The Master Plan

S.W.A.K.

The plan was that as several of us along with Sue, as we reached our more advanced years, would live together in some sort of retirement community for aging boomers. As Sue said, “It would be a place where you could pick up a pinochle game or have a discussion on current events or the latest book you were reading 24/7”. Perhaps it would have been called something like “The Pinochle Hills Gaming and Literary Society”. That was plan.

Who is up for Spirit Mountain?

This concept grew from discussions that took place for over 25 years during our almost monthly pinochle games. Sue was very much the catalyst for these gatherings. She had regaled her friends with stories about playing pinochle with the Rauch family. Several of us had played pinochle growing up. However, those who were interested in good conversation and books, Sue taught to play the game. We would often jockey to be Sue’s partner. Partnering with Sue often increased your chances of winning because she actually paid attention to the game!

Sue loved to read!

These afternoon gatherings were spent playing cards and discussing topics such as “How do dogs tell time?” “If you were a color, what color would you be?” “What would it be like to travel through a black hole in the universe?” We also spent time trying out various recipes, trading books and celebrating birthdays, holidays and personal accomplishments. One afternoon, inspired by reading something in “Under the Tuscan Sun”, we dipped strawberries in eight different varieties of balsamic vinegar and rated the results. Oddly enough, the Safeway private label vinegar received our highest ratings.

Sue always brought the latest news about the university, her family and other friends to these gatherings. It provided a continuum to our ties with Willamette and the many people Sue had introduced us to over time. I will miss these news updates, stories of others and access to her opinions. I still reach for the phone when I think of something to share with her, or when I think, “I wonder what Sue would think about this?”

When I was a child, whenever someone in our family passed away, my mother use to say, “ The pinochle game in heaven just got another player!” For years my vision of the afterlife has included catching up with those who have passed before you and joining them at that big table in the sky.

"There's no place like home!"

I have no doubt that Sue has reached that place. And after greeting and reuniting with her Grandma Rauch, Granddad Charlie, Grandma Lena, uncle Bud and others, she has settled into a game. I am more than sure she has taken time to verify the rules and to make sure they are all playing out of the same rulebook.  And has insisted on “no table talk”.

I do know that the monthly pinochle games will continue. However, there will be a really big void in the space Sue filled.  With her absence, the conversations are likely to be less lively, less opinionated and probably less imaginative. I will miss her so much.

Shelley Sump

Friend and Former Colleague