Nancy Zieman, The Rest Of the Story

When I was asked to be on the Blog tour for Richard Zieman's new book, Nancy Zieman, The Rest of the Story -- I didn't hesitate. OF COURSE!! WHAT AN HONOR!!

But writing this post about Nancy is hard. When I read Rich's book, I cried. Again. Because Nancy didn't get enough time. Because she was such a good person, and a wonderful friend, and I miss her.

Also, here's the pressure, people. A Blog Tour means you have already been reading about Rich's new book, and other people who were much closer to Nancy have written very eloquently about her.

Our friend Eileen Roche wrote a wonderful tribute to Nancy to kick off this blog tour -- and, as I read it, I cried...again...and mostly I just wanted to say A BIG DITTO!! I can't say it any better than Eileen did...really...Nancy Zieman was a remarkable woman, and her life was an inspiration.

When I got the email with the pertinent information about the Blog Book Tour, my assigned date was October 17...and I suddenly knew EXACTLY what I wanted to say.

October 17 is my wedding anniversary. Today, John and I have been married for 48 years.

So what, you say?   What does my anniversary have to do with Nancy Zieman?

Stay with me for a minute.....

The day we got married, October 17, was a beautiful fall day...and, over the last 48 years, we have often enjoyed a drive "up north" to see the fall foliage.

I refer to our traditional anniversary road trip as "The Wisconsin Cheese Tour".

It's about 3 hours from our home to Beaver Dam, Wisconsin...

And we actually DO STOP AT REAL CHEESE FACTORIES.

But, of course, a major element of our Cheese Tour is the EATING.

And one of our favorite restaurants was Benvenuto's in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. Where the food is terrific -- and so is the company. If they were in town, Nancy and Richard would join us for dinner.

On this night, Nancy and Rich could not resist holding a friend's new twin grandbabies...

I went back into my photo archives to find this picture of Nancy and Rich.  Because, on this day, I am celebrating my own wedding anniversary -- and I want to take a moment to admire the 40 year marriage of Nancy and Rich Zieman.  In his new book, Nancy Zieman, The Rest of the Story, he shares a lot about the last five years of Nancy's life.

Rich was a wonderful care-giver, and I know Nancy felt his love and she often told me she was lucky to have him.

But their life together was about a lot more than luck.  More than any couple I know -- Nancy and Richard Zieman changed the world they lived in.  And they made a difference in so many people's lives.  For starters -- it's impossible to measure the impact they had on their beloved home town of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.  They started Nancy's Notions as a mail order business in their basement.

And LOOK AT WHAT THEY DID..!!  Eventually, Nancy's Notions became the largest independent employer in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin...

Thanks to their hard work, sound business practices, vision and risk-taking -- Nancy and Rich provided employment for hundreds of people.  These were the kind of decent jobs that change lives.

Their employees were proud to work for Nancy's Notions, and they were able to buy homes, and cars, and send their kids to college.

Nancy was many things to many people...

And we're all going to miss her. Her family most of all.

Good job, Rich....on sooo many levels...

Thanks for inviting me to be on the Blog Tour, Rich and Deanna.  And the Blog Book Tour is moving on...but I've decided to write a new post about Nancy every day this week.  Tomorrow, I'm going to write about the gifts....
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P.S.  For all the pertinent information about Rich's book...please check back on the earlier blogs on the tour...they are WAY more computer savvy than me....and they put up GREAT LINKS  (good job, Pat Sloan!)

P.S.S...If you leave a comment, you will be eligible to win a copy of Rich's new book.  Also, click on the badge (on the right side of this post) to find out more about the book and this Blog Book Tour.