… and Rock ‘n’ Roll. Jennifer and I met through Civil War Times, for which I was a freelance writer. Through that experience we got to hang out at various history-related outings, and I always loved how genuine, warm, and real Jennifer was.

We also bonded over music, especially Rick Springfield, whom we each got to see a couple times and whom I high-fived and literally rubbed shoulders with once (Jennifer wanted to know ALL the details). We talked about other bands we liked too.

I happen to know a record industry person who knows Rick Springfield’s “people,” and she was working to get Rick to record a video or write a note to Jennifer, but with the pandemic and other constraints, she just couldn’t make it happen in time. (And she asked me to share how sad she is about that–she really wanted to make something special happen.)

I wish we could have had more time to see a show or listen to a song together. Rick Springfield isn’t known for deep lyrics, but there are a couple lines that I can imagine Jennifer singing:

“So come on, can’t you hear me saying, don’t you think about yesterday,
We’re gonna have a good time, it’s gonna be a rock ‘n’ roll night.”

Jennifer knew how to rock ‘n’ roll. She knew how to have a good time. She knew how to be a great friend and work colleague. I will miss her. ❤

[Submitted by Kim OConnell]

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