Details of Her Day

Last Friday was the 3rd annual Jiggy Day Celebration.  Faced with a lifetime of October 8th's without her sister, Cass first envisioned this day as a celebration instead of a heartbreak.  She wanted her future children to one day be able to love and appreciate Aunt Jiggy and her legacy.

Jiggy Day generally begins early at Angie's Restaurant for breakfast with the girlfriends.  This year we had a couple girlfriends missing who weren't allowed to skip cheer practice on game day (we missed you Lindsay and Maren).  Dean also had to be out of town on business...very sad for us all.

All kinds of nonsense generally ensues when these girls all gather together.  They are such a treat to be around.  They can always make me smile.  

I can't imagine being their innocent young age and being plunged into such a heartbreaking circumstance losing a close friend.  I adore each one of them and the unique relationship we have developed.  I watch them closely, constantly, and love them deeply for what they have had to experience.  They amaze me!

This is Sir Francis Bacon (which also happens to be the name of an awesome set of powder skis made by Line). We had a great time making him out of balls of butter scooped off our French Toast. 

We never discuss what we will wear on this day, but we always end up in our Jiggy t-shirts.  The girls sometimes call me Mama G and I wear the name proudly!

I like to give them something fun and spontaneous to celebrate the day.  Last year it was a giant container of animal crackers, because they always left me animal crackers hidden all over my house.  This year it was a jar of Laffy Taffy to remind them of all the times she made them laugh.  

This was Olivia's first Jiggy Day and we couldn't wait to share it with her.  Cass prepared Olivia with stories about her Aunt Jiggy.  They started off their day with candy for breakfast...well just Cass.  Dione celebrated in Los Angeles with Cini Minis for breakfast and in Philadelphia Dean drank 2 Diet Cokes for breakfast in her honor.

On Jiggy Day, red shoes are a must!  Together, Olivia and I proudly show off our red shoes.

The cemetery is so peaceful for our family, it is a vital part of our healing... and has been since the beginning.  Cass was eager to bring Olivia to the cemetery for the first time and explain to her baby girl how our family feels about this special place.   

Olivia brought a beautiful bouquet of yellow flowers to honor her Aunt Jiggy.

  

We never know what items will show up at the cemetery or who brings them... from beautiful flowers and cupcakes to Diet Cokes and Butterfinger candy bars!  And check out those balloons you can almost see them from space!  We delight in all of it...right down to the Little Mermaid Pez dispenser.

At the end of the day I take one more trip to the cemetery...to sit and absorb the details of the day.  The crows fill the air with their piercing song. The sky has been cloudy and rainy most of the day.  As I start to drive away, the skies part and a streaming ray of light pierces through the gray clouds illuminating the ground below.  That familiar sting resonates behind my eyes, for I know she is near. 

My Observations on 10.10.10

I awoke on 10.10.10 at 7:10 this morning expecting to do something spectacular to document this unique occurrence.  After all, 10.10.10 will not happen again in my lifetime.  I tried to convince the teenager and the hubby that we should think of something amazing!  Neither one of them showed even the slightest interest in my quest.  So I decided to make 10 observations that struck me during the day.

The List...

1. According to the math nerd husband 10.10.10 is 42 in binary code.
2. According to the teenager, 42 is the answer to life, the universe, and everything.  He has evidently been watching way too much of "Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy".
3. Taking a walk on a cool-ish warm October afternoon you can smell a Sunday pot roast cooking in just about every other home you walk by.
4. Izzy is the biggest mooch of a pooch I have ever seen.  She can smell food being prepared from any corner of the house or yard.
5. Fall is my favorite time of year...unless it happens to be winter or spring or summer.
6. I should receive an award for bravery.  After nearly stepping on a ridiculously huge rattlesnake last week while walking the Deer Fence trail, today I walked that trail again without freaking out...well mostly not freaking out.
7. My days of watching chick flicks are over since I am outnumbered by males in the house 2:1.  Now I watch things like The Simpsons.
8. I am an excellent homemade roll baker.
9. My uniform cuteness test to predict the outcome of an NFL or college football game (see #7 above) works about 75% of the time.
10. The men in this house LOVE desert but aren't interested in anything fun for 10.10.10.

Jiggy Day 2010

Every once in a while...less now than before, we discover some priceless mementos left behind from Jocie.  It might be a note, or a card, a quote she had written down so she could recall it for later.  Or in this case...web cam pictures.  I thought I'd share some self-portraits that Jocie took using just her simple web cam and some occasional fun edits. 

Today is Jiggy Day and my beautiful red-haired girl would be celebrating her 18th birthday. 

So I ask that as you read this, whoever you are and wherever you are... take a moment and embrace your life completely.  Do something fun and crazy just because you can!  Whether it's ice cream for dinner, a midnight movie, or driving with all the windows open and your favorite music playing extra loud.  Soak up all those around you with all of your energy and deepest affection.  Do not miss another moment...because Jocie never did! 

Remember, she always said...Go Big or Go Home!

