| OCR Text |
Show The Ogden Valley news Page 10 Volume XXIV Issue X June 1, 2017 Goodbye Dear Friends… By Drienie Hattingh How lucky am i to have something that makes Saying Goodbye, so hard. - Winnie the Pooh It was one of those beautiful clear blue-sky Utah days when Johan and I drove up to Ogden Valley to the farewell party hosted by our dear friends Wendy and Matt Toliver. Rainbow Falls was in full flood as was the churning, rushing Ogden River. A stunning farewell, I thought. Perhaps this will be the last time I will see it. One always says “I will come back” then life happens. It all felt surreal to us. Are we really moving to Washington State? After all, our six months in Port Orchard, renting an apartment to spend some quality time with our daughter, Yolandi and her little family, were almost up. We were supposed to now go back to our condo on “our” street—Historic 25th Street, and carry on with our lives. But here we are, saying farewell to that life! How did that happen? When we talked to our grandsons, warning them about our imminent departure, 5-year-old Tristan said in a stern voice, “You are my Ouma and Oupa, you cannot leave.” Nine-year-old Simon was too sad to say anything. We could not leave. “But what about Brenda,” I asked Johan. Brenda lives in Salt Lake City. We would not be close to her anymore. But Johan promised he’d fly her out to us whenever she is free. It seemed it was Yolandi and her family’s turn now as well as our son Eugene’s who will be moving to Seattle with his fiancé Shu. On Monday, April 24 I messaged Wendy, my best friend, my confidant and inspiration, ever since I arrived in Eden. “Johan bought a house In Gig Harbor, Washington. We are moving here permanently. Simon and Tristan want us to stay and Johan’s heart seems to be healthier here too.” I told her I could not believe I was leaving my beloved Ogden¸ our friends, our Valley, our street. “The closing of our house will be on May 24. We will be back in Ogden, not to stay, but to pack up and leave. How will I find time to say goodbye to everyone?” I lamented. Wendy immediately answered, “Oh, Drienie! I will miss you terribly. I can’t lie, I am sad but it is meant to be and we will visit. And please, don’t stress. I will host a going away party for you. Just leave it all to me. Send me a list and you can then go about your life.” I cried. Johan and I continued our drive and I wondered how many times, during the last 15 years, I have driven up and down this beautiful canyon. Every turn in the canyon was familiar right to a lone tree that was small when I drove up the canyon for the first time. Now it stood tall, reaching for the sky above the gray cliffs. The week after I arrived in Eden, Shanna Francis welcomed me to the Valley and said she would love for me to share my thoughts in her newspaper in a regular column. Ten years followed in which I shared my life and observations with Ogden Valley’s residents. Valley residents say goodbye to the Hattinghs at a lovely party hosted by Wendy and Matt Toliver. Penny and Gill ogle with Drienie Johan and Drienie with richard Milner and rob King Doug and Kati Gibson with Drienie and Johan We emerged from the canyon and Pineview watching the humming birds zipping by. Fresh Reservoir came into view. It was as blue as the in my memory are visits from my dear Mother sky and the mountains reflected beautifully in and other family members and friends from the glass-like water. I’ve fished there in sum- South Africa, and our adventures in Utah. I mer with my daughter, Yolandi, and ice-fished also remember Christmas tea parties with knitin winter and snow-shoed and ting friends Pat, Janet, Cindy, cross-country skied across the Rosemary and Darla, and frozen white expanse with more tea parties at Penny’s Johan and biked along its house down the street. shore with Brenda and my Wonderful times, but, as it friend Pam. happened, our subsequent The first time I saw the move to Ogden, to be closer Valley was after Johan was to our hospital, turned out transferred from Minnesota to to be wonderfully exciting! Utah. Like now, I was horriJohan and I loved the three fied, leaving our life there. But years we spent on dynamic, Johan said, “I’ll show you a colorful Historic 25th Street. place called Eden where you The store owners, up and will love to live.” When we from left to right are natalie Pace, down the street, became our came over Trappers Loop that alane Ferney, and Drienie Hattingh. new friends and neighbors. day, snow was falling softly As we turned into down on an already snow-covered Valley. It Trapper’s Ridge, Johan and I reminisced about looked like a giant snow globe shaken by a giant the places we have lived ever since we immihand. The next day we bought a house in Eden. grated to America 30 years ago. We lived in We stopped at the crossroads in Eden. I knew Minnesota for 15 years before moving to Utah this place so intimately. Mad Moose Lodge in 2002, where we lived for another 15 years. where my friend Lynda Scott and I met count- And now we are moving to the idyllic, picless times to read through new stories