Rest in Peace Ruth...

My friend Ruth working at the Firebirds for Fort Fundraiser...


Me & Ruth selling tickets for the quilt at the Fundraiser...



Me & Ruth at our favorite place (Donut Man)having coffee...
December 31, 1999.


Me & Ruth at her granddaughter Stacy's wedding.


I started my walking 25 years ago with 3 women down the
street, Carol, Ruth & Pearl. I met Carol because her
son Kurt was in Kindergarten with Nick @ BTWN. She invited
me to walk with herself, Ruth & Pearl...we started walking
in the fall of 85. Then I started walking the 4 miles in the
afternoons to get in shape for my reunion and never stopped.
The four of us would walk to Donut Man (across from Channel 7)
and JUST have coffee. Stay an hour, walk home. Melissa eventually
got her first job at Donut Man because I got to know the owners
(Stan) daughter who managed it.
Pearl passed away about 10 years ago, and Carol stopped walking
because she started cleaning houses and had grandchildren to watch.
But Ruth and I continued to have coffee together. We would drive
to McDonalds every Saturday during the school year, and go 2-3 times
a week in the summer.

Ruth was diagnosed with breast cancer the year after Melissa (2004-she
was 80 at the time). She did pretty well until about 7 months ago.
She was having trouble with her balance, so she went to the doctor -
they found 19 tumors on her brain. Even at 86 they did radiation, and
she seemed to get a little better. But in the past month she has deteriorated.
She was in Hospice care at home for about three weeks. I've been visiting EVERY day. She was not only my FRIEND, but more like a mom to me. I loved my mom, but never had that friendship that you look forward to when you become an adult. You know, go shopping, go to lunch.
That's what I did with Ruth. I know more about Ruth than I knew about my OWN mom. I love her. And now SHE's gone. She was 87, but other than the cancer, she was unbelievably YOUNG. Hardly a wrinkle on her face (smile lines, but that's about it!) And NEVER took medicine. I asked her husband the other day and he said "she took an aspirin once"...she was pretty amazing. So I want to be like Ruth. (Although if I go sooner, that would be ok with me...33 years is a long time to wait to see Melissa again...)
Hard to believe when Ruth and I first became friends, she was 62 (and retired!) and I was 29 with an eight year old and a six year old!!!!!
Time flies when your having fun...and it goes too fast.
I love you Ruth and will NEVER forget you...

...and the Melissa Fortener McLaughlin Scholarship goes to....

NOT YET folks...
FIFTEEN...YES 15 applications were submitted for Fort's Scholarship! We are
SO thrilled. Will be getting together soon (me, Donny, Nick, John & Angie) to read and decide who the recipient(s) will be this year. Will post as soon as it is announced.

The Scholarship Fund continues to grow...we will be receiving a check from the Fairmont Girls Softball team from donations collected for the softball tournament.

TJ CHUMPS recently opened a new restaurant in Fairborn and purchased the NOSE CONE from Danica Patricks car for $450.00 (to display at the new restaurant!) It was one of the items in the Silent Auction at the FIREBIRDS for FORT Fundraiser in 2009.
THANKS JIM & TERRY at TJ CHUMPS!!!!!*******************************************************************************
And on ANOTHER good note - over $3000 was donated for JACKIE'S BOOKS (my good friend who passed away about a month ago). Proceeds will go to books for Children's Hospital in Dayton and other children in need of books at home! Jackie would be thrilled!
********************************************************************************

...MORE BUTTERFLIES!!!

Ever since the 350 butterflies "landed" in the library...students have been
bringing everything they can find with a butterfly. Even had a student
write a poem...

Butterfly in the sky
Butterfly in your eyes

Your daughter is at home

When she was a girl you
combed her hair

When she was a teen you
let her go everywhere

Now she is a full grown
Butterfly in the sky.

By Athena McL
(and believe it or not, she
has the SAME last name as Melissa!!!!)

...more beautiful butterfly artwork for the library!


Pam with Rubi Girls....


HAPPY (39th...seriously)BIRTHDAY JEN!!!!! We love you!

