Celebrate the Magic of the Season

A few years ago Ron spent hours setting out the lights around the house, it was quite a sight to see

 Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas!

Gramma and Santa

Ozzy for President

Mary sent me this photo of Ozzy. So Ozzy has decided to throw his whiskers into the race. Due to his amputee status, he is pro health care reform. If you would like to donate to his campaign, send your donation to me. He can't reach the pin pad at the ATM.

Uttoxeter and Rocester

A few photos from the memorial service held in Uttoxeter. Thanks to all those who came along to make the day special. At a recent game at Rocester FC, where my Dad used to be very involved helping to run the club, a minutes silence was observed before kick off and a tribute written in the matchday programme.

My thoughts are currently with Patricia and family over in the States. I hope all goes well on Thursday and things will look up soon...

surgery date

I have my surgery scheduled for later this week.
Tomorrow I will give blood and have it "typed" just in case I need blood during the surgery. ( I actually don't know what my blood type is.) I have my Will and Health Care Directive in place just in case...These are all things one should do even if you are not having surgery so I guess it is a good thing. I am slowly moving forward but it seems like the world around me has moved "fast forward" while I have been on "pause".
This weekend I went to a wedding reception. The groom was a waiter at my wedding to Ron. It was his first job. He was a teenager. All of a sudden he is grown up and married.
Last weekend my high school friends and I got together. My friends' daughter has started her first year in college. It seems like just yesterday...she was my flower girl at our wedding...she was so excited to wear a dress and a tiara! Where did the time go?
Well I know that daylight savings took an hour from us...but really where has the time gone?

Trick or Treat

This year I created the peanut butter and jelly costume above for Erika and her friend. Evidently, peanut butter lost her bread half way through the night...but a safety pin rescued the sandwich. I also had some fun painting Luke's clown face (above). Last year Erika was a "snow princess"...with a lighted snowflake necklace.

Kathy and I enjoyed Tricky Margaritas and all the cast off candy...seems the kids do not like Almond Joys or Peppermint Patties.
And Luke paid me off for his face paint in Reeses Peanut Butter Cups!

Memorial service, Uttoxeter

For all of you in the UK, there will be a memorial service for my Dad this Friday 2pm at the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Uttoxeter.

There will also be a gathering and food after the service at Bradley House. Anyone is welcome to attend to share stories, memories, photos etc. Please come dressed however you feel comfortable.

See you there, Jamie

Fundraiser Walk at Quarry Lakes

Kristen and I walked 2 miles around the Quarry Lakes on Sunday to raise money for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PANCAN). It was a beautiful day for an event. There was food and music, dogs (pictured above is Sunny, wearing a purple pancan bandana), the big pink bear was a hit with the kids...and us (Kristen with bear pictured above). The event was well planned and next year...I'll be back!
In my head I could hear Ron saying..."you walked 2 miles...well done honey!"

Trip to Bolton

Paul McCallion from NDNU, David Bailey at Bolton Wanderers and Patricia very kindly arranged for myself, my grandparents (Flo and Denis) and my Aunt and Uncle (Sandra and Ron) to head up north to Bolton to see them play Sunderland on Saturday.

A couple of hours on a few trains and we arrived at the stadium and were greeted by David, who had met my Dad when he went up to Bolton to visit a few years ago, something to do with the international soccer school that Bolton run. I'm afraid if you are reading this in the States, any reference to soccer shall henceforth be typed as football (sorry, I can't change a life long habit!)

Anyway, David gave us some matchday programmes which had a nice tribute to my Dad which I have scanned and put up on here. Not everyone gets mentioned in a Premier League matchday programme!

It was a nice sunny day, but rather breezy. The game was entertaining, but as we had to leave a little early to catch our train back, we missed both the goals of the game, which came in the last few minutes. Ah well, it was a really good day and nice to meet a few more people who knew my Dad. Thanks to Paul, David and Patricia...

