Happiness Comes in Waves

If you get bored with pictures, you might want to skip this post.

We've had an incredibly busy month.  After the month of May, when I was really struggling, I needed to keep busy.  July took care of that!

We started the month with a vacation with Nick, Mere, Andrew and Max.  Our second consecutive family vacation.  Marco Island.  We stayed in a condo owned by one of Melissa's best friends...and we all got along - for an entire week!

First day walk on the beach.  Donny and I continued the walks, early in the morning every day. We're retired - they were on vacation!  We all did whatever made us happy!

My boys...Max, Andrew, Nick, Donny

Nick, Max, Mere, Andrew

Dinner out.  Mexican, my favorite.

And ice cream to follow.

Max wanted to be the Statue of Liberty.

I bought them each something to take home.  Max wanted a Pug.  This is the best kind to have!

Andrew.  Take the "L"

Sunset

Two of my favorite people!

Stacy and Casey took us to their favorite place - a (semi) private beach.

Max andMia

Andrew

Our own little beach!

The girls 

Happy Hour

Fourth of July on the beach.  Packed that day!

Casey, Nick, Mere, Stacy

Andrew teaching the girls how to dive (he just learned that morning!)

Max playing frisby with Joseph.

Max, Andrew, Mia, Emma

Max and Joseph.  Joseph is autistic.  He was with his family from Miami.  Max and Joseph made a connection.  Max was so compassionate.  I was so proud of him.

Another sunset.

Cathy, Tony, Emma and Mia, our new friends from Canada.

Family photo 

Of course Fort was there...

Last night on the beach.

We had a great time in Marco Island.  The week went fast.  It was relaxing (I think) for Nick and Mere, and Donny and I got our walks in every day.  Lots of beach time.  Found a great restaurant - Lee Bee - the menu was simple-whatever they caught that day!  The first time we went it was grouper and snapper.  Fried, grilled, blackened.  Platter, basket or tacos.  You watched the cook prepare your dinner.  It was awesome.  Nick's ALL TIME favorite restaurant.  Kids loved it too!  

We drove home - stopped in Alabama again to visit Karen and Charley (my high school friends) on their farm!  Another great visit!

Karen, Charley, me, Donny

Southern Caribbean Cruise

Got home on Monday, (fortunately we had a washer and dryer in the condo in Marco Island)-because we unpacked for only a couple of days!  Left Friday for an eight day cruise to the southern Caribbean.  

Met Mange and Mary, our cruise buddies for the last 5 cruises, in Columbus.  Flew into Ft. Lauderdale.

We always looks for signs from our girls - we got our first signs in the airport!

We were headed to pick up our luggage.  Mary walked past this guy who said hello.  She stopped and they both turned around and realized they KNEW each other!  He was Courtney's first tennis coach (when she was in elementary school).  If you've read the blog before, you know that Mange and Mary's daughter Courtney died of ovarian cancer in 2011.  She was 27.  And a LOT like Melissa.  Athletic, lots of friends, and a fighter.  So running into Courtney's coach was a pretty big sign.  We stopped, talked, took pictures.  (another interesting side note - he was there with his son who is a tennis player as well.  He goes to New Albany, outside of Columbus.  The Athletic Director at his high school is a friend of Nick's from high school!  Small world!)  So anyway, after talking for several minutes - we turned around and were just flabbergasted that they ran into this guy.  As soon as we turned to go to baggage claim, on the floor in front of us was a butterfly - painted on the floor. Our sign from Melissa!  (we covered a lot of area in the Ft. Lauderdale airport, and didn't see a butterfly painted on the floor anywhere else!!!)  Both our girls were there.  Great way to start our trip!

So we head to Miami, where we will spend the night before we board the ship.  Hilton Downtown Miami.  Beautiful.  Dinner, drinks by the pool.  

We wanted to get to the port early, so talked to the concierge about transportation.  Of course he recommended Uber, which neither of us knew anything about.  He was very helpful...told me to get the app and he would walk me through it.  I finally belong in the 21st century.  I have UBER!!!!  We were impressed.  Called, our ride was there within minutes - five minutes to the port.  It was awesome.  So we get on the ship, head to the top deck for drinks...when Mary STOPS in her tracks and says "Oh My God.  I left all my money in the safe in the hotel!!!"  (all her cash for the ENTIRE week!!!)  Mary is the planner of all the trips we go on.    I am so much better under pressure.  Figure things out on the spot.  Since I had Uber (now), I would go with her back to the hotel.