FIREBIRDS for FORT Softball

The Fairmont Lady Firebird Softball team sponsored a FIREBIRDS for FORT event to raise money for the Melissa Fortener McLaughlin Scholarship Fund AND to raise awareness about Breast Cancer. It was ANOTHER touching tribute to Melissa (who played softball her junior year - because she wanted to be with her friends!) Even though her dad and mom both played softball and her brother was a baseball player, softball wasn't her best sport...but she tried it...and the Softball team honored her TOO! THANK YOU. Thank you Janet W. (no last names - per Fort) for getting the t-shirts together - we LOVE them...and LOVED seeing all the kids wearing them at the games! Fort would have loved it too...and to head coach (and friend) Rick A. for your part in getting this together...and coaches Bob, Chelsea (who Fort KNEW AND LOVED!) and Joe for your contribution! The funds raised will go to Fort's Scholarship, given to one (or more) graduating seniors each year.


When the coach asked if I wanted to throw the first pitch, I was a little worried about getting it over the plate...so the catcher was KIND enough to let me throw a couple of pitches BEFORE going to the mound! (Believe it or not, I still play softball...kind of. I'm on the team, and I'm married to the coach, so if I want to play, he's pretty good about getting me in. OH. And I only play first base, so I get that too. A little spoiled maybe? But he has to LIVE with me AFTER the game!)


Pam throws the first pitch for the JV game...


Getting the ball after the first pitch!


batter on deck....


Freshman...posing for the BLOG!


Freshman team pic...after an AMAZING 9-0 WIN against W. Carrollton!


Pam & Donny with Freshman Coaches Bob F. & his daughter Chelsea (THANKS for your part in organizing this!)


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BUTTERFLY WEEK AT GREENMONT...

As EVIDENT in these photos...the students were JUST as surprised as I was about all the butterflies in the library...and THEY made them! The teachers never told them WHY they were making the butterflies or WHERE they were going. So when they came to library this week...this is what I saw...it was priceless.....





First grade teacher Nikki P. tries on a butterfly headband...one of the MANY butterfly things I found this past week! Always having fun in MY library!

********************************************************************
ANOTHER interesting story happened this week in the library. After finding all the butterflies on Monday, I changed the plans I had for the week and went with butterfly stories - fiction AND nonfiction. On Friday, I had one of our fourth grade classes. After reading the story CHARLIE the CATERPILLAR, we talked about the story being a story about friendship, and what REAL friends are. I said something like "in a couple of years, when you get to middle school, it's a good idea to be friends with everyone..." something like that. This boy in the back says "YEAH - there was a boy named BRADLEY at the middle school that EVERYONE liked...but he was struck by lightening. Yesterday he would have been 32..." I was taken aback....16 years ago, one of Nick's friends at the middle school (BRADLEY DERRICKSON) was struck by lightening...and he WAS liked by everyone. So I called his mom after school and asked her if yesterday (April 7) was Bradley's birthday. She said yes. And the day I called her was the day he was struck by lightening! She was SO happy to hear this story...16 years later. I called her because I KNOW that 16 years from now, I hope SOMEONE calls me to tell me a story about MELISSA....we hope NO ONE EVER FORGETS. And here is a FOURTH GRADER, 16 years later, talking about Bradley, who he NEVER knew. I LOVE IT...and so did his mom and dad. I guess I'm telling this story because I want you to tell your stories to anyone who has lost a loved one...the stories are TRULY appreciated. We NEVER get tired of hearing them...even the same stories over and over again...JUST REMEMBERING them is what we want.

HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY ANDREW!!!!

April 4, 2008....Andrew Charles was born. ANOTHER of the happiest days of my life.
It has been three years of bliss for us. Not sure if he will ever understand that his arrival came at a time that we would need HIM the most. This is the child (and Max later) that got us through THE most difficult time of our life.
AND he KNEW his Aunt Fort. She talked to him, played with him and LOVED him.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDREW CHARLES. We love you!!!!!!!



I'M THREE...HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU??? Now let me eat my ice cream!


Having fun with PopPop


Boys...(NICK & Uncle Jeff)...never too old for toys...


Whose birthday is it anyway????