Pumpkin Time

This pumpkin got painted black and became a spider house.

Next project: designing a peanut butter and jelly sandwich costume for my niece, Erika.

"Angel-versary"

Today is Ron's one month "angel-versary".



I thought about him all day and tried not to cry. (At least not the big tears.) I am trying to live each day as he would want me to... wake up with a smile, tell a joke, listen to the music you love, and whatever you do-do it with all the passion in your heart. I am trying to "take care of myself" -this includes regular visits to the chiropractor. Today was a rough session since I spent last week camping and sleeping in my truck...I needed a change of scenery and I am so thankful for my parents. They mobilized their trailer and packed all the best "camping food". All I needed to do was show up! I got a little sun on my face, sand in my hair, and some rather annoying mosquito bites on my hands. We had all the best food...barbecued tri-tip, Mom's clam chowder, Dad's famous breakfast omelets and ...bacon (not heart-healthy but worth the risk.)

Yes I did...sleep in my truck...my stuffed black bear doubled as an extra pillow

and something to hug....

iCURE PC

I can't help but wish....
over 4 million new iPhone 4GS phones will be sold in the next few weeks...
What if there were an iCURE PC app (i cure pancreatic cancer) on every phone?
Then Apple lovers could participate in the cure for pancreatic cancer....

Until then, I will be walking next weekend at an event to raise money for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. I know many of you have already donated in Ron's memory. (Thank You!) Just in case you haven't, I will gladly recycle your cans, count your loose change, and possibly do your laundry in hopes of finding a random quarter in the dryer... every little bit helps.
iCURE PC for RC.
What if?

One of these is not like the others....

Sunset, Sandals, Spiderboy, Surf and Firemen.

Guitar Man

On our way for groceries we stumbled upon the old town...of...I don't remember and went to the wine bar, the guitar shop, the bakery, and numerous "stuff" shops. Elvis lives!

One of these is not like the others...

We went to the farm and the pier yesterday. There was every type and size of pumpkin and gourd you could imagine....and farm animals...and this sad little weathered pelican at the pier.


(patty's pictures of pier pelicans and pumpkins.)

Change of Scenery

I'm enjoying a "change of scenery"...and a little Happy Camper Chardonnay. I have scheduled an appointment with a different surgeon for next week to find out a little bit more about my next adventure. I have spent many nights at the hospital as a visitor, this time I will get my own bed...

A Bad Apple and tennis balls

What if....? when Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, who found out he had pancreatic cancer in 2004...what if...he had chosen to go very public, using his status, and approximately 7 billion in net worth ( 9 Billion at the time of his passing.) to raise awareness and much needed funding for pancreatic cancer research? What if just $1.00 from every Apple product sold in the past seven years was given to research? There has been NO significant "life extending" research developments for nearly 40 years. Life expectancy for stage 4 pancreatic cancer patients is still only 3-12 months....only a 6% chance of living beyond 5 years.
Steve Jobs could easily have been famous for funding research to save the 44,000 men and women diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year...and the IPOD!
what if...?
Bad Apple.
I'm not ok. I'm mad. I need to schedule surgery for myself. I have two, large fibroid tumors, literally the size of tennis balls...(it's not always soccer...) and they need to be removed. Recovery from surgery is six to eight weeks. Maybe the physical pain will overlap my emotional pain. I know I will not have to go through it alone. But I will have to go through it without my husband. I really am "just" ok right now. Tomorrow may be a better day. I never liked tennis!

A thank you

Hi everyone, my name is Jamie and Ron was my Father. I didn’t feel able to speak at the service at NDNU, but I would like to say a few words on here in the hope that some of you who were there will read them.

It was fantastic to hear from everyone who spoke at the service and I’d like to thank everyone who had the courage to stand up and speak so graciously. It was amazing to hear how many people’s lives have been touched by my Dad in such a short period of time. The geographical distance meant that while I could hear about what Dad was up to over in the States, I rarely got to see it firsthand. I will always be proud of what he achieved, having moved to California not knowing what lay head.