This ship (the Carnival Vista) had just disembarked 5000 people.  5000 more were checking in. And Mary and I were running in the opposite direction.  To get OFF the ship.  First thing we had to do was go to our Staterooms (which weren't ready yet) and get our Sign and Sale cards (which you use for everything on the ship - drinks, shopping, casino, and its a key to get in your room!) then we had to go through Security AGAIN.  Finally got off the ship - called UBER.  Two minutes later we were in the car trying to explain the situation.  And our driver didn't speak English.  He knew "OK" and "I don't speak English".  So we talked LOUDER and slooooowwwwweerrrrr....and he still didn't understand.  But he knew where we needed to go, and when we got there, I just didn't get out of the car.  Security at the hotel was waiting for Mary - took her up to their room and THANK GOD the money was in the safe!  We were back on the ship in less than an hour.  And Donny and Mange were waiting at the door for us.  

FINALLY!  Back on the ship...CHEERS!!!

Out of the 5000 checking in, 1400 were kids.  It was a busy ship.  Met some wonderful people from all over the country.  And if you've never been on a cruise ship, the majority of the people who work on the ship are NOT American.  A lot of people from Asia.  Hardest working people you'll ever meet.  And they ALL know English.  Or enough to be friendly and helpful.  And if they are waiting on your table or cleaning your room, they introduce themselves and REMEMBER your name.  Every time they see you.  No matter where it is on the ship.  It's amazing.  

The food was great.  Too much.   I told Donny it's a floating Golden Coral.  Only with great food.  Seems like the portions at dinner are getting bigger.  I didn't like that - I guess they are Americanizing the portions.  Americans eat too much.  But on the ship, they want you happy.  And they want you to drink (because you're not driving, so it's OK).  We really didn't see anyone who overindulged, but we were never up very late because we were up so early every day.  We walked the track every day (Donny averaged 6 miles a day!)  I only remember taking the elevator one time.  We walked the steps all the time.  We were on the 9th floor.  Went anywhere from the 3rd floor to the 14th!  Lots of walking.  Our hall was 3 football fields long - Donny, a former football official, paced it off.  I walked the halls instead of the track because it was air conditioned!  Work smarter - not harder!  

Our cruise buddies!

Our ports of call...

GRAND TURK

Off the ship straight into a shop.    First thing I see is this T-Shirt

Wow.  We always talk about grief, how it comes in waves (sometimes tsunamis!).  This shirt reminded me that HAPPINESS comes in waves too.  I really wanted this shirt, but of course they only had smalls, so I took a picture instead.  We had a tsunami of fun on this trip!

We've been to Grand Turk before - it's where I had my first massage on a beach!  And whadda you know!  It's still there!

 This is Mary & Mange - they went first...

Waiting for my massage!

Made some new friends at Margaritaville from NJ!

The pool at Margaritaville.  We were off the ship at 8:30 a.m. (had to be back on at 1:30)

Margarita's at the pool bar at 9 a.m.  Crazy.

Ran into our Cruise Director Adam too! (he was awesome!)

Dominican Republic

Got off the ship just to walk around the shops - then right back on.  

These little fish eat the dead skin off your feet.  EWWWWW.  No this is not me.

Off the ship to get a picture!

and another...

and another...

CURACAO

Off the ship to shop and head to the beach for a couple of hours!  Lots of things to do in Curacao..

There was a ship regatta going by when we got into port!

Looking off the ship at Curacao.

Donny found a place to rest his weary head...

All we saw was FORT.

Mange & Mary

Donny...who KNEW he was a shopper!

Can you find Mange in the crowd?

Was leaning over a railing and saw these guys...

The shoppers...

Finally on the beach and Mary is already planning the NEXT day!

A billboard in Curacao.  Donny's mom is a RADO!

Donny almost stepped on this guy!

A heart of locks.

The beach we went to!

On the ride to the beach, we learned a lot from our cab driver.  All about Curacao and the fact that citizens of Curacao learn FOUR languages.  English being one of them.  Interesting, in our country we expect everyone to learn OUR language, in other countries they welcome many languages...even learn to speak them!  Very welcoming.

ARUBA

Our favorite port on this cruise.  Shopping again first, then on to Eagle Beach.  

Mary found a spot with WIFI!

FUN on the ship!

White Night! An oldies party.  We fit right in!

towel art

The only sunrise we actually got up for.  And we got a HEART from Fort to boot!

more towel art

Not "our" pool - this one was too crowded!

Donny rode these slides!

our pool!

I got serenaded!

The SkyRide.  Got in line because it was the shortest line of the trip, and found out I couldn't wear flip flops, so I wore Donny's shoes.

The sky ride - goes out over the edge of the ship.  You pedal your way around.

Fun fun fun!!!!

Im in this photo by the pool!

Donny and his fru fru drink.

One of the actors in the show hitting' on my husband!

More fun

Went to see a movie in the IMAX!

Great cruise.   Got off the ship and headed back to Ft. Lauderdale for the night.

