All My Life's a Circle - Love you Weetie!

Where to begin? On Friday July 8th this world lost the most amazing Husband, Father, Brother and Friend. It is with a broken heart that I write this post, but the one thing my Dad wanted out of this blog is to let others know we were in this together. I won't spend much time talking about my Dad's decline, but focusing on his love. 

If you follow his blog, it has been a while since he last posted. Dad had two more trips back to Duke this past spring, one in March and the last in May. His last scan at Duke had some progression, and yet still determined to fight, he opted to take the chemo, for more precious time.  You see, his fourth grand baby was on the way, and I think he was waiting for her. Amylia Mary was brought into this world on 6/29 by one of the strongest and most amazing women I know, my sister Jenae. The one thing my Dad always told me is that you can never truly know the love a Daddy has for his little girl. He would say "To have a little girl is the best. It is like all the good and beauty of your loving wife distilled into one little package, without any faults." He was so proud to know that my brother, Chris, would know what that love felt like. And at last, our little football team has a girl! 

And so, my Dad passed peacefully at his home, surrounded by his closest Friend, Craig, his loving, devoted wife, and all four of his kids (Chris, Jenae, Keegan and myself (Heather)). To know my Dad, you would know he loved a good laugh and lots of good music. I won't share many details of that afternoon, as it was happy and beautiful and special to those he wanted to share it with and we will keep those memories close in our hearts. For those of you who know him, he left this world wearing his Rogue Dead Guy T-shirt (Get it? "Dead man walking" he said with a chuckle...), Seahawks Champions Hat on, listening to Van Morrison. I am proud to say his last words to us were "I love you all. I love you." and with that he let go. 

I want to say that my Dad's sole focus in life was on giving us (and many others) love and stability and that is what we had till the end with him and still have with each other. 

Mom, you are stronger than you know. Breathe in, Breathe out and look for the hummingbird. He is with us and I love you.

Jenae, my cancer partner in crime, we did it! We took good care of him and the strength of love I have for you has no bounds and no words. I will forever be grateful for the love you show our family. Thank you, I love you.

Keegan, my Dad told me how thankful he was for your love and strength. He loved playing guitar with you, watching the Hawks win (and lose, but we won't go there), and cooking shrimp on the barbee on Sundays. My love for you is deep and endless.

Chris, we lost our best friend. This hurts, it's real but its real good too, he would want us to remember that. How lucky are we to have had this man raise us and see our babies come into this world? He may not be sitting in his chair but we are part of him and he will forever be part of us. I love you.

For Poppa's babies Brogan Lyden, Kesten Daye, Nolan James and Amylia Mary, your Poppa loved you! Oh how he loved you! He wrote this blog for you so that you would remember and know him. Remember and know to Be Kind, Be Open and Giving, Be Brave and Thoughtful! Work Hard! Smile, Laugh often and Love Deeply! Share a Good Meal. Listen to Good Music and Dance!

Let me please also say the outpouring of love from so many different people who knew my Dad is really just amazing. He loved big, wide and great, our Big Poppa. All those who have reached out and shared their good times are showing us just how big his love was. Thank you for that and all of your love and support!

So, now what? My Dad has donated his "Abby-Normal" brain (Young Frankenstein...Craig, get it?)  to the tumor researchers at Duke, so we will send part of him back one more time, in great hopes that they may find a cure or it will help someone else along the way. And, well I think... we remember him the best way we can... with a great Irish Wake! We will have a Wake on 7/23 in Issaquah. Please send pictures and memories to "skipsmemorial98027@gmail.com".

My Dad would want us to laugh, love, hug each other and remember the good times with good music. Let's do that!

All my life's a circle, sunrise and sundown

The moon rolls through the nighttime, till the daybreak comes around

All my life's a circle but I can't tell you why

The season's spinnin' round again the years keep rollin' by

It seems like I've been here before, I can't remember when

But I got this funny feelin' that I'll be back once again

There's no straight lines make up my life and all my roads have bends

There's no clear-cut beginnings and so far no dead-ends

I found you a thousand times I guess you've done the same

But then we lose each other it's just like a children's game

But as I see you here again, a thought runs through my mind

Our love is like a circle, let's go 'round one more time

All my life's a circle, sunrise and sundown

The moon rolls through the nighttime, till the daybreak comes around

All my life's a circle but I can't tell you why

The season's spinnin' round again, the years keep rollin' by

Oh all my life's a circle, sunrise and sundown

The moon rolls throught the nighttime till the daybreak comes around

All my life's a circle but I can't tell you why

The season's spinnin' round again, the years keep rollin' by

- Harry Chapin

A new perspective

I got a Peaceful, easy feeling,and I know you won't let me down. Cuz I'm already standing on the ground.


                                                         Jack Tempchin
                                                         Performed by the Eagles


  I have a confession to make. Since I was 8 or so I have loved baseball. Growing up we listened to the Denver Bears, a triple A minor league team for the White Sox. I remember listening to the radio from my mom's or my Grandmas sitting on the porch and enjoying the great games of summer.

  When we moved to Seattle, one of my favorite thing's was that they had  a major league baseball team. When the kids were 4 or 5, we would pack up a little dinner, take a thermos of coffee and we could get to see Gaylord Perry, or Bo Jackson, Ken Griffey Sr., and Ken Griffey Jr, Harold Raines, all Major league players for under 20 bucks we would be immersed in true , real Major League players. The memories of playing catch, talking baseball, and spending exceptional time as a family together is a great part of the foundation that is our family.

   One of my favorite new vernaculars, is ... Journeyman player. This word explains that, if you are a hard worker, not a superstar, not a key player, you are a journeyman player. The very definition is a hard worker who brings his lunch box and works hard to complete his job.

    I respect that. I respect that because I relate to that. I have been a journeyman electrician for 39 years. I show up, I do the best I can, and I try to take work seriously and I will work with as much as I have possible to make peoples lives better, happier, and to feel complete at the end of the day. I live in a world full of Journeymen workers. Plumbers, painters, carpenters, chocolatiers, nurses, stereo installers, housekeepers, landscapers, bus drivers, police officers, stay at home moms, and caregivers. We get up, we pack it up, and even when we are tired, worn, broke, and beat back, we get in the next day to persevere the battle. Here's a respect to all who work, fight, and enjoy every day.

    I have known I have had Glioblastoma Multiforme for 20 months. The original shock, the education about cancer, the times spent with staples,the months of chemo, radiation, the infusions, the blood draws, and my now 8 trips to Duke university, I feel that I have earned Journeyman status in GBM. It is a tiring, but honorable badge of commitment to fighting with everything I have to get more time.

   Getting accepted at Duke University for a clinical trial is an honor. I am blessed to try to attain a victory against a very certain deadly disease. I am willing to bring my lunch, do whatever I can, to get a while longer in this life. Thank God, Duke gives me hope.

   We will see in another couple of months, if the Inflammation goes down and the tumor disappears
.If it does, we have saved some more valuable time.If it doesn't, my Dr. and friend, Vlahovick, comforts me and says "she has a plan".I take large comfort in that.

   For those of you have been recently diagnosed, I am so sorry for you. It's hard to be diagnosed with this treacherous disease. For those who support us, thank you! My eyes have opened to see the blessing that our caring circle of people are. you all make my life, my thoughts, your caring, I lay down at night and smile. Life is a gentle blessing showing the kindness and Love that gives us the strength to continue to fight, even when we are worn and tired.

  Keep positive thought's. My head feels relatively good. If you need to talk, I am pretty Journeyman
as a Cancer fighter! Let me know if you have questions, and I'll try to help you through the roller coaster of GBM.