If you knew Jean,  you know she lived in a wheel chair and spent her days cooking , watching her cooking shows, and visiting with friends on phone or in the confines of her productive kitchen. I say productive for she peeled bushels of tomatoes to make canned tomatoes, strung green beans by the zillion and make great pear preserves and ciijed delicious means.  If those kitchen walls could talk, they would tell a tale of a woman who did not let a wheelchair stop her from accomplishing unbelievable things. .  

I  viisited Jean as often as I could - stealing a moment here and there to spend with her.  I know her 4 walls seemed to grow close at times.  One day, I went and Jean was a bit gloomy.  I decided we'd kick the glooms back to where-everville.
 
"Jean, will that front door open, I asked.  Jean responded that it would.  So I managed to get the door unlocked and open.  I hope I did not damage it too much (I did not get a letter of complaint from the family (Mamie, that is) so I suppose it was not too destroyed.

Out I pushed Jean onto the front porch.  And what a lovely spring day.  Jean took a deep breath and relaxed a bit.  The cars and trucks went by many hauling their boats behind.  "Jean", I said - why don't we make ourselves useful and wave to all the people traveling today?"We'll be like the 'Walmart welcoming folks and welcome everyone as they pass on their way to the lake? 

And so we did.  We waved and giggled as each vehicle passed We made comments about the travelers which will remain between Jean and me but they gave us cause for laughing until we cried.   She was so easy to please.  And I adored her.  Her laughter was infectious.  Still is.    

God has his arm around Jean now and they are a welcoming committee to behold.  They make comments which will remain between Jean and Him. And what is that I hear?  Did I hear God giggle? Is that a knee slapping laugh I hear from the two of them?  Jean now lives in her forever home -happy, loved and useful -[ as always.