While the speed of his illness was a shock, I am grateful I got to spend a few months with him and say some of those things that one might regret not being able to say to someone if they leave us suddenly. It was difficult being so far from home and friends, but so many people helped my Dad, myself, my grandparents and Patricia.

I would like to thank Patricia, who somehow had to cope throughout the entirety of Dad’s illness and looked after him so incredibly. I will never know how she did it and I’m sure her family and friends are looking after her now.

Also, I must thank Patricia’s parents, John and Margaret, as well as Mary and Ethan and the family, Cathy, Kristen, Marcy, Stacy, Vicky, Paul and everyone who helped in any way. I have more than likely forgotten to mention people and probably not spelled the names of those I remembered correctly! All these people did so much for my Dad and the family and helped us through difficult times.

It would be great to try to keep up with things over there, how the soccer teams are doing and things like that. If anyone would like to get in touch with me, my email is jamie.chell@sky.com and you can use that to find me on facebook.

There’s lots more things I’d like to say, but there probably isn’t the room on here and us Brits aren’t very good at this kind of stuff, see “stiff upper lip” on Wikipedia... So I’d just like to say to everyone who knew my Dad, thanks for being a part of his life and he lives on in all our memories.

Jamie

waves

Ron and I "have" ( I am not ready for past tense) a favorite beach and I went there today. I brought his IPOD along and shuffled his music. I definitely cried but I needed to. I know Ron was with me on the shore. I admit to "throwing like a girl" so I was not surprised when the rose I threw came back in the surf....or maybe Ron sent it back to make me smile. Then shortly after he sent a crashing wave that "caught" me and soaked me to my knees. I realized when I got home that my cuffed jeans had an ample amount of sand hidden inside...and was soon deposited on my sofa...

Journeys

Across the years
I will walk with you
In deep green forests,
On shores of sand...
And when your time on earth is through,
In Heaven to,
you will have my hand.

Yesterday and Today

Today I woke up and thought about Yesterday.
It was an outstanding day.
It was joyful and sad
It was the day we celebrated Ron's life
Friends and Family, Players and coaches
Together we loved Him

Coming Home

Denis and Ron having a beer on the patio yesterday. Ron's ashes will be heading home to England on Saturday. His urn was custom made (Made in America) by Richard. It was handcrafted from a piece of 100 year old pine. Then it was stained and varnished by my Dad. I know Ron would appreciate the craftsmanship and the fact I made my Dad "align" the four screws.

Today Ron's sister and Mom are busy making floral arrangements for tomorrow. After Costco, Safeway, Lucky's and the Flower Shop, we may have the right mix of flowers!!!!
I am looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow and hearing Ron's jokes and stories and sharing his "magic". Though Ron was a sentimental guy...(we cried during Hallmark movies together), he would not want a day of grief and sadness. I know there will be tears (mascara is a bad idea) but I am hoping that when the tears dry, we will be able to "refill" ourselves with the joy, humor, and magic that Ron gave to us each day.

Until tomorrow...

Best Man

Ethan was Ron's Best Man on our wedding day.

(picture left) So I knew he would take good care of Jamie yesterday....when they went DIRT BIKE RIDING....I quickly sent off some prayers as they left in the early morning.

It seems to have been an amazing day, dirt, dust, fumes, loud engines...and Ethan promised to bring Jamie home without any major injuries. (nothing that "duct tape" can't fix)
I am thankful that Ethan has chosen to take Jamie and the kids to practice soccer today.

Ethan, You are and will always be the "Best Man".

the first day of Fall

Ron with his parents in England.

On this first day of Fall, 2011, I planned your service and wrote your obituary...

and I am really wondering how I can do this...

"Sometimes I feel like a sad song, like I am all alone without you." John Denver