Cows and Fourth of July

All of the mandatory visits, crazy or boring were made up for with visits to Billy and Jere's house

Everyone called their parents  the same names  Billy and Jere used for them, which was Mama and Daddy

Mama and Daddy were hosts for many a cookout for, not just our family, but for the youth group from church or school organizations. There was a lot going on because Billy and Jere were into a  lot of stuff at school.  It seems as if, between the two of them, they knew everybody in Jefferson City and beyond.  I once watched Billy chase a poor girl down the street in Fulton, Mo because he thought she looked familiar!

Mama and Daddy  grew Christmas trees and raised cows, among other things, on their farmland  Jere played the oboe in the band, and I think Billy played the trumpet, so the cows always got named after instruments.  It was  a sight to see Mama, (who stands about 5 feet 'nothin,)  chasing a cow and  yelling, "Bassoon!  You get outta them pine trees!". 

Fourth of July was a memorable occasion with Billy and Jere.  Billy would say, "Mama go put on your asbestos jumpsuit, everyone else stand way back so Mama can use the blow torch and we can all really enjoy that sparkler!"  Regardless of safety jokes, the fireworks were always great and the food was better.  Fresh corn and hamburgers on the grill.  Beth was especially enthusiastic about how fresh and juicy they tasted.  Until she looked around with wide eyes and asked, "Where's Bassoon?"

We also got invited to the farm at Christmas to pick up our Christmas tree.  Daddy always had the biggest and prettiest one picked out for us.  We would ride out on the hay wagon and bring it back to the house for cider and donuts.  Now I am spoiled for Christmas trees because nothing compared to those fresh cut pines!

Visiting the farm was far from the only fun times with Billy and Jere.  Billy wa a budding Cecil B. DeMille with his Super 8.  He and Jere would write, produce and direct their own feature films.  We used the church basement as our set,  of course!  Jere wrote a screenplay called "Are These Lips my Own?" In which I was to play an aging actress whose lips were malformed, looking to find a sweet young thing to use a a lip transplant victim.  I can't imagine why we never made that one! 

I loved Billy.  Beth said he was her "go to" friend.  If she ever needed anything, Billy would be there for her.  Jere was MY "go to" friend.  Probably one of the best friends I ever had.  My sophomore year, when he was a senior,  don't think a day went by when I didn't see him!  He worked at as a delivery man for one of the local pizza joints, and he used to call me to place an order and ask for him  to deliver it.  I would order a sandwich or something, he would come over and "deliver" it to me, but , really, just pay for it and eat it himself! 

When I got news that Billy died, I was married and living in Chicago.  I hadn't seen Billy for years, but the world got a little darker for me that day.  Just knowing that someone like Billy was alive just made the world seem more colorful. 

Jere is still my friend, and even though he is on the other side of the country, I love knowing he is still a part of my life. 

Just another word about Billy.  Even though he was capable of terrorizing small town girls for fun, he was actually a good kind-hearted person.  I remember when one of the youth group members was dying of brain cancer, and Billy brought his movies to her so she could be part of the screening.  That type of kindness and acceptance is what I will remember most about Billy.