G.J. Ranft was a good friend of mine. She lived up the street from me, five houses away. She moved into that house in about third grade, if I remember correctly. She lived with her father, mother (who went by the name of Money), two much older half sisters (Sondra and Rondra), and her grandmother (who was Granny, and dipped snuff!). She was a member of our Girl Scout troop for a while and was one of the most adventurous girls I ever knew. Her two half sisters went to Spring Branch High and were about seven to nine years older.. So when we were in elementary and junior high they were graduating from high school. Boy, what they taught G.J. about men and life! G.J. had severe asthma, and one of my most fearful moments was seeing an ambulance race down our street and stop at the Ranft's house. By the time I ran down to her house, all I could see was G.J. being wheeled to the ambulance and taken to the hospital. I remember that we played at her house or in her backyard most of the time. She did not roam the woods or go to my house very much. In hindsight, I realize that her family needed her to be at home in case she had another asthma attack.
Let's return to her adventurous spirit. One time, we did leave her property. What did we do? We caught a rattlesnake with a butterfly net and put it in a big jar. I swear it was her idea! I guess we just brought it back to her house. But most of the time we would play with horse models in the little brick house they had in her backyard or listen to the radio in her garage and dance. She certainly opened up my horizons. When I spent the night at her house on Friday nights, we would watch a program called 'Weird" that was on from 10:30 to 12:00. It usually showed science fiction movies. I never was allowed to stay up that late at home. I know she is the first one to show me a Playboy magazine, a tampon, or what real liquor bottles looked like.
When we got to high school I have to admit we were on two different life trajectories and we did not stay as close as we once had been. She had a serious boyfriend, worked and quit school during our high school years. I know she later went to college at night, moved to Pasadena, worked at Shell Refinery, and had dogs and horses that she loved. I will always regret that I did not reach out to her in our later life. She died of a heart attack at the age of 55. Much too young. One thing I believe, she reached out to experience life as quickly as she could because of all her ill health as a child They loved her and told her to be careful to not over exert herself and bring on an asthma attack. G.J. lived with one goal: not to miss out on anything.
Peggy, thank you for posting your remembrances of GJ. She was always a mystery to me, very pale and seemingly tightly wound. Your descriptions explain so much, and they pay tribute to your childhood friend.
Peggy Potthoff (Ford)
G.J. Ranft was a good friend of mine. She lived up the street from me, five houses away. She moved into that house in about third grade, if I remember correctly. She lived with her father, mother (who went by the name of Money), two much older half sisters (Sondra and Rondra), and her grandmother (who was Granny, and dipped snuff!). She was a member of our Girl Scout troop for a while and was one of the most adventurous girls I ever knew. Her two half sisters went to Spring Branch High and were about seven to nine years older.. So when we were in elementary and junior high they were graduating from high school. Boy, what they taught G.J. about men and life! G.J. had severe asthma, and one of my most fearful moments was seeing an ambulance race down our street and stop at the Ranft's house. By the time I ran down to her house, all I could see was G.J. being wheeled to the ambulance and taken to the hospital. I remember that we played at her house or in her backyard most of the time. She did not roam the woods or go to my house very much. In hindsight, I realize that her family needed her to be at home in case she had another asthma attack.
Let's return to her adventurous spirit. One time, we did leave her property. What did we do? We caught a rattlesnake with a butterfly net and put it in a big jar. I swear it was her idea! I guess we just brought it back to her house. But most of the time we would play with horse models in the little brick house they had in her backyard or listen to the radio in her garage and dance. She certainly opened up my horizons. When I spent the night at her house on Friday nights, we would watch a program called 'Weird" that was on from 10:30 to 12:00. It usually showed science fiction movies. I never was allowed to stay up that late at home. I know she is the first one to show me a Playboy magazine, a tampon, or what real liquor bottles looked like.
When we got to high school I have to admit we were on two different life trajectories and we did not stay as close as we once had been. She had a serious boyfriend, worked and quit school during our high school years. I know she later went to college at night, moved to Pasadena, worked at Shell Refinery, and had dogs and horses that she loved. I will always regret that I did not reach out to her in our later life. She died of a heart attack at the age of 55. Much too young. One thing I believe, she reached out to experience life as quickly as she could because of all her ill health as a child They loved her and told her to be careful to not over exert herself and bring on an asthma attack. G.J. lived with one goal: not to miss out on anything.
Deborah Fant
Peggy, thank you for posting your remembrances of GJ. She was always a mystery to me, very pale and seemingly tightly wound. Your descriptions explain so much, and they pay tribute to your childhood friend.