Ft. Lauderdale

We got about 20 minutes on the beach.  Donny and I walked for about 10 minutes, then came back and fell asleep on our chairs...only to wake up getting rained on.  A DOWNPOUR followed!

Dinner (I mean DRINKS)

Out shopping again.

The Elbo Room

Decorated palm trees

You want to travel with Mary.  She can get you upgrades (we were upgraded to Suites because she told them we were celebrating our anniversaries!)  Then they brought 2 bottles of champagne and chocolate covered strawberries to our room!!!

Last morning by the pool.  That night we were back home in OHIO.

Not ready to go home.

In 1981, we stayed in this hotel.  I think it's a Marriott now.  It was a Stouffers then.  Donny had to go to Ft. Lauderdale to work, so he took the three of us along.  Melissa was 3 Nick was 1. I spent two weeks by the pool.  Met two couples who found a way to get us on an Aircraft Carrier (the Independence) that was in port.  

Ft. Lauderdale Beach.

HOME SWEET HOME

For two days.  Then on to St. Louis for the Compassionate Friends Conference.  I'll post

those pics on FB.

Left St. Louis on Sunday after the Walk to Remember.  Got a call that Dad was going to the Hospital. That's where I am now updating the blog.  He was doing okay this morning...not so good tonight.  I'm staying overnight with him.  Nurse just came in to take his BP, (it's been high) and it hurt and he was yelling at her to take it off.  I told him to hold my hand til she took it off...so he did...and then he kissed my hand.  He can be SO sweet sometimes.  Then he tried to get out of bed.  He's a little confused about where he is.  I told him I'd sing to him. So I started singing "Rock-a-bye-Baby" and he yawned...Now he's asleep.  My singing puts the boys right to sleep too.  Hope it lasts.

Good night.  Sleep tight.

Today Was A Good Day

For the last ten years, (I thought) summers were easier than the winter months.  I've realized recently that is not true.  My last couple posts (two of which I deleted) have been, well, not very positive.

I struggle with depression and anxiety, like a lot of people.  I KNOW I am not alone.  However, you really are alone when the depression hits because it's really difficult to reach out when you are feeling this way.

It's been a roller coaster the last month.  A couple of good days, several bad days, a couple of good days.  

Today I'm struggling.  Didn't want to get out of bed.  

Donny is playing softball, so it would have been easy to just go back to bed.  But I decided to do some purging.  Get rid of some things and get at least ONE thing organized.

As I was going through things, I came across a letter from my mom.  It was a rough draft of a letter she never gave me (we found it after she passed away).  My mom did rough drafts of EVERYTHING.  If she was going to make a phone call, she would write down everything she was going to say before she made the call, to be sure she wouldn't forget anything.  Then she'd write the name of the person she talked to, the date and the time.  I do the same thing.  

Anyway, I needed this letter today.  My mom and I didn't have the best relationship...the kind I wanted anyway (the kind I had with Melissa).  Sometimes I wasn't sure how she even felt about me. Without details from the letter, I'll just say that my mom had a hard time verbalizing how she felt about me.  She wrote the letter and never gave it to me.  But I found it, and it helps.  Especially today.

As I was going through things, my phone beeped.  I had a message.  It was from a friend who just said "I hope you have a great day today" with lots of happy emoji's (we message each other a lot with happy emoji's).  Made me smile.  I needed THAT too.

I found something that I thought was lost.  Needs to be filed with important papers.

That made me smile.

Then I found this.  I have no idea who gave it to me or where I got it, but I think it was from one of the Compassionate Friends Conferences:

Today was the absolute worst day ever

And don't try to convince me that

There's something good in every day

Because, when you take a closer look,

This world is a pretty evil place.

Even if

Some goodness does shine through once in a while

Satisfaction and happiness don't last.

And it's not true that

It's all in the mind and heart

Because

True Happiness can be obtained

Only if one's surroundings are good

It's not true that good exists

I'm sure you can agree that

The reality

Creates  

My attitude

It's beyond my control

And you'll never in a million years hear me say that

Today was a good day.

NOW.  Reread this from the bottom up.

***

So today did not start off well.  But it's getting better.

One minute at a time.

I hope YOU have a great day.

Life Lesson #2

I've had a little time to think about the anonymous letter I received today.  I've consulted a couple of experts (Donny, Nick and my best friend Jennifer, who has also lost a child.)

I've decided to respond to your letter since you decided to send it anonymously.

Since you are a "follower of the B POSITIVE Blog" I assume you know me.  You also know my address.  You state you sent this "in the mode of friendship and caring".

First of all, I find that a little amusing since you didn't sign your name.  I also find it interesting that you typed the letter.  (It's kind of one of those letters that you'd get with cut out letters out of a magazine).

