Six Years Later--I have Not Forgotten

Alex had his root canals today, it was a last minute appointment, so I didn't get the chance to do this this morning. So many changes over the past six years, I'm still processing it all.

No worries, I couldn't do a handspring then and I won't attempt one when we meet again, either. Jamee was the talent. I just thought the uniforms were cute.

A Very Special Day

Today would have been Jamee's 42nd birthday. Because this blog is a tribute to my very much missed and very much loved sister, Jamee, this post is for her.

It really is a pipe...it's okay, it was the 60s. The harlequin pants are the real tragedy here.
Yes yes, I could touch my toes. Jamee was the real gymnast in the family, she just didn't know it yet. A lot of you may not realize we have a younger sister (Antoinette). Jamee and I both carried her around like a doll when she was little.
As I pulled up these photos to scan, I realize this: It isn't my fault. Apparently the gift of being a retard in front of the camera is just part of my genetic makeup. I feel better about it tonight, I hadn't realized it until now.
One of my favorites, Dad and Jamee together.

Drive, Moon River!

I'm going north to give flowers to Jamee today (tomorrow if you read this Sunday evening; I wanted to be sure I had it done before leaving). The flowers are actually regifted. John brought me 12 red and 1 yellow Friday. The red, love. Why one yellow, I asked him. He said that was friendship. Love that man. He also thought Jamee would like that he bought her flowers, so roses it will be!

I don't really want to celebrate the anniversary of her death, but I can't bring myself to not go up on this day each year. Not yet. Maybe never, who knows.

I brought up another favorite high school picture of us. I don't have access to a lot of other pictures of Jamee, so the ones I have are golden. Jamee's in the center, I'm hanging onto her right hand (and clearly chatting with my fellow cheerleader, not looking where I'm supposed to be!). Very appropriate I think, lol. Even now, I hold onto Jamee and I think about what she'd advise. And just as I did all those years, I still sometimes do it my way and WISH I'd done hers!

I couldn't decide which song to put up, so I put two up. Jamee loved Rick Ocasek of The Cars (eww, why?). I also added Moon River. She knows why; I'll give you a condensed version:

Her last few days were spent in the hospital in pain. I was alone with her that first night (Andy had been up two days straight). I spent a great deal of time rubbing her head, holding her hand, praying for a miracle. As the night closed in and she was as comfortable as was possible (not very..the pain was excruciating), I wanted to sing a song to soothe her, and probably me, too, idk.

Hence Moon River. It was the only song that came to mind. Yeah, I know! Me. Stacey, song for EVERY occasion Stacey. I know all the words to all cool songs. And just when I needed one....Moon River? I don't know why. But it was what God placed into my heart that night and I sang despite it all! Pretty sure Jamee's up there with Dad making fun of me--big. I'm strong, I can take it! Without laughter, the rest of my days without them wouldn't be okay. And PS--how do you like my yellow gloves? Who decided 'aha! yellow gloves with the navy and white dress!'?

Edit: I have the most amazing friend on the blogosphere! I do! And one of them has just posted the most beautiful tribute to Jamee's life. I hope you get the chance to read this then go on over to Cheryl's blog. Thanks Cheryl!

Throwback Thursday Time..............

Pinks & Blues Throwback Thursday:

Somewhere about 1983. Jamee, my big sister, was the captain of our basketball cheerleading team (and football; she was like that!). That's her, second from the front. Go down one, two and ta dah! That's me--turned around, doing the family (and team) proud! It's one of my favorite cheer pics because it clearly illustrates my cheerleading routine ability. Jamee was amazing...she could do anything gymnastic, she remembered the cheers, never forgot a routine, even made up a lot of ours. She was excited we were together cheering, and I'm sure frustrated from time to time with my lack of cheer-ability! Me? Excited, heck yes! I think I've shared with y'all that I was on the team the first time because one of the girls broke her leg. I was the next alternate. Didn't have a THING to do with that leg! Geesh, why does everyone ask? I did want the outfits, how cute were they?--that and the pom poms (those are the real Mccoys in the VBS pics--the black and gold ones!). And...the boy I liked was on the basketball team, (remember the lunch pictures from March?) so there was my no better way to keep an eye on him. Or so I thought--didn't have a lot of time to look for him. It took most of my concentration to keep from accidentally hurting one of my cheermates!

Now before I sleep tonight--you're in for a treat. That's right, the Pilot John tee has arrived! So...from cheerleading uniforms to my new contest-entering top. Works for me (oh that's Wednesday, right Gigi?)

Field Day and a Bit of Trivia!

I was going through the Field Day pics I took of Alex (I love that jump on the right!) and I'm cracking up on the sidelines as I watch him crouch over about to begin the whatever-yard-dash....so serious! Anyway, got to photo of him running with that determined Alex Face (it was very hard not to just to squeeze him and kiss his little face all over, but I stayed my Mommy Distance).

So....back to my thought...I'm a child of the 70's really. I was born in the late 60's, did most of my early childhood in the 70's and graduated in the late 80's. Looking at the Alex running photo here, I was thinking you are definitely a child of the 70's if you know who Joey was and why Joey was running.

My sister Jamee, our neighbor, Jamie, and I would sleepover at each other's houses on Friday nights and re-enact that song over and over again. Jamee and Jamie usually got the hairbrush microphones and I would run in place (ever the resident tomboy), my arms pumping furiously as I dashed for my life. And when the last "Daddy please don't" was sung, all three of us felt her pain, falling to our knees in our I Dream of Jeanne pajamas, arms reaching up, then falling limp as we graciously laid on the ground. Oh, we were that good.

Five Very Broken Years Ago

Memorial Day

James Poirier, Dad

November 14, 1942 ~April 5, 2002

Jamee Poirier-Cretal, My Sister/BF

February 27, 1966 ~July 30, 2002