...and Max slept through it all....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SPRING BREAK in Melbourne, FL

For the first time in over ten years, we didn't go to Siesta Key for Spring Break. Decided to spend it with my 80 year old dad in Melbourne, FL. Thought we would have a "relaxing" week. HA. It was seven days of trying to KEEP UP with my 80 year old dad. And we couldn't do it. I just can't DO every night at the VFW. But we did go Sunday night to watch him entertain the masses for Karaoke night. AND introduce us to EVERYONE there. EVERYONE. We made it another night to watch him play darts, then followed him to Applebees (10:30) for MORE karaoke. Three nights was about all we could do. We were in bed (reading or sleeping) every night no later than 10.
Dad was home every night no EARLIER than 11.
Maybe when WE are 80 we'll have the energy that HE has.

Karaoke on Sunday night at the VFW...


Dad with two of his VFW friends (sisters Marie & Phyllis)


Went to one of dad's favorite restaurants (and mine too)in Melbourne-
Meg O'Malleys... This one is for you Johnny Mac....


Bumper to Bumper traffic going south. Doesn't look like the economy is too bad to me...OR that gas is almost $4 a gallon....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Butterfly Effect....IN ACTION

A couple of months ago I posted about a book that I recieved for Christmas...THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT. When applied to humans, it's about how something YOU do can affect others for a LONG time. What happened to me today not only made an impact on ME (for the rest of my life), but over 300 students (and teachers too)...

When I arrived at work today, I was carrying in a heavy box AND a cup of coffee and trying to unlock the door to the library. Now, mind you, there is a ceiling to floor window NEXT to the door, but I didn't look in...I was concentrating on my keys (and with the help of Linda) finally got the door open, and talking to Linda at the same time, didn't even look up. When I finally did, what I saw was nothing short of SPECTACULAR...for me. BUTTERFLIES. EVERYWHERE. It was incredible. There were probably 100 butterflies hanging from the ceiling of the library, and 200 butterflies on the walls and windows. BEAUTIFUL. There was a tshirt(shown below) on my chair, a basket FULL of butterfly "things" (pencils, notepads etc etc), butterfly placemats (one with a box of Kleenex with butterflies on it), a plant with a butterfly in it, butterfly headband (I promise I will wear it), a butterfly coffee cup (with a donation for my walk!)...OH! AND BUTTERFLY COOKIES for everyone on the staff made by our "RESIDENT" cookie maker, Dawn F....I'm not even sure if I "found" all the butterflies....all coordinated by Angie (one of our Kindergarten teachers who just HAPPENED to be a student at Greenmont when I was there 25 years ago!) and Mel, our pretty amazing secretary!!!!!

WOW. I was just SPEECHLESS. Then the teachers started coming in...ALL wearing the pink tshirt with the quote that I posted on Fort's birthday...with a BUTTERFLY in the middle of it, and IN MEMORY OF FORT at the bottom.

WOW.

I don't even know how to respond to such an outpouring of LOVE. Most of the people on this staff never even knew Melissa. (although Angie did-she went to Fairmont with her, and Mel COACHED Fort in basketball in Jr. High!). What they DO know is that I can NEVER stop talking about her, and if they stand at my counter in the library and let me talk, I will go on for, well, as long as they will stand there. And they also knew that butterflies remind me that Melissa is still around. So they all came together (EVERY class in the school made butterflies, including the Pre-School classes!!!)

WOW.

The Butterfly Effect IN ACTION. The impact this will make on the students (not to mention ME) will stay with me forever. Of course I had to change what I was going to do with all the classes this week - it's ALL about BUTTERFLIES this week.
PERFECT for the beginning of spring.

and it's not even my birthday...or ANYTHING. Just because.
I think I found the right place. Or it just found ME.
THANK YOU GREENMONT STAFF for this BEAUTIFUL display of caring! You have no idea how much it means to me...

Mel, Angie & Linda (Mel & Angie were the "culprits" here...and VERY GOOD AT IT!!!)










THE (amazing) staff...all wearing FORT shirts...


the shirt....

Congratulations Lady Firebirds!

CONGRATULATIONS MAKAYLA WATERMAN!!!!!!

Each year (since 2009)at the Fairmont Basketball Banquet, there are five awards given to the Varsity team. This year the Sportsmanship Award went to Alona Skipper,
Most Improved-Kathyrn Westbeld, Coach's Award - Kelly Hart, Most Valuable Player- Chelsea Welch, and the Melissa Fortener McLaughlin B-Positive Spirit Award went to Makayla Waterman.

