Cue the Rathles...December, 2004 
From the very beginning, there have been mentions of a mythical Angie, a Frank, a Jacques, a Nic, and a Rachel. These fine folks are the incomparable Rathle Family, who are Joni's closest friends in Thibodaux, and who are also the entire reason that Joni and Stephen are together in the first place.
That in itself is a long enough story, best told over drinks, so we'll not go into it here. However, since they feature so prominently in life on the eastern side of the International Date Line, they merit a little explanation...
Joni has been friends with the Rathles for almost 7 years now, having met them when she worked for Angie as a Park Ranger in Thibodaux. At the time, Angie only had two kids and a Frank. It was only three years ago that they added on to the family, and had the other great love of Joni's life: little Jacques.
I have a very vivid memory of the day I stood in the Rathle kitchen and explained to Angie over a Newcastle "Don't laugh - BUT, I met a guy, and he's wonderful, but he lives in Australia and it will never work, but my God, he's perfect!" And the more vivid part of that memory is the complete opposite of what I expected to hear. Angie told me that she was happy, and hopeful, and not to worry about the distance. If it turns out to be right, it will all work out. (She has this great faith in all things being possible and working out just like they're supposed to. She's like a little Ronald Reagan, you know, but a girl. And not a president...)
Getting back to the Rathle family... Jacques is Joni's only Godchild, and so Stephen learned early on that it was best to keep that little man happy, supplied with Suga candy, and his brother and si
ster also happy and supplied with Suga candy if Stephen ever even wanted a chance with Joni. And so, from very early on, Stephen made it a point to send packages to Joni including goodies for the Rathle kids and kind words for Angie and Frank as well.
One can only imagine the excitement Stephen's visit was met with at Rathle Central... the kids even made two big signs to post on the doorways welcoming "Mr. Stephen", and Stephen did not disappoint, coming laden with candy and a cricket set as well as Wiggles merchandise for the littlest Rathle.
The long and the short of it is that without the Rathles saying "Go for it. If he's wonderful, what difference does it make if he lives on the other side of the world? (Angie)" or "Put your hair DOWN, and do something about those nails! (Frank)" - Joni and Stephen would not have made it past being good friends. And for that, both Joni and Stephen are eternally grateful...
From the very beginning, there have been mentions of a mythical Angie, a Frank, a Jacques, a Nic, and a Rachel. These fine folks are the incomparable Rathle Family, who are Joni's closest friends in Thibodaux, and who are also the entire reason that Joni and Stephen are together in the first place.
That in itself is a long enough story, best told over drinks, so we'll not go into it here. However, since they feature so prominently in life on the eastern side of the International Date Line, they merit a little explanation...
Joni has been friends with the Rathles for almost 7 years now, having met them when she worked for Angie as a Park Ranger in Thibodaux. At the time, Angie only had two kids and a Frank. It was only three years ago that they added on to the family, and had the other great love of Joni's life: little Jacques.
I have a very vivid memory of the day I stood in the Rathle kitchen and explained to Angie over a Newcastle "Don't laugh - BUT, I met a guy, and he's wonderful, but he lives in Australia and it will never work, but my God, he's perfect!" And the more vivid part of that memory is the complete opposite of what I expected to hear. Angie told me that she was happy, and hopeful, and not to worry about the distance. If it turns out to be right, it will all work out. (She has this great faith in all things being possible and working out just like they're supposed to. She's like a little Ronald Reagan, you know, but a girl. And not a president...)
Getting back to the Rathle family... Jacques is Joni's only Godchild, and so Stephen learned early on that it was best to keep that little man happy, supplied with Suga candy, and his brother and si
ster also happy and supplied with Suga candy if Stephen ever even wanted a chance with Joni. And so, from very early on, Stephen made it a point to send packages to Joni including goodies for the Rathle kids and kind words for Angie and Frank as well.
One can only imagine the excitement Stephen's visit was met with at Rathle Central... the kids even made two big signs to post on the doorways welcoming "Mr. Stephen", and Stephen did not disappoint, coming laden with candy and a cricket set as well as Wiggles merchandise for the littlest Rathle.
The long and the short of it is that without the Rathles saying "Go for it. If he's wonderful, what difference does it make if he lives on the other side of the world? (Angie)" or "Put your hair DOWN, and do something about those nails! (Frank)" - Joni and Stephen would not have made it past being good friends. And for that, both Joni and Stephen are eternally grateful...
posted by Joni and Stephen | 4:31 PM
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