REMEMBERING ANGIE

Geoffrey’s website this morning should not have surprised me for Angie and Maurice are often his photo subject. I knew first thing yesterday morning that she had passed from this life but most of yesterday John and I went opposite directions. When we were together, we were working on projects and just did not take time to hold each other and mourn the loss of this great lady.

Geoffrey posted her Lemon Meringue Pie recipe. Prominent in my recipe files is her Pecan Pie recipe. Oh, I have spent many endless hours trying to get the crust right…bought every imaginable tool known to modern-day chefs…but that gift has completely eluded me. However, I can get the pie innards correct by following Angie’s recipe carefully. Even at that, the pecans don’t look as beautifully placed as hers.

My best “Angie pie story” is about our first visit back to Juneau after being gone some 10 years or so. We did not travel alone but rather invited close friends Gene and Marilee to join us. Naturally, after a morning of worship together, Angie and Maurice were some of the first to invite us for dinner. Discussing our invitations in the car going back to our housing, Marilee said, “I told Angie that I would bring dessert.” I am certain that there is an audible “gasp” every time I tell this story. As soon as I had recovered from thinking of an Angie meal without her pie, I explained to Marilee that some things were forgivable and she needed to apologize to Angie before it was too late for the rest of us. Marilee did graciously repent in time to save the occasion.

Memories flood my mind of hours spent in her living room catching up on news… sharing family stories and photos…listening, time and again, to the story of how she and Maurice had met….of his 12 brothers and sisters; three sets of twins (of which he was one-half). In all their years of marriage, a cross word had never been exchanged.

When you went to Angie’s and she offered you a cup of tea, she never heard you say “No. Thank you.” And with that refreshment came a slice of something she had baked. When you were asked to join them for leftovers, you could expect a meal suited for royalty. Her kitchen was so tiny, I cannot even picture where she rolled out her pie dough. Visiting was always what you were there for; sharing God’s richest blessings.

One more story ...
Our David was playing in the local orchestra, and there was a conflict with getting him into town in time for the performance. So I called Angie and asked if he could stay with them for the hours between school and the evening performance. I told her (knowing full-well that she would not hear me) that he could run down to the local Scarf and Barf for his dinner. Of course, she said they would be delighted. At the end of the evening, the report was not on the concert; David was still starry eyed from the hamburger and milk shake she had “thrown together” for him.

Geoffrey sent us a copy of the text of a sermon he gave last Sunday; Juneau Church of Christ is between preachers right now. His subject matter was "Hospitality." If Webster had lived in Juneau when he wrote the dictionary, seekers would find this definition for "hospitable" -- Angie and Maurice Long.