Makayla was a starter on this year's team as a Freshman. She was among the leaders in the GWOC in points, rebounds, steals and assists. More importantly (to us anyway) she had Melissa's B POSITIVE attitude! We love to watch her play and look forward to seeing the Firebirds next season!

Congratulations Makayla - (Fort would be happy!)

Donny, Makayla, Pam


Lady Firebird Basketball team...not only AWESOME basketball players - but BEAUTIFUL young women too!


Divistion 1 State Runner-up Trophy goes to the Lady Firebirds!

Jackie?

I don't know if you are familiar with "ORBS"...but I'm pretty sure I have one in a photo I took today at school...and I'm PRETTY SURE it's Jackie...

Several years ago, Jackie and I (and other staff members) attended a Picture Book Read In (for a few years in a row). It was at Wright State University. We arrived around 8 a.m. and there were multiple copies of around 100 newly published picture books. You started reading around 8:30 and read until about 2 p.m. - as many of the books as you could read. It was awesome. Jackie LOVED the read ins. I started having them at Moraine Meadows for the entire school. Usually toward the end of the year after the reading incentive program.

SO. A couple of weeks ago I placed my order for the library at school. The order came in on Friday. My plan was to have a Picture Book Read In this week for all classes in the library (around 100 new books)...the kids loved it. I LOVE seeing them engrossed in a book. So I took a lot of pictures - over 60.

This picture was taken today. As soon as I took it, I saw the orb on the screen of the camera...I KNOW it was Jackie. It is RIGHT over the book - and I zoomed in to see if I could figure out which book he was reading - it's called MONSTERS EAT WHINY KIDS (Jackie would love it, I'm SURE).

I checked the lens, and NO OTHER PICTURE had this "spot" on it.

A friend of mine saw it tonight and said "Pam, Jackie knew you would KNOW it was HER!" (After we lost Melissa, we got LOTS of signs that Melissa is still around. Jackie knew about EVERY sign we got. I LOOK for signs. And when you look, you will find the signs!)

I believe. Do you????

Rest in Peace Jackie...

Friday March 18, 2011. It was a day of the HIGHEST of HIGHS and the LOWEST of LOWS...Got to visit my dear friend Jackie in the hospital, talk to her before leaving for Columbus for the Lady Firebirds game in the Semi-finals of the State Basketball Tournament. It was an exciting game - and the Firebirds were victorious...we went out to celebrate after the game...only to receive of phone call of Jackie's passing....


Fort on her 30th birthday with the Moraine Meadows group - including Mike (Jackie's husband)Debbie, Carrie, Jackie & Missy...

Jackie and I met in August of 1991...we were hired on the same day, along with Josh, by Rusty Clifford.
There was an instant connection. I was the librarian,she was the Title 1 Reading teacher, and we BOTH LOVED reading. We were hooked. Plus, she had two kids, a girl (oldest) and boy. Just like me. Our girls were similar, both smart and athletes, and our boys were similar, smart and athletes...so we had a lot to talk about right from the beginning. And we found out many years later that we were on common ground POLITICALLY speaking (lets just say Fort got us both hooked on Rachel Maddow...)
As the years passed, Moraine Meadows became a true FAMILY. In the early years, several staff members would take personal days to go SWEATER shopping. Probably couldn't do that today, but hey, this was the 90s. (you know, TEACHER sweaters, like the ones in the pictures below...)

That evolved to "Mental Health Weekends". Overnights where we left right after school on Friday and came home Saturday afternoon. In the beginning, it was usually to Embassy Suites in Covington, and to Covington Landing. I remember leaving one Friday after school, we all piled into one car (or van) and the song "I DON'T WANT TO WORK, I WANT TO BANG ON THE DRUM ALL DAY" came on...Jackie LOVED it. Kind of became our theme song for awhile on Fridays. I can see Jackie singing and DANCING to that song even today...
We took several trips to "the BOAT" too...(Jackie wanted to get back to the BOAT too, she was excited because I was teaching her how to play the nickle slots...when we first went to the boat, Jackie -and Debbie, and Carrie- would get $5 worth of nickles and carry them around in a cup for two hours...and have $4.50 when we were ready to go. I remember Jackie screaming when she would win...15 cents...people would come around the corner to see who won and WHAT they won...we laughed so hard..
Eventually, one night overnight was not enough. Our first big vacation was to Hilton Head - me, Jackie, Debbie, Sharon K and Sally (RIP). For ten days. Then Josh and Rodney wanted to go on a "real" vacation. Always right after school was out at the end of the year. Actually Debbie planned the first one - we went to Gatlinburg.
Then we went to Jamestown and Williamsburg. (If Rodney was planning it, it was educational - one year he even had FOLDERS for all of us with information about our destination...we were all worried that we were going to be tested at the end of the week....)That vacation was hotter than H*LL. We did the tour of the battlefields IN THE VAN...never got out - LAUGHED and LAUGHED ... we did that alot.

