In the small town of Wilcox , where John grew up he had a best friend,  in his preschool and elementary school years,  named Joanie Weisshaar. They were inseparable! Joanie and her family lived across the street from our house. Johnny and Joannie had a ritual that was practiced several times a day. They would both stand in front of their houses. Johnny would yell " Joanie!" , Joanie would yell " Johnny". Then they would each run toward each other with open arms as if they would embrace. They would do this slow motion with a high degree of drama attached.  Instead of running into each other's arms , they would run pass each other and land at each others' home. The ritual would begin again. They could play this game for hours and several times a day. It was so cute to watch! 

It was in those years that if you asked Johnny what he was going to be when he grew up, he always answered Johnny Weisshaar's hard ( meant to be hired) man. Joanie's father John was a farmer in Wilcox and her family John, Roseline, Letty,  and Joan were like second family for John and always welcomed him into their home.