A Birthday Card for Aunt JoAnn

My cousin, Jay Leithead’s wife (Katie) encouraged us to send a birthday card to my Aunt JoAnn. I decided I’d take a moment to share some memories, instead of just sending a card. Here’s what I’ll send to her:

Thanksgiving comes to my mind when I think of my Aunt JoAnn. You might guess that’s because our annual Goodworth Thanksgiving reunion happens in Kamas, and that she’s done so much over many years to make it a success. Actually, I’m filled with thanksgiving for the many things JoAnn’s done for me.

As a boy and young man, I spent every moment I could at JoAnn’s home. While my mom and sisters tried their best to train me properly, I was a country boy, from Idaho, with 7 brothers to learn from—as well as argue and fight... and play with. I’m certain that I did many things that were backward, and definitely difficult for her to deal with, but she always welcomed me any time we could make arrangements for me to be with her family.

Some of my special memories, besides eating (and I’m certain I ate a lot) were:

• Riding the Motorcycle - My memories of riding on the trails across the street were wonderful, and the amazing amount of air I caught as I hit the jump at full speed was mind-blowing. I problem flew at least 5-6 inches into the air—I felt I’d reached into the stratosphere! 
• I love the memories of working beside Dad, his family (and his cousins) as we helped build JoAnn’s home. JoAnn helped me know the work I did was amazing. I specifically remember using a hammer to bend and break the metal brackets that stuck out after the cement had cured and the boards that held the cement in place were removed. With the heavy hammer, I probably helped remove 2-3. But oh, I helped, and JoAnn knew it! 
• As I grew and visited often, I remember seeing the amazing plants that JoAnn kept in her windows. I truly was in awe that indoor plants could grow that large. This week I dumped another dead plant into the garbage. I’d been working to keep it alive for just over a year. Perhaps someday I’ll be more like JoAnn and instead of trying to keep a plant alive, I’ll help it thrive! 
• Another special memory occurred the summer before last. At that time, JoAnn, Ted, Marie, and Carol came to visit Dad. Dad’s been struggling with dementia. That visit was great for Dad and Mom. As you might have guessed, it was also a special visit for me! 
• Another thought is my gratitude for JoAnn deciding to marry Ted. I didn’t get to know Glen much (except through his family). JoAnn was courageous enough to take the opportunity to marry Ted and their sign at their home changed from JoAnn’s Place to Ted and JoAnn’s Place! I love my memories of Ted and JoAnn.   
• A very special memory of my life was the time that JoAnn gave to me with Joel and Nathan. She allowed them to spend time living with us during several summers. The chance to get to know Joel and admire the amazing characteristics that he has, gave me a love for Joel that few cousins have for another cousin. 
• Nathan was a year older than me and therefore closer to my age than Joel. Nathan became my special cousin and closest friend. The time I spent with him in Idaho was a dream come true. Because of his heart issues, I had the responsibility to always stay near him—watching. We moved pipe in the same fields and would race each other. His long legs gave him an amazing stride. Any time he’d stop to catch his breath, I’d pray that his heart was ok. There were a few times that he confessed that his heart had kicked into his irregular beat for a bit. I was always grateful when he’d stand erect and begin running the pipe again. 
• One summer we had the chance to go to scout camp together. I loved the time we had together that week as we attended the classes together. The handicraft teacher was a girl who taught basket weaving, leatherwork, and other crafts. As was often the case, she thought Nathan was awesome. I wanted to be more like him, in so many ways. People loved being around him. At the end of the week, we were exhausted and just before driving away from the camp, we remembered something was left back at our campsite. Nobody wanted to walk up the long trail to our campsite one last time. Of course, Nathan volunteered to go. That was perhaps the longest wait I’d faced. When he finally made it back, he explained that as he hurried up the trail, his heart gave him trouble and it took a while for him to settle it back down. I was so glad that he was fine and felt bad that I’d forgotten, at that time, that he always needed someone with him. 
• A favorite memory was working on the bicycling merit badge with Nathan. He’d gone on a long ride with his scout troop (or varsity team) and he needed to take several other shorter rides. We rode our bikes around the Kamas Valley on one day. Another day we decided to make the ride much easier, JoAnn drove us up the canyon so we could ride our bikes down the canyon. It sounded like such a great idea, coasting most of the way. I was amazed to learn how much up there was in that downhill canyon. That ride was much harder than the first ride. I wish I could say that the bicycling merit badge was my favorite merit badge to earn, or even that the bicycling merit badge was the hardest badge that I earned, but the fact is that after those two rides with Nathan, I decided it was a merit badge that I would never earn—and I didn’t earn it. When I ride bikes today, I still think of my fun time with Nathan, and I remember how much I dislike riding bikes—unless they’re motorbikes! 

While I loved spending time with Nathan and the entire Leithead family, I’m filled with thanksgiving for JoAnn. She not only allowed a backward boy from Idaho to spend so much time with her family, but she treated me like one of her children. Out of love and respect for my own mother, I’ve never felt I could say that I have a second mother. JoAnn is the closest to a second mother of anyone I know. I love to go to Kamas—even now—to spend time with JoAnn and Ted. I’m thankful for all they’ve done for me.