The last trip we took together was to Cape Cod. It was all planned by Sept 2008. There were 7 of us going. Then Melissa went into the hospital, then Hospice.
Then she was gone. And I was in NO shape to do anything. Much less go on a vacation- even six months later. So I told them to get someone to go in my place. But they wouldn't. They said "you can decide the day before" and that's EXACTLY when I decided to go.
BEST VACATION EVER. I am SO glad I went (because it was the last vacation Jackie went on with us)...we rented a van, drove to Hyannis Port the first day. Went to Martha's Vineyard from there, then on to Provincetown. During the week we went to the beach for a day, whale watching, Boston, and Salem. A lot in a weeks time, but FUN FUN FUN.

It was not long after we got back that Jackie was diagnosed with Uterine cancer.
She fought it CONSTANTLY for a year and a half. No breaks in treatment. She reminded me a lot of FORT. ALWAYS positive, always ready to try whatever it was going to take to BEAT THIS F*ing disease.

She continued to enjoy life - even after the closing of Moraine Meadows - and packing up her classroom and moving to Southdale. I remember going over the week before school started to see her classroom ... Mike was helping her get the room ready for the first day of school.

She went back - I'm guessing for about a week or two, before deciding that it was taking too much out of her. So she worked half days for awhile, before deciding that if she was going to get better, she needed to focus on her HEALTH and not on work.

Like Fort, there were good days and not so good days. But she NEVER complained. Ever.

In November, she was going through a rough time, and her daughter was able to come home from Japan to visit for a month - I'm pretty sure it was a pretty good Christmas for ALL of them. Jackie was happy and the new chemo was making her feel better.
But as you know chemo works for awhile, then (it seems like) your body stops responding, so they find something new. And that only works for awhile....

Last weekend, Jackie went into the hospital to be hydrated and get fluids taken out of her abdomen (one of MANY times)...and was prepared to spend the night then come home on Monday. I stopped by to see her on Monday because she hadn't gone home yet - she ended up spending the night...for a week. Then to Hospice on Friday.

She was an INCREDIBLE woman. She loved LIFE. It showed in her family, her work, her friends. EVERYBODY loved Jackie. She had a laugh (ok giggle) that was infectious. She was understanding - she was there for me before I lost Melissa and AFTER I lost Melissa.

In fact, she was diagnosed just 9 months after Melissa passed away. I couldn't do much. After taking care of Melissa, I was lost without her. I could help Jackie with HER journey with cancer. I helped her, but OH she probably had no IDEA how much she helped ME.

She was a TRUE blessing in my life. She treated me as an equal (little known fact about me...I've always been a little self concious - maybe even intimidated by the fact that I don't have a college degree) but Jackie ALWAYS called me a TEACHER.
In fact, when I went to see her in the hospital the other day, she introduced me to the nurse - she said "I was teaching second grade. Pam is still teaching"...
Not sure if she ever knew how much THAT meant to me.

As difficult as it was to say goodbye, I KNOW in my heart that Melissa was waiting for Jackie - and took her on the GRAND TOUR of heaven. Melissa loved Jackie as much as I loved Jackie. And Jackie loved Melissa too. I have to find comfort in that...

Rest in Peace Jackie, until we meet again....



A few (maybe several) years ago, after Jackie & I figured out how to use email (ok...we were computer illiterate for awhile)...she bought me a frame that says
www.friends.com - these are some of the photos I found in the frame - now sits above the computer. I get to look at her whenever I'm on the computer now...I love it...






Every year fifth graders at Moraine Meadows put their handprints on the wall around the gym...for some reason, Jackie never got hers up there, but made sure it was there before leaving for the final time...


