Hommel Mangas
I was sitting on the back porch talking with my chiropractor last week. He had pulled up on his John Deere with his bib overalls on, and we stopped to discuss the visible flowering crop of zinnia, sunflowers, bachelor buttons and celosia he had planted in the field earlier in the season.
We also talked about the blessings of children and family, running a business and why-for Pete’s-sake do all of our mature 80-foot trees continue to split.
In case you were wondering, when I say “my chiropractor,” I am referring to the guy who has fought me hogging all the blankets on cold winter nights — the same man who has laughed and cried with me through life’s ups and downs. That guy who proposed to me on April Fool’s Day of 1989 — and likes to tease me even 35 years later that “it was really just a joke.”
The humble health-care provider who loves people and suggests he doesn’t believe in the R-word (retire) because he truly loves what he does.
If I’m getting too sappy, stop reading NOW. The following is just a free-flow of admiration and respect bullet-points from a wife to her husband.
1989: When you went to my dad and asked for his blessing to marry his daughter. It was reported that Frank Hommel smiled and lickety-split answered, “If you can stand her.” (But that’s besides the point.)
1990s:When you became a father — three times. By example, you taught our three daughters how to:
- laugh and have fun
- cherish and respect our family
- treasure adventure and traveling
- work hard and how to serve others
- fish
- love, serve and honor God
The girls and I have watched up close and from afar as Dr. Steve gave up his personal time to adjust a Russian missionary we just met at church when we were 1,000s of miles from home on vacation — the girls were in elementary school and soaking it all in.
We’ve seen how heartfelt and grateful our “chiropractor” was when he received a thank-you loaf of bread from a Afghanistan refugee and baker who Steve adjusted on a trip to India. Gleaming when he returned home, Dr. Steve recounted, “Ahmed went all the way home, baked it and brought it back to me. It was the best bread I ever tasted!”
Our chiropractor loves people and we sure do love him. Happy 35th Anniversary to him.
Janet Hommel Mangas grew up on the east side of Greenwood. The Center Grove area resident and her husband are the parents of three daughters. Send comments to [email protected].
