Sonnystone Acres

Ronna Lynn is my twin cousin, born to my mom’s youngest sister, Shirley and Darryl Reeves in Gary Indiana, 1954.  I can just barely remember that her dad’s family owned a florist shop and they lived in apartments above there (I think).  Somehow, though, her mom and dad split up and next I knew they were living down in Grayville, IL and Shirley was married to Max Compton, having more kids; from then on, as was the way back then, she was Ronna Compton.  We played together and spent nights together at grandma’s and looked a lot alike, hence we took on the persona of Patty Duke: 

Still they’re cousins, identical cousins and you’ll find

They laugh alike, they walk alike, at times they even talk alike….

By the time Grandma Eaton died in 1969, Ronna’s family had  moved to Oklahoma and from there they moved to Florida and finally threw down roots.  Must not have been the happiest of homes, however, because Ronna married at 16 just to get away.  (she was NOT pregnant)  Her daughter, Jennifer Davis, was born in 1974; she divorced when Jen was about 3.  Sometime around then, she met and married the Love of her life, Tom Loppnow;  they married in April, 1980 and lived in Plant City, FL.  Tom is an engineer (now retired, lucky him) and has worked for a major petroleum company forever and his career has taken them all over the world. Their daughter, Lacy, was born in 1981 in Florida.  In 1983 they moved to New Zealand, where their daughter Stephanie was born in 1985.   They moved back to Florida when Stephanie was 9 months old and lived there until 1988.  In 1989 they moved to Italy; 1990, on to Belgium; back to the USA, Chicago, in 1991 and stayed there for 2 1/2 years.  In 1995, they moved to Decatur, Alabama, where they lived for the longest time of their marriage:  9 years.  This is where her kids graduated high school and went on to college and out into the world.  So how did they cope with empty nest?  Moved back to New Zealand in 2004!!  In 2006, after a 3-month stay back in Alabama, they moved (for good, I think) to Houston, where they are currently residing.  Ronna’s true joy is her husband and family, and now she has a grandson, Zac, who lives nearby and, well, you know how great the grandkids are!!!  Ronna is a great cook, especially Italian, and is a wonderful, loyal friend–proved by the many friends she has made in her journeys who still keep in touch.  I love her so much and we share a very special relationship:

You can lose your mind, when cousins are 2 of a kind!!

Our interview was carried out over the phone;  I hope we can get together soon live and in-person!!

Age:  54

Bed size:  King

Chore you hate:  vacuuming

Dog’s name:  Last dog was Chatty

Essential “start your day” item:  brushing my teeth

Favorite color:  yellow

Gold or Silver?  gold

Height:  5′9″

Instrument you play:  clarinet at one time

Job title:  domestic engineer

Kids:  Jennifer, Lacy, Stephanie

Living arrangements:  Tom & I, 2 cats in a 3br, 2bath ranch home

Mom’s name:  Shirley

Nicknames:  Wild Thing

Overnight hospital stay (other than childbirth):   broken ankle

Pet peeves:  toilet seat up

Quote from a movie:  “Here’s lookin’ at you, kid”  Rick, Casablanca

Right (handed) or Left(handed):  right

Siblings:  Neina, Kim, Jeff, Jason

Time you wake up:  6:30

Underwear:  granny panties, soft and comfy

Veggie you most like and dislike:  potatoes and carrots

Ways you cope with stress:  wine

X-ray vision (have you ever predicted the future correctly?)  yes…..

Zoo you like best:  Houston Zoo–especially the meerkats.