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A Tribute to
Janice Boardman Rosson Bond 1935-2008 |
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[I promised in the BSHS Exes Newsletter, and my copy came today, that I would write an account of my email romance with Janice. My production rate has been cut in half by losing her, and I do not have it done. You have found the right place. I will have it soon, I hope. Meanwhile, I will post the rough notes I have done so far, and you can decide if you want to come back a little later to read the rest.]
The Email Romance of Janice and Lane Bond The shortest and simplest version of the story would be to say that on October 20, 1997, at 7:45 PM, Janice Boardman Rosson (BSHS 1953) wrote an email to Lane Bond (BSHS 1952). On November 20, 1997, at 7:45 PM Lane emailed a proposal of marriage to Janice, and on June 20, 1998, at 7:45 PM, they each said “I DO” in the First Christian Church of Big Spring, Texas. They did not see one another in the month before becoming engaged, not had they ever dated, courted (except by email or phone – email got to be too slow to say all they wanted to say), nor kissed at the time of the proposal and its acceptance. Janice’s first email to Lane: Hope you don't think this is too "forward," but I was visiting with Freda about having seen you at Homecoming and about computers and the internet. She said that you and some of your family keep in touch by Email, and contacted Patty to get your address for me. After four months of trying to get a decent modem and a cheap Internet service to work properly for me, I finally got on line this past weekend. Thought it might be interesting for us to visit by Email (my son in Nebraska is the only other person whose address I have). Let me know if you agree. A voice from the past, Quote from my second email to Janice: Janice to Lane the second day: I am sitting here laughing at all that one simple
little idea like corresponding with you by Email has brought. Am sort
of overwhelmed by all that you wrote. ……..How neat to Janice to Lane: What kind of communication do I want? Anticipated that question--have vaguely heard of chat rooms on the net, etc. However, I'm not sure. Just sort of....what you do, and what you think....about things like past, present, future, ideas, politics--do I dare say religion? I have always been aware that you were one of the "bright" boys in the class of '52 who took the harder courses. You are also Freda's brother, Robin's uncle. I don't know--just someone I thought would be interesting to know better. I am probably too serious-minded--though I have my light- hearted moments. Let's just see where it goes. Janice to Lane third day: You mentioned that you did not expect this emailing to become a full-time job in our lives, but since night before last all of our messages have taken up a lot of my thoughts at my real job. Thanks for letting me know about your unavailability this weekend. Guess you've figured out by now that I'll be out-of-pocket, too. I'll be doing something I'll enjoy as much as you will be enjoying what you plan to do [country-western dance festival] --seeing my kids and grandkids is a highlight of my life. Janice to Lane: In case you don't know, I keep all the Exes Association addresses in a data base. Also mail out and receive returned newsletters. Reunion chairpersons and I keep each other informed about whereabouts of exes. Part of the time I was busy talking to Bud at the dance I was explaining all this to him, and he was wanting me to add email addresses for those who have them. He told me about your class’s email "loop" at that time. Doing the Exes Thing has been my big "charity" activity for the past 23 years. Somehow, the words "Keep us all as one, though years to come," made some sort of indelible impression on me. [Note: I had received these newsletters for the 23 years, and this is the first hint I ever had that Janice had anything to do with it. Talk about anonymity!] Janice to Lane [still less than 48 hours since the first email: [I had summarized my life, and already had revealed my dual self-image; at once feeling I am all-powerful and all-deserving while also feeling I have no self-worth. She gave me a dose of medicine for that]: I truly don't think accumulation of this world's material goods is any measure of a successful life. Somehow here in three days of messages I find you to be most perceptive, receptive, sensitive, humorous, analytical, fun--in short just exactly what I thought, hoped, expected you to be like. And "we've only scratched the surface," so to speak. Being able to respond to other people that way is successful in my book. Janice to Lane at 9 pm on the 23rd, only
three days into this: One more thing, I am getting Time/Life "Music of the '50's" CD's. I wish you were here to listen and reminisce. The older I get, the more I enjoy my contemporaries. But even more than that, are those who share so many of the same friends, experiences, and, yes, even the ethos of a place like Big Spring. Now do you see why I wanted your email address? Couldn't have put that into words three days ago. Is it the Muse working? To Here>>>>>>>>>>> Start at Friday 4:29 AM Below is a little snippet I enjoyed finding in another email to a friend: Letter to a friend named Shelia 1-14-98 Janice and I had two wonderful weeks together. She is so very easy to be with, and such a neat lady. She seems totally in love, and delights me in every way. I am looking forward to moving there (probably April 1 by the present plans), and dreading leaving here. But I can't go there without leaving here. It will be a very major thing in my life. Leaving most of life as I know it, changing states, towns, friends, marital status, dance community (though maybe finding another one, but not like it has been). I hope I am doing the right thing, but I think I am. I will be retiring from a lifetime of painting buildings, and ending a lonely time in my life. Big stuff, but very exciting also.
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