We are looking forward to celebrating the beautiful lives of Tim and Cheryl on Sunday, August 4th. In order to help us in our planning, we would love it if you could please let us know if you will be attending by clicking on the tab above labeled “Celebration of Life” and filling out the form at the bottom of the page. All are welcome and we hope to see you there!
In our house it was my dad who took the kids out in the evenings to find ladybugs and worms along our neighborhood trail. It was my dad who scooped us up from the bath with a towel and carried us around like a stork delivering a baby.
First time together as a family
Dad was the fingernail cutter in our house. He would clip off almost all of the nail but leave a little bit attached so that we could pick the last bit off ourselves. In our house daddy was the joke player, so you better be on the lookout all the time!
Bath, books, and bed
Daddy taught us to put glue on our hands so we could peel it off slowly, how to ride a bike without training wheels, and that working hard at something will make you a better person.
In second grade my dad took me out to breakfast every Friday morning to study my spelling words at the Clearview Café. I would order four pieces bacon and he would order eggs and toast. He would drive me to school, give me a kiss, and say good luck sweetie – work hard.
All three of us got to be a coaches kid growing up. The rule in our house was that the coaches kid needed to be the first one there, the last one to leave, and the hardest worker. The coaches kid got no special treatment. There was a time when my dad was coaching fastpitch practice at Kokanee Elementary and no assistant coaches could make it that day.
Typical Jessie moment – and DAD!
On accident… And I stress that this was an accident! I hit my brother in the eye with a baseball bat. My dad was alone with 14 nine-year-old girls and his four-year-old son. He found the first aid kit, cracked open an ice pack, and propped my brother up against the fence until practice was over. As we packed up the van he scooped my brother up, gave him a kiss, and told him how proud of him he was.
In our household both parents were always present at every soccer game, softball game, wrestling match, basketball game, football game, crew meet, and horse show. 
When taking Jessie to any of these events it meant taking two cars because if her team lost there was not one person on earth who could bear the car ride home with her. Daddy was the one who always drew the short stick and listened to her meltdown all the way home.
Dad was the one who took you to the emergency room when you cut your finger off, dad was the one to teach you to drive, to change a tire, and how to shoot a gun. At 58 years old my dad kicked our butts in a game of badminton, though I will deny it to anyone who repeats that!
Dad always encouraged us to try new things, to have an adventure, to be wild, to be proud, and to work hard.
So how can I live a life worthy of his legacy? If I can be as kind and generous and as bad ass as my dad, I think that will be a start.
So happy Father’s Day to my mentor and inspiration, my coach, my perspicaciously witty, and relentlessly hard-working father. I love you, we all love you.
I will always be my daddy’s girl
Reminder that the first fundraiser for Jessie, The Rock for Love Benefit Concert, is tomorrow night (Friday, June 14). Tickets are still available!!
Details and registration are now available for the second fundraiser, Lawn Olympics (Sunday, July 21). Sign up here!!
We appreciate all the support from the community as we help Jessie fund raise to pay for uninsured rehabilitation expenses. We look forward to seeing you at these events!
If you did not already know, last weekend I had one of my long time dreams come true!
Many years ago, when I was about 14 years old I remember riding in the minivan to soccer practice with my girls and singing along to Kenny Chesney’s “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy”. From that moment I fell in love with Kenny and have not missed one of his concerts in Washington. Since that time I’ve had many firsts with Mr. Chesney: first time learning to drive, first time falling in love, first time away from home, my first broken heart, and my first serious hangover!
Even as a teenager when my friends and I were blasting Shaggy, Smashmouth, Britney Spears, TLC, Puff Daddy, Blackstreet, and M.C Hammer through the speakers of the Toyota Corolla with the windows down – I always had a spot on the playlist for my beloved Kenny.
Kenny is not only an amazing artists, but he is also a phenomenal showman. His concerts are like a big party! I have enjoyed each and every one of them and look forward to every time he is in town. This year I was excited but also had another piece of a small emotion hanging over me. I’m not sure what it was, I wouldn’t call it nervousness, but I was conscious that this particular concert was going to be different than the others that I have been to. I would be in a wheelchair. People would look at me. I would have trouble holding my beer, getting through the crowd, and eating a snack.
I knew I would have fun, I was going with great friends and I would not let anything spoil this day for me. However, it was another small step in moving forward with this new life.
We arrived a couple hours early and sat outside the KMPS tent and listened to some live music in the sunshine. My friend Dan, who I have done some volunteer work with, works at KJR and asked his buddy at KMPS to be on the lookout for us. So we met Pat who worked tirelessly to score 1 meet and greet pass for Kenny Chesney. To say I was excited is a complete understatement. I could not wrap my head around this! I have literally had dreams about meeting this man in a Walmart and wrapping my hands around him in the cereal aisle!
