On The Mark: Staying in touch with godchildren is a joy

Do you have godchildren? It was customary when my husband and I were born, mid-twentieth century, to acquire them. Having godchildren and keeping in touch can be so much fun, a form of extended family.

My godmother was Aunt Dorothy (Dot), who lived just a mile away, a great stopover spot after school. We played gin rummy at the kitchen table while she fashioned some delicious supper or dessert. My godfather was also my grandfather, Joseph Roell, who lived with his two daughters in Minneapolis. I spent a lot of time with them. Each is lovingly etched in my memory.

From good friends in the 1980s, I acquired two godsons: Jonah Parzen Johnson and his brother, Simon, sons of friends Daniel and Julia, with whom I worked and played when living in California. Before their sons were born, we went to a great summer jazz festival in San Francisco. I ducked into a porta-potty and instructed David, my son, to wait. But when I emerged he was gone! We raced around the grounds, very freaked out. Finally, one of us spotted him on the back of a police motorcycle, happy as a clam with a Popsicle in his mouth. Eventually, we all moved to Chicago.

When Jonah was born, David and I attended his bris - the Jewish ceremony of circumcision - held at their home in Hyde Park. When I arrived, Julia pulled me into the kitchen, wondering if this was the right thing to do. Among my age group, circumcision was controversial in those days. My father, who grew up in Cromwell, had not been circumcised, I learned from my mother, and my son David had not been either. I assured Julia that all would be fine. She asked me to be Jonah's godmother, and I accepted.

"Well," she said immediately," that means you hand him to the mohel (rhymes with "boil"), the Hebrew word for the man or woman who performs the ceremony. It was lovely - mohel was gentle and gave Jonah a tiny bit of sponge soaked in wine to suck on. It all happened quickly, and Jonah did not even cry!

I have kept in touch with both of my godsons over the years. Jonah is a successful jazz musician in New York City, married to Livia, a Brazilian who grew up in Sao Paulo. Jonah plays the baritone sax, a huge instrument, and often tours the U.S. and Europe. His younger brother, Simon, followed in his father Daniel's occupational footsteps is now a pediatric doctor in a Chicago hospital. It has been fun catching up with them when I can.

Rod and his first wife, Barb Walli, were frequent and avid godparents. As their families and friends sprouted new generations, they agreed, when asked, to serve. As a result, they welcomed 10 godchildren into their flock.

Their first is Yvonne, the daughter of Rod's college roommate, Warren Johnson, and his wife, Bernice, of Floodwood. Others are first cousins to Rod's two boys: Marsha Walli Arnold, daughter of Rod's youngest brother, Milt; Leslie Hutar Wilson, the youngest of his sister Carole Walli Hutar's five; Leslie's older sister, Julie Hutar Hedin; their cousin, Don John Walli, son of Rod's older brother, Jack. Also Sandy, daughter of Rod's twin sister Pat Anderson; and Andy, son of Rod's nephew Greg Jedlenski. Some godchildren were acquired via friends. Barb's best friend was Nancy Sauer, whose son Dale Borchard, an Esko resident, is among them, as is Jon Lund, son of classmate Pat Lund.

We have a tradition of convening as many as we can of the nine who live within an hour's drive once a year for an evening together.

This year, we reserved the spacious dining room at Savanna Portage and managed to host six of them. Katy Wright, a niece of Barb's, who lives in Indiana, is the only one who doesn't live in Minnesota. Two had other commitments. We had a riotous time. First, a round of drinks where we circulated to meet and greet, followed by a seated dinner, each ordering what we wished. The room resounded with laughter while we caught up on a year's worth of family, friends, adventures, and work.

Rod arranges a one-on-one meeting with his godchildren throughout the year just to keep in touch. Often he includes their children when it seems appropriate or when he learns they are in transition. He enjoys these relationships and encourages others to seek out their godchildren and develop a relationship. It doesn't need to be complicated, yet it reminds the godchild that another adult cares about them.

Columnist Ann Markusen is an economist and professor emerita at University of Minnesota. A Pine Knot board member, she lives in Red Clover Township north of Cromwell with her husband, Rod Walli.