Published: November 02, 2007 11:40 pm      

LOCKPORT: Author finds special memories ease loss

Susan Jones has no writing experience, no publisher, no publicity and isn’t trying to become famous.

Not usually what a new author would say, but Jones’ writing has a different purpose. Her first book, “Until We Meet Again” is about a grandfather and a grandson who have a special relationship. However, the two only have short time together, and the boy learns that memories can be created at any time and last forever. The book is an insight on how to deal with the loss of a loved one through memories.

“I’m not doing this for me,” the author said. “It’s not self-serving. It’s my way of giving back.”

Jones is writing from experience. After losing both of her parents, Jones lost a close friend to pancreatic cancer in 2001. Barbara Ennis lived in Lockport and with her husband, Tim, purchased Montondo’s Seafood in 1985. After she passed away, the local Barbara Ennis Foundation was formed. Tim Ennis was chairman of the board for PanCan, the national organization for Pancreatic Cancer last year, and is still an active board member.

The book is dedicated to Jones’ late father. Living in Connecticut, it was difficult for her to leave while her father was sick. So anytime she left, she gave him a special goodbye that later influenced the title of the book.

“One day as I stood at the foot of his bed, I looked up and said in a cheery voice, ‘Dad, until we meet again’ and he responded. And that became our monthly exchange instead of goodbye. It gave me the comfort to walk away and know that I would see him again either at home or in the next place,” Jones said. “The last weekend I saw my father, I did tie a red balloon to his bed telling him to let the balloon carry him home and not to be afraid. That Sunday, I returned to Connecticut and Monday morning I got the call from my sister, Molly, and I knew his journey home was a peaceful passing.”

When the book was released, it wasn’t Jones who noticed the inspiration of her father’s death.

“This is about you and Dad,” Molly Jones told her sister.

Experiencing the losses of both parents and Barbara Ennis wasn’t the only inspiration for the book. Jones was also inspired by a few thoughts she had one day. After sleeping one night, an idea came to her.

“Very early one morning, I was awakened from a deep sleep. Comforting thoughts and tenderhearted images of a little boy and his grandfather sharing ordinary moments were flashing through my tired mind,” Jones said. “I couldn’t get the thoughts out of my mind, so I sat up and wrote it down. When I was done, I wondered, ‘What am I going to do with this?’ I just forgot about it (until) a series of events led me to meeting someone who was an author and her editor and publisher. It just continued to grow and eventually became the book it is now.”

A graduate of Adrian College in Michigan, Jones went to Niagara University for a master’s degree. She was a first grade teacher in Newfane Central School District for 13 years, and later for 19 years in Connecticut. Other than an occasional run-in with English, Jones has no writing background.

“I didn’t intend to write this particular story. I believe those thoughts were gifted to me as a form of healing following the death of my parents and a very dear friend,” Jones said. “Although the story depicts a relationship between a little boy and his grandfather, the memories in the book are ones I actually shared with various people in my life.”

All profits from the book are going to PanCan. The book is also listed on the Hospice Web site, and is endorsed by the National Funeral Directors Association. The book will appear in its 2008 catalog. Anyone can go to the PanCan Web site, www.pancan.org, or Jones’ Web site, www.bookofferings.com, to purchase the book.

The book-signing tour could not have happened at a better time. November is National Pancreatic Cancer Month, and the tour will bring Jones back to Lockport on Nov. 23. She will sign copies of her book at 3 p.m. at the Market Street Art Center, 247 Market St. in Lockport. The next day she will be at another book signing in Albion at Ace Hardware on 146 South Main St. Jones’ sister, Molly, is the owner.

If there is one lesson people can take from this book, Jones said, it would be to make the most of every moment with loved ones.

“We must take the time to make memories with those we love while time allows, for we never know how many moments are left to share,” Jones said. “And may we also come to know that our most treasured memories really do come from the ordinary moments.”

Contact reporter Joe Olenick

at 439-9222, ext. 6241.