My first inclination was that this was from someone who was concerned about me.   I will admit, my post WAS sad.  I WAS depressed.  It was Mother's Day Weekend.  AND my mom's birthday weekend.  (The next weekend was the 11th anniversary of my mother's death.)

I decided that it was OK to post how I was feeling.  YEP.  I want to be with Melissa.  Doesn't EVERY mother want to be with their child on Mother's Day???  Maybe it was my wording.  "I am SO ready to be with Melissa."

At Compassionate Friends Meetings, we can say that and NOT be judged.  We ALL want to be with out child.  EVERY day.  

You chose to judge my wording by telling me "It seems like the rest of your family doesn't matter at all to you".  This is the part I talked to my son and my husband about.  Nope.  They didn't agree.
My whole life for the past 10 years has been about my husband, son, and grandsons.  I have pretty much abandoned my friends to spend time with my family.  Ask any of my friends.  You also said "I would be so hurt if I read that from my mom/grandma).  "You need to spend your remaining days spoiling your Dad, her brother and her nephews."

While I assumed that you know me (because you know my address), they both agreed that you don't know me AT ALL.  That's all I have done for the last 10 year.  Every Christmas I make a book for my Grandsons.  It's pictures of everything we do together all year.  It's their favorite gift.  My husband and son don't feel slighted by me at all.

You also reminded me how fortunate I am that we get signs from Melissa.  You must know that from reading the blog.   And "how fortunate I am that many people and organizations are actively  and successfully keeping Melissa's memory alive."  I believe that every year I thank the KELTS for remembering and honoring Melissa at the Breast Cancer Fundraiser.  We love them and appreciate them and I believe they know that.  "Find peace and comfort in her ongoing memory and the charitable donations her memory generates.  That should be rewarding to you."

Did I say it wasn't????

"You have experienced great loss in the last 10 years.  Melissa entitled her blog B POSITIVE and she found something positive in everything she experienced."

You were very concerned when I wrote "I am totally overwhelmed and sad. "  Yep.  I was.  Ten Mother's Days without my daughter. (Oh yes, you reminded me that I had 20+ years WITH her.)
Do you think I FORGOT that????  I don't need that reminder.  It took me awhile but I eventually got to the point where I try to remember her LIFE and not her DEATH.  I have made a lot of progress.

"Melissa would be the first one to tell you to get professional help to deal with your feelings so you can B POSITIVE."  How do YOU know what Melissa thinks???  And just to be clear, I DID get professional help.  Twice.  First time, the therapist fell asleep while I was talking about Melissa.  That's when I started going to Compassionate Friends (I am the Chapter Librarian now).  Some of our closest friends we met through TCF.  We go to the National Conference every summer.  TCF saved my life.  And we have lifelong friends through TCF now.
I received a letter like this several years ago, I saw a therapist a second time about that letter.  She really helped me.  She has since retired.  I don't know if you've ever gone to a therapist, but it 's not easy finding one that works.  And takes your insurance.  I choose Compassionate Friends over a therapist now.

I ended my post with "Don't ever take what you have for granted."  That was advice that I felt I could give because I lived it.  I DON'T take what I have for granted.  My entire life now is dedicated to my family.  You might think you know me, but you don't.  But you felt like you could tell me "YOU ARE taking what you have for granted."  That hurt.

You also said "You are choosing to let your losses influence and override the good things you have in your life.  You have failed to B POSITIVE."

I told my husband, my son and my friend Jennifer that THAT was what hurt the most.
Let me ask YOU, anonymous letter writer.  Did you know that I (with the help of a lot of other people)organized a fund raiser for Melissa's scholarship that raised $24,000?  That I have done a 3 day 60 mile walk for Breast Cancer 3 times?  Three half marathons for Breast Cancer? Multiple 5Ks for breast cancer?  I talk about my daughter every chance I get.

You also reminded me that "life is not easy for any of us.  Things don't turn out the way you planned or the way you think they should.  No one lives forever.  Life goes on.  We cannot control what life deals us, but we can control how we react to it. Don't let your grief continue to consume your entire family.  It is time to take some serious steps to B POSITIVE."

No signature.  That says it ALL.

If you KNOW me, you would have called.  It took me a couple of hours to think about this, talk to Donny, Nick and Jennifer.  They are all angry.

I pulled your crumpled letter out of the trash after I decided to respond to it.

Your intentions were good.  Your approach was hurtful and insensitive.  I'm guessing you will not call, since you chose to type the envelope and the letter, you don't want me to know WHO you are.

I chose to respond to your letter here because I was thinking about Melissa.  She too received an anonymous response to a post she made once.  I believe it was the post about the Rubi Girls fundraiser for her.  She had a beer in her hand in the pictures.  The annonymous responder chose to judge Melissa for her decision to drink.  I guess.

