurched up the road to the home-made house, and the promise of a wonderful meal too. And there we'd be: dark and quiet atop an Ohio mountain (not exactly Coloradan in elevation), talking by the warm glow of hurricane lamps and watching Jeannie tend the wood-fire stove as she created supper. I marveled at how Jeannie knew what precise size and type of wood to put into the fire--the driest kindling for starters, bigger hand-selected hunks of good-burning wood like hickory or oak to get the fire going, then smaller sticks of green wood after the coals had gotten really hot--but not a moment before. I cannot say which smells I more fondly remember as I sat in that tulip-poplar house--the aroma of the wholesome, home-made food or the intoxicating whiff of the wood. Jeannie would be jostling the grate or poking the fire with new, appropriate fuel as the rest of us sat by and talked and laughed and loved the feel of that place and our being there. I know that Jeannie is now a college student, but she was tremendously learned in many, many ways long ago. Jill & I are so honored to have gotten to know you, Jeannie. Happy Birthday!