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Yesterday was one of those days we all experience from time to time.  Nyel and I had a long-time, all-day commitment in one place and an all-of-a-sudden need-to-be-there at another – both at the same time.  Once again, I wished I could clone myself and be at both places at once.

The first was a Retreat for the friends of the Willapa Bay Wildlife Refuge.  We are not members, but our friend Clay Nichols who is the interim chairman of the group is a very persuasive man.  A month or so ago, he not only convinced us that we needed to be at said Retreat, but he also persuaded me to “say a few words.”

From the Willapa Bay National Wildlife Refuge Website

I had never in my life attended a Retreat and had no idea what to expect or what in the world was expected of me.  I kept thinking that Clay might change his mind about us, but it wasn’t long before he sent a very official looking agenda and there was my name – “12:30 – Historical Perspective:  Sydney Stevens” it said.  No wiggling out of this one.  And then, a few days later Joan Sonntag died.

Joan (pronounce JoAnne) lived in Nahcotta and I had known her for at least sixty-five years.  I first remember her as the wife of “Mr. Sonntag” who was the principal and seventh/eighth grade teacher at Ocean Park School in 1947/48 – the one year I spent (as a seventh grader) at school here on the Peninsula.  Joan used to come and teach us folk-dancing occasionally.

Joan Sonntag (1919-2013)

Thirty years later, when I moved here permanently, she and I were colleagues at Long Beach School – she teaching sixth grade and me tutoring fourth, fifth, sixth graders in math and reading.  We carpooled for two years and it was during that time that I arranged for her to assist my uncle Willard in doing some typing on his forthcoming rhyming dictionary.

Some years later, after Joan had retired, her grandson Kenny was a student in my third grade class and our relationship and interaction took on yet another subtle change – me the teacher, she the grandma.  And, still later, when Nyel and I had the Bookvendor, Joan loaned us dozens of her hand-made stuffed bears for a window display of children’s books.  Even more recently, I spent many afternoons with Joan as I was writing Ocean Park School: The First Seven Decades.  Her memories were invaluable.

As I read her obituary last week and thought about our many intersecting paths, I couldn’t help but think how typical of this community our friendship was.            Her memorial service was at 1:00 yesterday afternoon at the Peninsula Church Center, just about the time I was giving my “Historical Perspective” to the Friends of the Refuge.

I was sorry to miss the opportunity of reminiscing with Joan’s family members and sharing a hug, but I know Joan would have understood.   I just wish we could share that early morning ride to Long Beach School one more time.  I’d tell her all about what I learned at the Retreat and maybe even recruit her as a member of the Friends.  Maybe it’s not cloning I want; maybe it’s time travel…