My daughter lived EVERY day to the fullest.  Yes, she had some alcohol when she was on chemo.
She went Cabrewing after she had her mastectomy while she had drains in (much to my chagrin).
She knew what was coming.  And she was going to enjoy every minute of her life.
She played rugby just a few months before she passed away.  She came to see me play sand volleyball in September (3 months before she passed) and begged to play - so she came in for me for a few minutes.  She probably shouldn't have done that either.

Melissa had bad days too...and she posted about them occasionally.  Just like I did on Mother's Day.
I AM struggling.  I don't have my daughter any more.  My ONLY daughter.  My best friend.  I am ALLOWED to grieve.  And I thought it would be ok to say that.  On Mother's Day.

I am touched that you are concerned.  But let me give YOU some advice.  If you want to help someone, don't do it anonymously.  Send a letter.  AND SIGN IT.  Or call.  I really did need someone to talk to that week.  Even NOW.   What you said in your letter was insensitive and hurtful.  A phone call of "Are you ok?"  would have been so much better.

I don't even want to know who you are.

Letter

Life is Good.

The 5K for Melissa was awesome.  We had over 130 people attend this year.  We will be talking to the new coach tomorrow to talk about next year.

We gave 3 $1000 scholarships again this year - all deserving candidates.

Got to go to the finals of the NCAA Women's basketball tournament and see the three GREATEST games ever.

I got to babysit an adorable 6 week old baby for 6 weeks.  And fell in love...and Kathryn Westbeld came to my house with her mom to visit the baby.  We had a famous person in our house!

We spent this past weekend with our good friends Mange and Mary from Portsmouth and did a 5K in memory of Sam Pearson (who was killed in Baghdad), the son of our good friends Randi and Carolyn, took our grandsons Andrew and Max who had a great time at the picnic afterward swimming and playing with the other kids.  And we'll have the kids two days a week this summer.  Even spending a week with Nick and his family in July for vacation.

And my dad is home.  I am thankful for that.

Donny is retired and getting a lot of things done around the house. And I'm TRYING to help.

Evidently, I was a little too honest in my last two posts.  I deleted them.
For some reason I am having an unusually difficult time right now.

I am so thankful for friends that care...my cousin Sue from California called to check in (didn't ask anything, just call to see how I was doing) and a friend of Melissa's from OU sent a note and something that Melissa had made for her in college (I'll be making a color copy and sending it back Annie...it was for YOU!) Exactly what I needed. (of course Donny is ALWAYS here. He always gives me something to laugh about)

I also received an anonymous letter.  Not so helpful.  I wish whoever you are you would have called.  I really needed someone to talk too.  Might have turned things around.

In the future, no more honesty here.  Just happy stuff and funny stories.

Have a great summer!

Today was a good day.

Sometimes I have to say it out loud.  What I am beginning to realize is it is OK to have a good day.
When I look back on the last nine years, often I go through the 30,000+ pictures I have on my laptop. I look at pictures from early 2009.  My memories of "after Melissa" are foggy.  I remember crying.  Every day.  For a couple of years.  But when I look at the pictures, I see smiles.  On ME.  It's not what I remember.

Somehow, we found a way to survive each day.  And to convince everyone around us we were ok.  LOTS of good things have happened in the last nine years.  A scholarship in Melissa's name, Breast Cancer Fundraisers, but most importantly, friendships.  Old friendships that made it through the most difficult of tests...how to deal with a bereaved parent.  There is nothing you can say or do to fix us.  Just being there and letting us grieve any way that gets us through each day...but still being there.  We were blessed with friends that hung in with us....and still do.

But just as important are the new friendships we've made.  And old friendships rekindled.  Donny's teammate from Wilmington and his wife, who lost their daughter two years after Melissa passed away - Mange and Mary.  I like to believe we helped each other on the hardest of days - with the exception of vacation planning.  Mary did most (all) of that.  We'd never been on a cruise before we met them.  After Melissa died, I wasn't sure if I ever wanted to to anything "fun" again.  Didn't seem right.  I found out that not only can we have good days, but we could have fun again too.  And it was OK.

We met Randi and Carolyn through Compassionate Friends and are so much alike that it's hard to believe we've only been friends for a little over six years. (Their son Sam was in the service and was killed in Baghdad.)  They don't live close by, but we get together as much as we can.  And we laugh.  AND we cry.

I met a Katrina and her mom at the Compassionate Friends National Conference in Orlando this past summer - sitting by the pool.   Her brother died six weeks before the conference.  And she lives in the Dayton area.  We just got together last week.

I am posting today because of a new friend.   I know for sure Melissa had a hand in this.

