Happy Birthday, Jesse
Today, July 28th, is Jesse's 24th birthday. The past several months have been difficult for all of us as the grieving process continues. Lets continue to help each other through this by posting some Jesse birthday memories.
posted by rachel | 9:20 AM
25 Comments:
Happy Birthday Jesse
Wish you were here
For a Poolside Beer
I'd sing in your ear
Happy Birthday Jesse
You are so very missed.
Every time I visited your home to see your Mom you were always smiling and up to something. Your room had those India fabrics flying from the ceiling that created such a beautiful carefree flow you were so creative.
I remember your school plays at St Mary’s. I was impressed with your acting ability, you were able to capture a character and have such a good time with all your friends. What a great experience. When I would attend these plays I would think of you as my California niece since I couldn’t attend any of my niece's plays or sporting events back east. It helped fill that void of family for me. I felt like I was apart of a family out here. Thanks for that feeling of family.
When I think of you I remember all the incredible experiences you have had so far. All the traveling you did, all the talent you had and people you touched. I’m so very thankful I knew you for the short time you were with us. You will always be remembered.
Love,
Jackie (Judith's nurse friend)
Happy Birthday Jesse,
I wish we could celebrate it together. I remember your 21st. You had a bunch of friends over to G&G's for a pool party. Good times. I think I was slightly injured in a game of pool basketball.
I miss you.
Love, Jake
Happy Birthday, Jesse. I still think about you all the time, and I barely knew you! I will be sure to raise a glass to you tonight.
Much, much love to you,
Sarah (your mom's friend)
Hi Jesse,
Happy birthday!
I remember your 21st birthday at the pool. You wore your polka dotted bathing suit, and brought some of your friends over. We got you a cocktail maker thingy with all of these recipes on it since you could drink. We have a picture of you wearing these silly sunglasses somebody got you and making a funny face.
I miss you every day.
Happy Birthday, our sweet Jesse!
What a perfect picture of you! I think it is no coincidence that your birthday always found you surrounded by masses of beautiful flowers in glorious gardens--your parents', Aunt Jan's, Grandma Joy and Granddad's--many others. You were born to beauty and beauty followed you everywhere.
I went for a run today to the Land of the Medicine Buddha. In the warm, sunny redwood grove, with hummingbirds flying everywhere, I spun two prayer wheels for peace, happiness and compassion for everyone whose lives you touched and who are struggling with the loss of your wonderful being. I put your picture and a letter to you in the donation box (OK, and a dollar, too:-) ). Then I took some other pictures and the poems written here in an envelope and tucked them in a hollowed out tree trunk along the trail there. I don't know why exactly, but I wanted to.
We missed you at Grover. We miss you at the pool. We miss you every day.
Love you always,
Aunt Karen
We have travelled so many places together but you now travel in that other special world filled with family and friends and just last week your step-grandfather Clem. Grandma asked that you take care of him. Over these months I have been spreading your ashes far and wide. The trip to Vancouver was sad but you now float in the waters and spots you so enjoyed. You float on the Mekong and Yangtze and China Sea, throughout Hong Harbor and the St. Lawrence. You dance on Lake Michigan and of course across the Pacific. Soon others will take you to your beloved Paris and Africa.
My dear messy Jesse, you are everywhere but as everyone has said most importantly you are in out hearts.
love dad
Happy Birthday, Jesse!
We here at your mom's work are all thinking about you today. We are so proud of Judith's strength and grace--I know you would be beaming with love and pride, for your mom, your dad, your cousins, your aunts, and your friends. I am moved each time I read (and re-read) your messages from them. They love you so much, and I know you love them right back.
You are such a beautiful baby! So cute!
Love,
Jane
Happy birthday Jesse,
I always like to think of this poem when a loved one passes on...
In one of the stars
I shall be living
In one of them
I shall be laughing
And so it will be
as if all the stars
were laughing
when you look
at the sky at night
the little prince
Antoine de Saint-Exupery
And so that is how I see you continuing to your share with us...
love,
susie
Jesse dear,
I hope that you have a wonderful birthday. Grandpa is there with you now. Please take care of him.
Love,
Grandma
Jesse
You promised to teach me about good wine. It would have been fun to sit, drink wine with you and laugh. We did a lot of that. Laugh. Maybe in Paris we could have enjoyed the best wine. You would have just laughed at me because you would have known I was faking it. So I’m drinking my cheap wine tonight. It’s not bad. I’m thinking of you. I hear your laughter.
“We can shed tears because they have gone;
or we can smile because they have lived.
We can close our eyes and pray that they will come back;
or we can open our eyes and see all that they have left.
Our heart can be empty because we can’t see them;
or we can be full of the love we’ve shared.
We can turn our back on tomorrow and live for yesterday
or we can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
We can remember them and only that they’ve gone
or we can cherish their memory and let it live on.
