Virginia Ann Rogers

Virginia Ann Rogers, age 84, Colorado passed away on Sunday, February 4, 2024. Virginia was born on April 16, 1939 to George Washington Judd and Hulda Sophia (Anderson) Judd in North Dakota. She is survived by 4 loving children.

Gracie Kitty's Musings

The time has come for me to give you some of my cat wisdom. I will start out for those of you flat earthers: If the earth was flat, cats would have pushed everything off by now! And for your information: I do not shed, I emit magical fibers of joy and love. I lived with Ann in her town home for many years. As the time came for her to change living arrangements, my living arrangements changed also. Ann went on two vacations a year apart at Christmas time and I stayed with Laura (she was not Grandma then!) but not before I learned a few things I will share with you now. While Ann went on her vacations, Laura cared for me. Then the time came when Ann was not physically nor mentally able to care for me; and Laura volunteered to take me as her "forever friend." That's when Laura became Grandma!

Tim and Dave moved into their home on Jarvis E. Place and became friends with Laura, my current grandma; and subsequently, Ann and Laura met. Well, you have heard of six degrees of separation. It is real and here are a few examples: 1. Ann had the same obstetrician as Grandma, Dr. Don Woodard, at the Denver Clinic - I do not know if Tim was born at Presbyterian Hospital or St. Luke's Hospital because Dr. Woodard delivered babies at both hospitals. Grandma's sons were born at Presbyterian. Grandma's adoptive mother taught Dr. Woodard in third grade in Grover, Colorado, way back when! 2. Grandma was a substitute teacher in the Englewood Public Schools and substituted at Clayton Elementary School where Tim was going to school. Of course, Tim, nor Ann, nor Grandma knew each other, or knew of each other at this time! 3. Ann was born in North Dakota on the prairie near a town named Stanley. Grandma's adoptive maternal grandparents last name is Stanley!

lt was interesting to hear about Ann's childhood because she grew up on a ranch and spent a lot of time on the back of a horse. The family also had rural school teachers board in their home out on the ranch. Grandma's family homesteaded in the area of the Pawnee Grasslands in northeastern Colorado and she spent a lot of time on the ranch. I do not know if Anne's parents homesteaded.

When Ann would come to Dave and Tim's to take care of Sophie and Liza, Grandma and she would visit on their patio while the dogs played outside. Ann liked to sit on the patio and have her bourbon and Coca Cola and cigarettes. Ann told me she preferred Coca Cola in her bourbon because it was the same color and others could not see how much bourbon she was putting into her glass - those were her words! She felt she was on vacation when she was puppy sitting because meals would be prepared for her. The big event and addition to Dave and Tim's house was the installation of the bidet - what a big event! Of course, I did not know about this because I was at home in the townhome. And, you know what? I still did not get to see that bidet when Ann moved into the basement apartment that was designed and built just for Ann! I had my own window, though, to bask in when I was on my kitty condo. I am a cat so there were times I would meow until Ann, awakened, or now, until Grandma awakens didn't need anything just wanted the human to awaken!

While Ann was living in her townhome and well enough, she loved to make Christmas goodies as gifts for family and friends. Grandma was one of her recipients and enjoyed the peanut brittle, pumpkin bread and scotheroos. Tim helped her in later years plus Ann had a granddaughter who enjoyed helping her grandmother with the holiday baking. I learned not to get to near because otherwise I was sent out of the kitchen area during cookie and candy making time.

Speaking of grandchildren, Ann loved the grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She lit up with joy when she knew they were going to visit. As far as I can concerned, children are okay if the grown-ups watch them so they don't chase me or pull my tail - I do not like that at all! I hear the whole "fam-damily" got together for a family photo day in January ~ when I saw a photo, I counted 18 family members plus Ann. I am amazed how one person can have that many off-spring by the time great grandchildren are here - maybe not as many as cats!

"Did you know all children need a laptop? Not a computer but human laptop. Moms, dads, grannies, and grandpas, aunts, uncles - someone to hold them, read to them, teach them. Loved ones who will embrace them and pass on the experiences, rituals and knowledge of a hundred previous generations. Loved ones who will pass to the next generation their expectations of them, their hopes, and their dreams." My grandma said General Colin Powell said this. Grandma is an avid reader and finds lots of interesting quotes to pass on to others.

When Ann lived in her townhome, she loved to go shopping. She would go down the hill on South Sheridan to the King Soopers and spend hours shopping and then Tim would go and pick her up with her purchased items. I would check to see what was in the bags for me! Then, when the pandemic hit, she learned how to grocery shop online and order what she needed. It was a challenge for her with her limited vision. And, I was not any help at all! Grandma said she ordered twice online for groceries and decided that was plenty. Grandma would rather avoid computers and the encumbrances that sometime come with using them.

Ann and Grandma both enjoyed watching the Broncos. Why, I cannot imagine but they did! Music was a joyful experience for Ann. She enjoyed attending the Gay Men's Chorus concerts. Grandma says, that when words fail, music speaks.

Grandma was fortunate enough to have cocktail hour with Tim and Dave; and they also included her for dinner several times when Ann was at E. Jarvis Pl. They discussed many things from farm life, oil wells in North Dakota (Grandma's family also lives on oil rich land in northeastern Colorado), people with different life styles, and politics, and after life. Grandma found this thought and thought it was a very appropriate idea describing Ann's thinking:

"God is Thought"

by the 4th Dalai Lama of Tibet

This is my simple religion.

There is no need for temples,

no need for complicated philosophy.

Our own brain, our own heart is our temple;

the philosophy is kindness.

The last time Grandma shared a meal with Dave and Tim and Ann was Christmas lunch. Ann was feeling well enough that Tim could bring her to E. Jarvis Pl. She was elated that one of the caregivers, who had given her some grief previously to Christmas, gave her a nighty that was light weight, short and had a tiny floral design. She went into great detail describing the caregiver and the nighty. Grandma will always have that special occasion to remember Ann with fondness.

Grandma will close my musings with this thought:

As a child, be well-behaved,

As a youth, be self-controlled,

As an adult, be just,

As an elder, be wise.

As one dying, be without pain.

Suleucus 323 BC (Macedonia general)

Written by: Gracie Kitty and Grandma Laura Pilkington (February 8, 2024)