A couple of years ago I talked to the UD Women's Basketball team about Breast Cancer and about Melissa.  Shauna Greene was an assistant coach then, and is currently the Head Coach.  I ran into her at a Fairmont game last year, re-introduced myself.  She asked me if I would talk to the team again before their Breast Cancer game.  OF COURSE.  I LOVE to talk about Melissa and share information on breast cancer awareness.

Not long after that, Tom Archdeacon wrote an article in the Dayton Daily News about one of the players on the women's team, JaVonna Layfield.  It was about her friendship with Steve McElvene. Steve played on the UD Men's team.  He passed away suddenly the summer before of a heart ailment.  Similar to my brother Steve.  The article talked about their friendship, and after just re-reading the article - how determined she was to go on...to live life to the fullest.

I guess what I saw in the article when I read it THEN (which was almost exactly a year ago - 1/21/17)
was someone hurting.

This is Melissa's connection:  Some of you might remember the story of when Melissa lost her son JP.  The day after she lost him was a Monday.  John had to go to work, Donny went to work, and I was planning the funeral.  She was home alone and decided to go to the local Catholic church.  She sat in the back of church and cried through the entire mass.  When mass was over, the few people that were there all passed her by without saying anything....then the priest walked passed her and turned out the lights in the church.  She later wrote (I think in a blog post) that she would have received more compassion at the local pub.

The point is, if someone is hurting, the absolute LEAST we can do is reach out.  Maybe those people in the church weren't sure WHAT to do, so they did nothing.  (not so sure about the priest????)  If you at least reach out, they know that someone cares.    If they turn you away, at least you tried.

So, back to JaVonna.  The story brought back memories of MY brother Steve, who died of the same thing.  I remember how I felt.  And after Melissa passed away, I knew how much it helped me to talk to someone who truly understood.    So I sent her note - through the head coach.  I don't remember exactly what it said, but I ended it with "if you ever want to talk, or have coffee..." and I gave her my home and cell numbers.

I didn't expect to hear anything, but had to follow my daughters advice.  REACH OUT.  It can't hurt and maybe you might help.  You have to at least try.  So I did.

Fast forward to October 2017 (three months ago).  I received a text message...from JaVonna!  It was a pretty long text, about " Coach gave us an assignment to write a letter to someone who we do not talk to everyday (maybe years) but has been some sort of Inspiration to us..."
Wow.  Don't think THAT has ever happened to me before.  I know it hasn't...
Pretty much brought me to tears.

We communicated a little more, and I finally said "my offer still stands.  I would love to take you to lunch sometime..."

We met the next day.  Had a very nice conversation, got to know each other a little better.  She is an AMAZING young woman.  Will be graduating with honors from UD in May and know exactly what she wants in life.

I've told her a few times that she reminds me of Melissa.  On the court, JaVonna is a basketball machine.  Melissa was good, but she was a better rugby player!  Melissa and JaVonna were (are?) alike on the bench- funny as that sounds.  She's not there often - but if she's not hurt - she's cutting up and laughing and just having fun.  That was Melissa.

Melissa (eventually) knew what she wanted in life too.  They have the same outlook on life too.  Both very caring about others.  I've only talked to JaVonna a couple of times - last time for three hours, but she really made an impression on me.   She was talking about her great grandparents being in their late 80s last time we met.  Then I asked her how old her grandparents are (I shouldn't have asked!) - I could be her GRANDMOTHER!!!!  Her mom is Melissa's age.

But you know what, it didn't make a difference.  I like her.  And I feel like we are friends.  One of my best friends, Ruth, was 40 years older than me.  I love having friends that are older AND younger than me.  Keeps things in perspective.

The one thing I LOVE..she calls me Mrs. Fort.  I've told her she can call me Pam, but she told me once "that's the way I was raised"...I like that too.

And the other thing I love?  She wears her FORT bracelet when she's warming up - takes it off and one of the assistant coaches wears it for her during the game.  Shauna wears hers at every game too.

Melissa is on the court with them, and she would LOVE that.  Her mom sure does!

At the UD women's game with the boys!

JaVonna shooting foul shots (get a better picture from the scoreboard AND the score!)

After lunch 

The moral of this (story) post...REACH OUT.  Don't hesitate  or second guess yourself.  Make the phone call, send a note, take some food.    It might make a difference...and a new friend.

***
Love you miss you Melissa.

Nine Years Later

Nine years ago today, Fort was sleeping right now.  She slept a lot the last few days.  And she didn't want anyone to know that she was back at Hospice.

She was home until a couple of days past Christmas.  She WANTED to be home for Christmas.  So she was.  I think Christmas was Friday that year.  The Sunday following, Andrew was baptized.  Melissa was his Godmother.  But she was too sick to go.  So I stood in for her.  We didn't stay away too long, didn't want to be away from her for too long.