As we were waiting to go in we entered a few raffles and ended up scoring three meet and greet passes for Kasey Musgraves. It worked out perfectly because my three girlfriends would meet her and I would go see Kenny! Since their meet and greet was earlier than mine they headed into the stadium and I relaxed in the sunshine for a few more minutes before proceeding inside and meeting them at our seats. They said that this girl was so down to earth and a complete cutie pie! Not to mention the fact that she is completely talented!
Our seats were the perfect people watching seats. They were right on the railing of the 100 level looking down into the floor seating.
There was a stairway heading up to the restrooms and food area right next to us so we got to see everyone who came up and down those stairs. Let me tell you that near the end of the night we saw many more people tripping and falling down those stairs rather than gracefully descending them as they did earlier in the afternoon. Kasey sang, then the Eli Young band sang, and then it was time for me to head down to the meet and greet area.
In line I met a sweet girl named Alex, who works at KMPS and she became my date 
There were approximately 30 of us and we waited about 20 minutes on the 100 level waiting area, and then we all headed in to a press conference type room. There we waited another 20 minutes. Kenny came in wearing a black shirt, khaki pants, and a baseball hat and sat in front of a backdrop that was situated kitty corner. He was facing the corner so it gave us the illusion that our one on one was private. When he came in I was immediately engulfed by a feeling of elation and avidity! I was quite certain Kenny’s life was about to change forever.
I was near the end of the line and was getting increasingly nervous! I practiced what I would say in my head over and over and over again. There was another man in a wheelchair so when his turn came I sent Alex over to see where he put his wheelchair in relation to Kenny so that I would know where to go! The line seem to creep too slowly and too quickly at the same time.
When my turn came I wheeled up there and said in my most charming, yet sexy voice ”Hi it’s nice to meet you, my name is J-J-Jessie”. He replied ”Nice to meet you Jessie” and shook my hand. I peeled my eyes away from him long enough to face the camera and asked “Is this okay? I’m kind of new at driving this thing still—I want us to look good in our picture”. He laughed and said “Sure baby, that is great-you know we will!” It took everything in me at that point to act like a dignified person and not screech with delight that he called me baby. We took a picture and then I asked him if he would be willing to sign my ticket. He smiled and responded ”sure babe!”. I grinned and squeaked out a thank you. As I left I wished him a great show and he replied “You enjoy the show, it was really nice to meet you”.
And now you know the story of my engagement We are getting married… He doesn’t know… We are not telling him… On second thought… That isn’t a bad idea! 
As I rolled out of the room I could not contain my shriek anymore and had to let it out! So amazing! A very short, but very magical moment for me.
The rest of the concert was incredible. He is such a performer, and he clearly loves being in Seattle! At one point Russell Wilson came out on stage and the crowd erupted in cheers! Century Link ended up running out of food, beer, and womens restroom facilities. Despite that, I am pretty sure that everyone in there had one hell of a night.
Mom and me last time Kenny played in the stadium xoxo
I have to think that my mom had some small part in this. The weather could not have been better. All four of us ended up getting some type of meet and greet pass. And during a song about rain a light mist trickled down and kissed our heads for just a moment.
Also, for the record, even in a wheelchair I was still able to score a free beer
I went in for a checkup on all of my injuries and they seem to be all still healing which is a HUGE thing. It’s very common that traumatic injuries will stop healing and then they’d have to open up wherever it is, remove the bar holding me together and put a thicker one in – don’t want to know the recovery time / pain on that! I’ve been in quite a bit of pain but I’ve been able to cut my painmeds down to 3 times a day, slowly down from 6. For going back to work, it’s very tricky – as much as I like to underplay my job, a fair bit of complicated work and multitasking is just commonplace. I was hoping that I’d go back by the end of June since my short-term disability ends there but the more I think about it, it’d probably be best for me not to at that time. I’m hoping to make it in time for July but I’m going to play it by ear.
Once again, thank you everyone for your support during this time. It’s definitely a long process but your support has made it easier and faster
Update and reminder about the first of two upcoming fundraisers for Jessie. The Rock for Love Benefit Concert is fast approaching on Friday, June 14th at the Northshore Senior Center. Details on the event can be found here. Buy tickets here.
A note from the event organizers:
We are now five months post accident and life’s trajectory seems to be audaciously nudging us into what will be our “new normal.” We remain to be so touched by what our community continues to do for us. It speaks volumes as to the imprint Mom and Dad left on this world.
Personally, I wanted to share some of the progress I have made at Pushing Boundaries thus far. Pushing Boundaries focuses on reeducating damaged nervous systems through exercise. I have been going there four times a week for just under three months now. On more than one occasion I have let a bad word slip in exasperation, made a solid attempt to face plant, muttered an “I hate you” under my breath, and possibly tried to cheat at an exercise or two; but I think you will see I am the better for it.
Shout out to Marty Frank for singing in the second song. You can download his newest album on iTunes.
THANKS to Marty, Aaron, John, Betsy, Tricia, and Suzette. Good start but we have a long way to go, so get ready!