We can cry and close our minds, be empty and turn our back
or we can do what they’d want: smile, open our eyes, love and go on.”
I try Jesse. But I miss you.
Love,
Aunt Jan
My dearest Jesse, Chocolate Eyes, Happy Birthday to you! I love and miss you everyday and touch the heart shaped box to give you a tickle every morning. We are here in Chicago to celebrate Uncle Roger's birthday, mine and Tucker's. It was important to for me to fly on your birthday because I knew you would protect us and I know you are here with us. When I sing "Twinkle, twinkle little star" to Tucker, I am reminded of your bright shining light. I can still hear your voice on the phone saying, "Hi Aunty, it's Jesse, can I come over and talk?" Remember always how much I love you and someday we will shop for our sparkly earrings together and dance to the music from Grease! And, Jesse, one more thing, make sure the wings are stylin!
Dear Jesse: Today is your birthday and we are all remembering and giving a silent toast to a beautiful loved woman. You know we miss you! We see you somewhere everyday and cry a little for our loss. love, Grandma and Granddad.
Hey Jesse
We were in Costa Rica on your birthday and while we were there I thought of all the places you've travelled, your adventures, and all the people you have touched. I think of you every day -
Sue Hager,Jim, Guy and Daniela too.
Dear Jesse,
This is the poem by Mary Oliver I heard on the day of your death, before I knew. I thought of you.
"You are young. So you know everything. You leap into the boat and begin rowing. But, listen to me. Without fanfare, without embarrassment, without any doubt, I talk directly to your soul. Listen to me. Lift the oars from the water, let your arms rest, and your heart and heart's little intelligence, and listen to me. There is life without love. It is not worth a bent penny or a scuffed shoe. It is not worth the body of a dead dog left nine days unburied. When you hear, a mile away and still out of sight, the churn of water as it begins to churn and roil, fretting around the sharp rocks--when you hear that unmistakeable pounding--when you feel the mist on your mouth and sense ahead the embattlement, the long falls plunging and streaming--then row, row for your life toward it."
My dear Jesse. I know you are free from suffering. I know you are at peace.
I miss you so.
Mom
Jes,
I was working up north on your birthday. Some dirty drillers, a log cabin, and huge mountains were all the company I had. I thought of you and how you would have reacted when I told you about where I was working, so far from anything cultured. "Ew. Why?". And then you would have asked me all about it, in the considerate way you had, no matter that you would never wish to be in a place with only one restaurant where the only drinks served were domestic beer and wine from a box.
I thought it would get easier. I thought things would dull. But my eyes still well up with tears whenever something reminds me of you or when a memory of you comes to mind. I went to yoga at Semperviva's new studio but couldn't bring myself to go to Cameron's class. Remember his wandering eye? I was in a used book store and a girl from one of your classes worked there and I couldn't bring myself to talk to her. She reminded me of you, so artfully dressed and obviously well read. I want to bemoan to you the trials of corporate princessdom that we were so set on last summer. I want your advice on a hair style. I miss you so much Hessica.
Love el
Happy Birthday, Jesse. I'm burning a yartzeit candle for you today because I couldn't on March 4. So, here we are, on the 26th anniversary of your birth. Today we played lots of fun music at the market, but I also requested that we play "Waltz of the Little Girls" in your honor. It was very pretty. A little girl in a purple tutu was dancing to our music for no less than an hour. I thought of you. Darren and I also played a song today that we wrote in your memory, called "Esperanza".
Elena and I talk of you often, and today she was remembering you talk about listening to bad hip hop while you were in St. Petersburg, and how you defended it, saying you were homesick at the time. We laughed, and I said how glad I was that she got to spend some time with you, and have all these wonderful memories forever.
We miss you, as always, Jess. We love you, as always, Jess.
Auntie Karen
Happy golden birthday to you, Jesse!
We miss you.
We love you.
Aunt Jan
Happy Birthday, Jesse, one day late! You are very much loved by so many people! Even though we didn't really know each other, I think about you. Love, Jane
Last year on your birthday, I was in Africa and thinking of all the world you had seen at your young age.
We think of you with love every day.
Happy Birthday, Jesse. I was thinking about you on July 28th. My friend's son was born on that day, and I will always remember that you and he have the same birthday. Your family and friends love you so much . . . Jane
Dear Jesse,
We love you and miss you every day and always.
Love,
Aunt Jan
While visiting Peru this summer I learned that you share a birthday with that country. I was able to watch an amazing parade with wild colors, fun music, and happy dancing. I thought of you and how much you would have laughed at the craziness of it all. You're always with us, Jess.
Love you.
Happy 40th! Unbelievable! You are still my baby.
Love love love.
Every day I think of you.
Every day.
I can still hear your beautiful voice and outrageous laugh and it brings me happiness.
Happy birthday
Aunt Jan
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