That night, Angie spent the night (because it was Sunday night, John had to go home because he had to work the next day).  I remember that night...she kept pulling the canula off, and she couldn't breathe without it.  Either Angie or I would get up and put it back on her.    We had to keep reminding her to take deep breaths.  It really didn't matter though.  She would be heading back to Hospice the next day.  Monday.

She got up that morning and wanted to take a shower.  We have a full bath (walk in shower) in the family room, but she was on oxygen and couldn't take the oxygen off long enough to take a shower. But she was determined.  She went into the bathroom and stripped. Naked.  She stood there begging me...but she couldn't do it without the oxygen.  Then she threw up.  She was standing above the toilet and threw up from a standing position.  Then she tried to clean up the mess...it was the hardest thing (to that point) that we'd been through.  All she wanted was a shower.  And I said NO.  I cleaned her up and the Hospice Nurse was there not long after.  She said Melissa had to go back to Hospice.
I still regret that day...the last thing she asked of me and I told her No.

When the ambulance came to pick her up, she told me and Angie to "keep it on the DL".  I think she knew...and she didn't want anyone to worry.

She slept a lot those last few days.

Pauly & Elizabeth came to visit to tell her that they were engaged (FINALLY)...she was SO happy.
She told them she would be at the wedding (and she was.  But that's another story).

John, his mom & dad, Nick, Mere, Andrew and me and Donny were there around the clock.  She had a few visitors that week.

New Years Eve, we were all asleep and she got up to go to the bathroom and she fell.  The nurse asked why she didn't ask for help.  "Everyone was sleeping.  I didn't want to wake anyone up."
She could do it herself.  That was the Theme of Her Childhood.  She told me that when she was in the hospital when I tried to help her with something.

You might wonder why I keep telling this story over and over (every year).  It's because I'm afraid I might forget something.  I don't want to forget.  Even the hard parts.

So I remember the nurse coming in the night before.  She told me I could lay with her.  John wasn't in the room at the time, but I didn't want to take John's place.  That was HIS place.  Not mine.

Friday night, Nick, Mere & Andrew came to visit.  She perked up anytime Andrew was around.  She did that night too.  When they left, Nick stood in the doorway (after he kissed her good-bye) and said "See you in the morning Fort".  She said "I love you Nick."  That was the last thing she said.
She fell asleep after they left.

I slept on one side of her bed, John was on the other.  I remember holding her hand, memorizing it...because I knew.

My dad stopped by that night to tell me that he was leaving for Florida in the morning.  I told him he couldn't leave.  It was going to be soon.  But he said "She's not going to die".  He was in denial.  So was Donny.

But that night, I tried to stay awake as long as I could.  I didn't want to miss one moment...and I wanted to remember EVERYTHING about her.  Her hands seemed so small....and I remember at one point, a tear rolled down her cheek.  I have always wondered...was she crying because she was leaving us, or was it tears of joy...she was seeing JP for the first time since HE left us.

Her breathing was getting labored around 3 a.m., around 4 everyone came in.  We were all awake, and waiting.

It was so peaceful when she took her last breath...that's all I remember.  John's dad looked at the clock...5:18 a.m.

We had a lot to decide in the next hour...which funeral home to call (because we had never talked about that - she wasn't GOING to die.  She was going back to work!)

I remember getting home that morning, around 7 a.m.  Diana and Angie walked in behind us.  They asked what they could do.  "Take the tree down."  And I vacuumed.  My daughter just died and I was vacuuming.

After that I slept.  My friend Shelly called my doctor to get something to help me sleep.  When Shelly got to the store, they were closed.  So she called my doctor back and she called something into another pharmacy.  Shelly picked it up and brought it to me.  I think I slept for the next 24 hours.

The next week was a whirlwind.    So many of our friends were there for us...and Melissa's friends.

I remember more about that week, the funeral, people who travelled from all over the country to be here.  Donny just found a list in the corner cupboard - a full page to write thank you's to.  Where people travelled from to be here.

We are forever grateful for the compassion and love we received then...and still are.

NINE YEARS LATER.

Here I am. Still crying.  I thought I had gotten to the point where I could retell the story without crying, but I can't.  At least ^ that part of the story.

The part I can retell are the memories...of her LIFE.  Not her death.  It's taken a long time, but as much as I miss her, I'd rather tell and HEAR stories of her LIFE.  (except on her anniversary...those memories come back pretty strong this time of year...)

So much has happened in nine years, and I can do so much more now than I could then, even four or five years ago.

I have almost 30,000 pictures on my laptop.  When I scroll through those pictures, I am amazed of everything that we've done in the last nine years.  I'm sure it's not any more than most people do in nine years, but nine years ago, I really thought I'd never want or be able to do much of anything ever again.  How wrong I was.

