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ach year as Christmas approaches, Jennie Rose decorates her home with dozens of hand-crafted Santa figurines, symbols of the holiday, but more importantly, reminders of a dear friend. Barbara “Babs” Mock is that friend. And though she and her husband now live in Colorado, for many years they played an important role in the lives of Jennie and her family as neighbors in the Briarwood region of Topeka. “Babs was like a little elf,” says Jennie. “She had a key to our house, and things would magically appear.” Sometimes Babs would leave treats for Jennie, her husband and their children. Sometimes Babs would leave behind one of her soft-sculptured Santas made from a tree ornament, recycled material and wood. “Babs was into recycling before it was significant to do recycling. She never wasted anything – not a scrap of wood, not a fabric remnant, not a tiny piece of metal that could be twisted and repurposed,” says Jennie. Santa’s hood, cuffs or coat trim may be made from pieces of an old mink coat, rabbit’s fur or sheep’s wool. The garments might be pieces of tapestry, chair upholstery or scraps from a satin party dress. The Santas held sacks of tiny toy ornaments, baskets of mistletoe or sometimes door wreaths. Each of Babs’ repurposed-material Santas was a one-of-a-kind treasure. “I just kind of knew what was right and what was wrong,” says Babs about her process of assembling the materials for each Santa based on the personality she saw in each ornament head. These Santas also remain symbols of the spirit of friendship that united the two families and the many connections that brought the neighbors together. Babs’ husband, Carroll, taught John, Jennie’s son, to drive stick-shift. Babs made Katie, Jennie’s daughter, doll dresses when she was younger. And when Katie made the cut as a Topeka High cheerleader, Babs presented her with a small doll in a matching outfit to celebrate the achievement. And the Rose children, despite having their own church, went to youth group at the Mocks’ church simply because Babs was the leader.
Each of Babs’ repurposed-material Santas was a one-of-a-kind treasure.
TOP These are four of the many customized Santa figurines created by Barbara “Babs” Mock. ABOVE Jennie Rose stands near some of Mock’s Santa figurines, several of which were given to her family as gifts and are now cherished as a reminder of a close friendship between two families.
husband Mike live in the College Hill neighborhood with their four dogs and can be found cheering at their grandchildren’s ballgames.
Becoming neighbors brought together two women who may have not otherwise met. Jennie, a native of Spokane, Washington, has worked in the office of the Kansas Senate president and later was on Governor Bill Graves’ staff. Over her 39-year marriage to Jim, Jennie has lived in California, Colorado, Florida and Kansas. Babs, a native of Texas, managed rental homes and was a mentor at Topeka High. By chance, the two women became neighbors—but they cultivated their random connection into a long friendship. “When family is that many miles away,” says Jennie, “you tend to bond with people in similar circumstances.” This year, neither of the families will be in Briarwood. Approximately nine years ago, Babs and Carroll moved to Estes Park, Colorado. For the past seven years. Jennie and her husband, Jim, have lived in Clarion Woods. But whenever Jennie unpacks her Santas for the coming season, memories come flooding back of those earlier years when she and Babs were neighbors.
TOPEKAMAGAZINE
Winter ’ 12
59