Closing up Moraine Meadows after 20 years...teacher, secretary WHATEVER it took, Jackie could take care of it!


Mrs. Geary having fun with her class!


Pam, Jackie, Carrie, Debbie & Sharon in the loft in Jackie's room-mid to late 90s...


Me, Jackie and her class in the library - we were a little younger then....


Mardi Gras @ Moraine Meadows - Every year I planned a Reading Incentive Program...this was Reading Across America. We started at the Statue of Liberty and worked our way around the United States, learning about different cities. One of our "stops" was New Orleans, I planned it so we would be "in" New Orleans on Fat Tuesday - and all the students who read enough "miles" (minutes) got to go to the Mardi Gras - Jackie LOVED the Reading Incentive Programs - (I think all the teachers did!) - anything to get the kids excited about reading. She was a truc inspiration to me and 100s of kids at Moraine Meadows over the 20 years we were there...
I am in the back row on the left - Jackie is middle bottom row (in the purple sweater) During the Mardi Gras, Jackie pushed ANOTHER teacher (Mary Miller) around on a cart and Mary threw "READING" beads to the kids. The kids ALWAYS had fun at Moraine Meadows and learned a lot at the same time!


Josh, Pam, Jackie, Rodney...if Jackie was up to it, we were out to breakfast, lunch, WHATEVER!


Here's to YOU Jackie! I love you and miss you and KNOW you are celebrating with Melissa! Hope you gave her a hug for me....


****************************************************************************
CONGRATULATIONS on a GREAT SEASON FIREBIRDS!!!!!

Fort's alma matre, Lady FAIRMONT FIREBIRDS in the State Semi-finals
Friday, March 18.
Beat Toledo Start 59-50.
Played Twinsburg in the State Finals Saturday March 19....lose 55-42.

HOWEVER...it was a close game until the final quarter. Fairmont got into foul trouble, and Twinsburg didn't miss a foul shot.
WE ARE SO PROUD of these girls. They started one senior, two sophomores, two freshman, and a bench FULL of freshmen! They had an incredible season 26-2, the second loss coming in the State finals.
THEY WILL BE BACK NEXT YEAR...count on it!
Fort would be SO proud of them...

the fans prepare for the game...

Luke aka THE FIREBIRD HULK (ok, there are lots of pictures of Luke...I watch him after school a couple of nights a week - he's like one of my grandsons - even calls me Pam-ma!)


Luke loves Kelly....EVERYBODY loves Kelly!


WILD and CRAZY Firebird fans!


Kelly Hart on the BIG SCREEN at Value City Arena!


Brutus the Buckeye loves the FIREBIRDS!


Kara & Kelly - Kelly LOVES her fans!


This is Chelsea Welch, Fairmont's point guard (just voted FIRST TEAM ALL AREA, along with Kathryn Westbeld-freshman and Makayla Waterman-freshman)! Chelsea & her sister both went to Moraine Meadows! (ok, Chelsea just went in Kindergarten, but she went there!)...we had our picture with her because she'll be playing somewhere big after she graduates (she's a sophomore!)and after we get her autograph on the picture it will be REALLY valuable!


This is the LONE senior - Kelly Hart. I can't say ENOUGH about this girl. Not only was she a great basketball player, she is an incredible young women...kind, friendly, smart....EVERYONE loves Kelly.



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PERSPECTIVE

We stayed in Columbus Friday and Saturday night during the girls State Basketball Tournament. On Sunday morning, we were having breakfast in the hotel lobby. Sitting next to us was a man with two little girls (one was his daughter, the other her friend). They were having a blast - he was teasing them, they were laughing...their table was pretty close to ours and it was hard not to hear their conversation. I said "You are having WAY too much fun". He said something about having fun like this all the time...then he asked us "Do you have a little girl?" Donny and I both got teary eyed and told he "we used to"....we told him a little about Melissa and he told us his daughter was diagnosed with lukemia when she was just over a year old (she is 9 now).
Kind of put things into perspective for us after the emotional weekend. The girls lost a big game and more importantly, I lost a dear friend. We need to remember what is REALLY important, that today is just a blip on the radar...we should enjoy EVERY moment that we have...
Oh...and in memory of my friend Jackie, read a book or two to your kids tonight...and EVERY night!!!!