We were determined to keep her memory alive.  That was what got us going in the beginning.  With the help of lots of friends - we had a fundraiser to do the 60 mile walk again. (Red Carpet- you know who you are!) Then, Angie planted a seed about having a fundraiser for a Scholarship in Melissa's name.  The summer after she passed away, we started work on that.    I remember crying every day for the first two years...so how in the world did I manage to help plan an event for 500 people???
We were a lot alike, me and Melissa.  Give her a project, and she would run with it.  Hmmm...maybe she was like her mom?  But I know I got my strength from her.

In the last nine years, we've done some traveling too.  We made new friends through Compassionate Friends, and reconnected with old friends who now belong to the "Club No One Wants to Belong to".

Recently, we've gone out with some friends we haven't seen in awhile (oh, 8 years or so).  It's still hard during the holidays, but we did it. And it was ok.

I think the most important thing we've learned in the last nine years is that we are NOT ALONE.
Unfortunately.  The best thing we have done is to be there for others who are now walking this walk.
Believe it or not, we don't always know what to say when someone we know loses THEIR child.
But we don't hesitate to call.  There is nothing we can do to ease their pain.  But we call.

Tomorrow, nine years later, we are going to a basketball game.  Not feeling very social right now, but I know that I need to get out.  Do something, especially this time year.

And on Friday, Melissa's 40th Birthday, we'll celebrate her birthday at China Cottage.  It's tradition.
(Her last big birthday - 30th - we had a huge party at BW3.  We are thinking about having another celebration there, and making it a fundraiser.  Will let you know if that happens.)

We miss our beautiful daughter EVERY SINGLE DAY.

But we also realize how short this life can be.   We'll remember her by celebrating her life,
sharing her life, and enjoying life.

I'm still a work in progress.  I think Melissa would be ok with that.

Love you and miss you pretty girl.
My Melissa Marie.

Going to try to attach a video here.  She did it all the time, I've never tried it.  The quality  isn't great, but you can hear her voice...I need that STILL.  It's Melissa with Andrew...

One Year Later...Johnny Mac

I remember this weekend a year ago as vividly as I remember this WEEK nine years ago...and can't believe it happened all over again.  

When I look at these pictures of John, I struggle to grasp the fact that we will never hear his voice or his laugh again...I still struggle to understand how it happened.  And why.

I talked to some friends who are police officers, who I respect immensely.  I would trust them in any situation to make a snap second decision. And I understand that they need to protect themselves.

What I don't understand is that the officers in this case HAD to know that he was despondent.  You could hear it in his voice on the 911 call.  Do Police Departments not have someone (a counselor?) they can call to handle situations like this?  They obviously didn't know the back story of what was going on, but are they trained to have a conversation with someone who is despondent?  

We loved John like a son.  When he remarried, it was awkward for us...because we didn't have a "connection" any more.  We stayed in touch, but after he married, we weren't sure what to do.  

The most important thing to us was that he was happy.  No one deserved that more than John.  He loved our daughter and took his marriage vows seriously.  Til death do us part...he was with her and loved her until she took her last breath...and after, as we found out later.    

So when he found someone, (as hard as it was to see him with someone else-for me) we were happy for him.  

If I knew then what I know now...I do have regrets.  I wish we would have stayed in touch with him more.  I wish we would have called more. I wish we would have talked about Melissa with his wife...I'm sure she was not comfortable when we were around.  Maybe we could have made her understand that we weren't a threat, and neither was Melissa.   I wish we would have gone to dinner the week of Melissa's anniversary & birthday (like he wanted)...but I put it off until the 10th.  He seemed ok with that.  I wish I knew that things weren't good.  But we didn't know.  

We love(d) John so much, I hope he knew that.  

The only consolation is they are all together.  But I'll be honest, it completely sucks to lose an entire family (and probably 2 or 3 more grandchildren)...Nick & John were like brothers.  Andrew & Max will never have cousins on their dad's side.  It's boring when they come to our house now.  They have no cousins to play with.  Melissa loved Meredith too.  She finally had a sister.  

As hard as this week is (first, my friend Jennifer's daughter Jody's anniversary is the 30th.  Then John's anniversary the 1st, then Melissa's anniversary the 3rd, then her birthday, the 5th.  Jody's birthday is the 6th...we plan on keeping busy this week.  Basketball of course.  I'm not feeling especially social, but we will get out, just to be doing something.  More than we could do a few years ago.  

I know I get a little overwhelming with pictures on facebook this week, and I know her friends will always remember (John's too)...but it's how I get through this week.  I miss them both so much, and I need to do something.  

and now...a stroll down memory lane...

We love you Johnny Mac.