I forgot my favoriste Joan story. About going to The club on a date with Ray and she refused a shrimp cocktail because she told him she didn't DRINK! Again when she danced all evening with the price tag hanging out from under her arm. The best of all was at the wedding reception when Mrs. Bonds told Joan's Mother that they were bluebloods but they would learn to love Joan Joan's mother was horrified because she thought the Bonds had a blood diease! Now I'll quit...Those were just too good to forget. I told you there were lots more....Bebe
Joan was one of the brightest flowers we ever saw at Hoover Florist. She helped customers here to find exactly the right flower or plant to send ,no matter what the occasion. They would ask for her name and she would say, "just Joan". And they would always remember to ask for her again.
She always kept us laughing because there were just more important things in life than spelling and pronunciation!
She went to visit Alycia in Maine and when she returned told us the best way to fly was to ask for a "retarded ticket". I asked what the was and she said it is so they will not go off and leave you if you have to change plans or get lost. She said she loved Maine, but Alycia made her sleep on a cruton! I said what are you talking about..........then I realized she meant a FUTON!
One day Joan came in to work and we said, "Joan, what did you do to your hair?"She said "why?" we told her to go look in the mirror. She did and said "Oh! My God! I used the spray deodorant instead of my my hairspray. [she was prematurely grey]
She thought much faster than she could write, so sometimes we had to interprete tickets if she wasn't there. One day Karen said"Now what do you think Joan meant for this address?" I asked what does it say...It was en...........pk..........
the thing that was really scary, is that I was right! It was Inverness Parkway of course.
I always wanted Joan to go to amateur night at the Comedy Club, but we just never got around to it. Between the arthritis and her new love, Rachel she just didn"t have time. She loved Rachel so much and especially when she would pose for pictures in her Santa suit. The day Rachel ate her new glasses was bad, the day she ate Joan's new dentures the first and second times were bad, but the day she had to say good bye was the worst. First a steak and lots of kisses and a long ride in the car. Joan tried to act tough ,but she had the most tender heart you could imagine.
One day she went to the grocery store for fruit for a basket. She came back just sobbing....I asked what was wrong and she said "It's just so sad. There are all these people from Lakeshore Rehab over at the store shopping. They are in wheelchairs and some don't have any legs or arms and they are all young and it's just not fair." And as she continued to cry I told her, look at it this way, at least they are able to get out and enjoy the day.Even on days when Joan couldn't get out because she couldn't turn a doorknob or her key in the transmission we would just go and get her. Even a bad day with Joan was always worth spending.
One day joan called and she wanted some popcorn but she couln't get the package open. We were terribly busy at that moment so I called another good freind, Mary Earle Ogletree and asked her if she would go down and help Joan. She did and they visited for awhile. They had lived on the same street for years, but never known each other very well. I went to the funeral for Mary yesterday, and now she and Joan are neighbors again! They both love to sing, but Mary was a professional.
I remember the first time I heard Joan sing Delta Dawn. She was on the deck at my home, at a 4th of July party. Shortly after the 47th time we had to move the party inside so the neighbors didn't kill us.
One time Joan was angry with the kids so she "ran away from home" to my house!
She wouldn't let me tell them where she was. We had more fun and all we did was clean out my closet. I'd pull something out and she would say,"promise me you'll never wear that again. Did you wear that in high school? Did your Mother pick that out for you? We laughed ' till we cried. Before you knew it, I had an empty closet and"skinny minnie" had all my skinny clothes.
One night we were going out to dinner. It was raining but Joan wanted me to drive her car. [her Mercedes} We got a few blocks away and I said Joan, where is the defroster? She thought a minute and said I don't think it has one.....
We had emu eggs [rather large and green] on the front counter at the shop. I heard a customer ask Joan what they were, and she paused a moment and with all the confidence in the world said" they're OYSTER EGGS " The customers looked confused but never questioned her!
Then there was one last story, Joan had lots of jewelry that she wore a long time ago, and I told her she looked like Mrs. T. I was afraid someone would try to take it from her, and I might be in the way!!!One night I had tickets to go and hear Ray Charles. I asked Joan to go with me....So here she goes with at lease 10 gold chains around her neck and rings on all her fingers. We were so pleased that we got a parking place on the street almost in front of the exibition hall and we could just walk up and cut across to the concert hall. As we walked we were laughing and talking and a policeman came up and asked us where we were going. We told him we were going to see Ray Charles Concert. He said not tonight you aren't, because the concert has been cancelled. Joan said "Well they didn't tell me!" No wonder we found such a good parking place!
There are many other stories, like when she bought the Mercedes and others that would fill a book. I will treasure those memories as much as I treasure the freindship that Joan and I shared for the last 25 years. I wouln't take anything for those memories. I will miss my phone ringing late at night...I always knew it was Joan and she knew I would still be awake.To Stacey, Mark Dillon, Brad and Alycia, don;t forget to let me know how you are doing. Love to you all, Bebe
P.S. You can write a lot faster if you are smart enough to take typing, and you aren't crying the whole time....
From the first time I met Joan through her sons and daughter, Joan treated me as part of her family and welcomed my own into her home. I will remember chatting with her at the parties.
I loved Joan and Ray. I worked for Ray at all the Catfish Kings, last one being North B'ham. Thats where Joan and I got to be great friends. She was so funny. I loved working with her, she made it enjoyable to go to work. I couldn't have found better people to work for or with. She will be missed.
May God Bless You All