submitted turesque Gig Harbor in Washington State. We to the Tales Series and never thought we would where I often had coflive in three such differfee or lunch with friends, ent and beautiful places. Janet, Pam, Wendy, A quote by Coco Dimitria and Lisa. The Chanel says it all. “It’s Valley Market—a quick not the houses I love, errand turned into hours it’s the life I live in because one would for them.” I loved the life sure run into a friend or lived with Johan and two. Fifteen years ago our children in our first our friend, Drew, still house in Woodbury, had his coffee cart in the Minnesota, and the store and I met so many lives lived with Johan of my friends there for Knitwits pictured from left to right are in Eden and Ogden, and the very first time. rosemary Smith, Pat Frost, Darla Weston, now, Gig Harbor. The If I should turn right Drienie Hattingh and Janet thompson. best is yet to be. at the junction it would Wendy welcomed take me to The General Store… now Carlos and us with big hugs at the club house. The view Harley’s. Fifteen years ago it was Ben Toone’s from the venue was breath-taking, including a restaurant and everyone loved his sour-dough pan- sapphire blue Pineview and snowcapped mouncakes! Ben’s store was where my writing group tains with spring green foothills covered in Eden Writers Circle and my knitting group The wild flowers. Beautiful posters, with heart-felt Knitwits met twice a month. Those writers and quotes about friendships and new beginnings, knitters became dear friends. Later, when Ben left made by Wendy, adorned the windows, as well and a new restaurant came, we met at our friend, as a map charting the distance between Utah Jim Hayley’s store, Alpine Pizza. and Washington State, 830 miles! Delicious When we moved to Ogden I started a new foods awaited us, prepared by Wendy and her writer’s group, The Writing Divas. Lynda, lovely mother Lynn Gray. Soon our friends Christy, Michele, Natalie, Alane, Sherry, arrived to wish us well as we ventured onto Patricia, and I became fast friends as we another chapter in our lives. We hugged, shed worked on our dreams. a tear or two, and reminisced about our years We continued driving up Powder Mountain together. I’ll miss my life here, but, as Dr. Road, and past the turn-off that used to take Seuss says, “Don’t cry because it’s over, Smile us to our house. Johan and I loved to sit on because it happened.” Adieu dear friends, I’ll the porch, reading and drinking tea, listening never forget your kindness, love and support. to the wind rustling through the aspens and COMMENTARY cont. from page 3 Wendy and Matt toliver with Drienie and Johan nolene Wilkinson, Connie Kenny, Vicki Droogsma, and lisa lamphier Join us June 3 for ShoppeRS! our 13th Annual RemembeR Guest Appreciation Breakfast 8-10am Mention Valley at Bank Admission-Any canned food itemeleMentary to donate to the Food tion where due. We are a nation of laws, not men so men have to be bound down by the chains of the Constitution. After WWII, following our defeat of Germany and Japan, we turned around and forgave and helped those nations rebuild. One of America’s finest hours was the Berlin Airlift when we fed the German people after the Soviets cut off Western Berlin from outside assistance. Germany and Japan are now economic power houses, prosperous and free and the envy of Europe and Asia. And what did we ask for in return? A few acres of ground to bury our dead. Later, we fought to defend S. Korea and now Korea is a prosperous and free nation. Like Mr. Thompson, I too hope our learning from our mistakes comes sooner rather than later, but we still have a responsibility to our Republic. so in his writings and letters. We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men that as soon as they get a little authority they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion over their fellow man. Does this say something about the slavery issue, women’s issues, Native American issues? God isn’t doing this, man is, and Mr. Thomson hit it right on the head—except in saying there is no religion or God in Constitutional principles. Our Constitutional Republic is made up “individuals” and we elect them to serve. They are where they are only by our good graces and govern only with our consent. Some will continue to violate our trust and tend to further their own aggrandizement at the expense of our nation’s goodness if not held in check. Thankfully, America does attempt, for the lonnie D. Crockett, Ph.D., most part, to right its wrongs and give restitu- Huntsville 801-745-4000 2555 WOLF CREEK DR. EDEN From the Service Deli www.valleymarketeden.com STORE HOURS: MON. - SAT. 7 AM - 10 PM SUNDAY 7 AM - 9 PM Ham, Roast Beef or Turkey Hoagies $3.49 Expires each with coupon 6/15/17 From the Deli Dept. Dozen Corn on the Cob 50c OFFwith coupon Expires 6/15/17 Hot Dog & Hamburger Buns 25c OFF with coupon Expires 6/15/17 Farm Made Any Rack of Spare Ribs 50c OFF with coupon Expires 6/15/17 From the Meat Dept. Pkg. Jalapeno or Garlic Cheese Rolls $3.49 each with coupon Expires 6/15/17 From the Bakery PRICE REDuCED to $399,900! |