I am often asked if it gets any easier...this losing a child planet that I live on.  Quite honestly...it does not.  I absolutely still miss Jocie today, as much as yesterday and the day before, and my heart will still ache for her tomorrow.  There are days when it's still just too much to comprehend even now.  But most days I have figured out how to balance that tremendous grief with all the beauty that surrounds me.  For all the love and support that is shown to me and my family, I am abundantly grateful!  And today...my family will be  "Gettin Jiggy with it", I hope yours will too!

If you'd like...leave me a comment and let me know how you were able to celebrate Jiggy Day in your own fun way. 

The sleepover

Imagine if you will...a sleepover invitation from my grand baby girl!  

Olivia called last week (she is developing cell phone skills at an early age) and asked if I'd come hang out with her Mommy since Daddy was going out of town on business.

 

I absolutely couldn't wait for the day to arrive.  

It was such fun to be a part of her little baby routine for a while.  Cassandra is a beautiful mother and loves every moment of having Olivia in her life.

Remember the first time you saw a newborn take a bath?
  Olivia cried as we placed her little naked self in the tubby...then really cried when the air began to circulate and cool her moist pink skin. 

And then the sweetest moment...her Mommy began to sing.
"Baby Beluga in the deep blue sea"  
Just a few notes and those baby blue eyes found her Mommy's face and all was quiet and still.  

"Swim so wild and you swim so free.  Heaven above and the sea below.  And a little white whale on the go."

Isn't that something...the power of a Mommy's love and tender voice?  I will never forget that moment, the amazing connection of my daughter with my grandaughter.

And then it is out of the tub and into the Monster Towel.   Why is it only the little ones get to have sweet cool monster towels...I'd love to wrap up in one after a hot tubby!

Freshly caressed with lotion and dressed in pink jammies, we settle into the sofa Olivia and I, to chat with her Mommy about this and that.  My job was to keep her awake until bedtime.  Before I know it...woops...she's fast asleep and feels simply warm and delicious nestled in my arms.  I got in trouble with her Mommy for that one.

A quick wake up for Olivia and a scolding for Grandma, then it's burrito time!  

Cass has this intricate process of wrapping Olivia tightly in a receiving blanket in preparation for sleeping...

it is called the Burrito and she loves it!  She feels so secure and warm.

All snugged up and ready for sleeping, we read "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" and giggled after each page.  Olivia and I learned a valuable lesson...never share our cookies with mice.

4 ounces of formula and a whole bunch of Grandma snuggling and it's off to bed for Olivia.

As usual Cass gets up with Olivia as she wakes for her 2 am feeding.

Not as usual...Olivia doesn't go right back to sleep. 

That's my bad!

 I accept full responsibility for previously letting her doze off after her tubby.  But it was worth it! 

Cass wakes me and does a hand off to Grandma about 3 am.  Then she tumbles back to bed for another minute or two of sleep.

I settle into the rocker with a wide awake baby.  

You should have seen those baby blue eyes...they were enormous, and not one bit sleepy!  

So...Olivia and I talk and snuggle and sing some lullabies.  

I need to bone up on those...I can't remember what comes after "Momma's going to buy you a Mockingbird"!  
Hum...hum...hum...hum...hum...hum..hummmm!

I snapped this pic in the dark around 4:30 or 5 am when she finally drifts off to sleep.  I really can't remember the time...my mind was tired...dizzily happy...but tired!

Hello...it's 7 am.  Olivia is awake, dressed in a bright pink dress and ready for the day.

A little morning snuggle with Mommy and Maggie in the background.

I was lucky enough to wake up to Miss Maggie stepping all over my head and body with her gigantic brown paws.

And then Miss Sammi came along and gave me a morning slurp on the cheek!

I sure love my grandawgs even if they are part crazy!

It's time for some morning exercise in the jungle...and wouldn't you know it Daddy calls from the airport.  He caught an early flight because he missed his baby girl so much.

Mommy and Olivia are very excited!  Even though Olivia looks like she just "crapped her chaps!" 

 That's what my dad always used to say about his grandkids.

Sigh...oh the life of a newborn!

Another bottle and she's off to the land of Wynken and Blynken and Nod again.

Goodbye and sweet dreams Olivia...thanks for the sleepover.

Let's do it again real soon!

Table For 6 Plus a Baby

Dione flew in Friday night for a quick 36 hour visit to meet her "niece baby" Olivia Jocelyn.  She instantly fell head over heels in love with this beautiful babe, and it was her turn to spoil her.  Dione was finally able to give Olivia some Auntie Didi lovin!  How nice to take a break from lawyer-ness and participate in baby-ness, even if for just a few hours. And then it was back to LA Sunday morning with her textbook laden luggage!

It's so nice to have a thoughtful son-in law who suggested that we celebrate our "Jiggy Day"  dinner a week early while we were all together in the same state.  Jiggy Day is our tradition to celebrate the life and legacy of our fabulous Jocie with crazy gifts, good food, and all around fun!  

As the hostess at Market Street Grill turned to seat us, she said "Let's see...reservation for 6 plus a baby?"  Yes, yes, that's us...table of 6 PLUS a baby.  It made my heart leap from my chest to hear it spoken.  
How our lives have changed since last Jiggy day...

Our little family has grown to a table of 6 plus a baby.  

And isn't that just lovely!