Sully update

Hey All

I know you haven't had an update about Sully in a while. When I talked to her the other day, she told me that she is pretty much in a "holding pattern" until further notice.

I will say that she recently got a wheelchair, so that she can sit up for a while, and go outside for some air now and then. With the 70 degree weather we've been having here in Massachusetts lately (how weird!), I know that the chance to be outside is a welcomed change for her.

She loves getting phone calls and mail - she was thrilled to get some "snail mail" from Jonah (who is currently in France) the other day.

She would also love to have visitors if that's a possibility.

If you do not have Sully's phone number or address, please feel free to contact me, Faith, at matahina@gmail.com. I'm sure she wouldn't mind if friends had access to this information, but I personally feel weird about posting it on a blog for all to see. :)

Anyway, that's the Sully news for this week. When I know more, you know I will share it.

Thanks,
Faith

Virginia's Memorial

I wasn't able to be at Virginia's memorial service myself this weekend, but some of you have given me tidbits of information to share.

The service was yesterday. Saturday. The 27th. Grace church was packed to capacity and more. They had to set up a tent with a monitor outside in the back to cover the overflow; I've been told. Virginia's parents, brother, and sister all spoke.

The forecast called for rain. And it did. During the service. But as people started to walk the short distance from Grace to the Hackney's home, it cleared and the sun came out.

At the Hackney's, there was food, music, and fun. Virginia's bicycle was prominently featured in the yard. There was "enough food to feed a thousand people," donated from various businesses and friends throughout the island. And the sun continued to shine.

Virginia's parents gave some of her hats out to her friends. Some of Virginia's friends from kareoke (i don't even know if i spelled that right) sang. Lynne Wolf sang. People shared stories and ate and laughed. "It was the kind of party Virginia would have really liked if she had been there." They gave out pink pencils inscribed with "Virginia Hackney" to all that attended.

And after all was said and done, it started raining again....

Like I said, I wasn't present. So if anyone has additional stories or happenings to share, PLEASE FEEL FREE. I would love to hear more about it, and i'm sure that there are others who would too.

Thanks for sharing.

Until next time,
Stay strong and keep smilin'!

Faith

Stefanie's medical update

Hi all

Stefanie wanted me to let everyone know that she has begun Physical Therapy. She says "it is not fun." She found out today that she actually tore her quad in 2 places instead of just the 1 they originally saw - and that is why things have continued to be so painful for her.

She will continue to have to wear her leg brace until the beginning of December, and then be on crutches even after that until her PT gives her the ok to stop using them.

She is frustrated, and would love to have phone calls if anyone feels so inclined.

Stay strong and keep smilin'
Faith

Rick would be proud

So here's a funny story that Hayley Niad shared with me recently. I think Rick Bausman would be proud, and the rest of you might get a good chuckle too... so with her permission, I'm going to share.

First you need to know that Hayley is a freshman in college somewhere in St. Louis. And Camp once again makes the world a smaller place.... as Hayley proves in this part of an email to me:

I was watching a show called Frank's Place from the 1980s in a film class that I'm taking. It was the strangest thing... the episode had a bunch of african singers come to new orleans. they did one performance. i couldn't believe it: they were playing akiwowo! I was singing along and the rest of the class was looking at me like "how the heck you do know this song!?"

now, can i just take a little artistic liscence and try to set a scene here? :)

Hayley's experience was in a Freshman General Education film class. If i remember my college days correctly, Freshman Gen. Ed's are L-A-R-G-E classes. And film classes are more often than not spent actually *watching* films, so it's dark.

I can only picture that Hayley is now sitting in a large, dark room with - more likely than not - sleeping classmates. "Frank's Place" is droning along in the background of many peoples' dreams. And then! There's Akiwowo!

Remember that Rick taught us this song two summers ago in drumming class (though some of us already knew it). It is catchy, and the words are fun, so we did really well learning it.

I can only imagine Hayley's surprise when she started hearing the familiar song. And then the smile that comes to her face... and she can't help but sing... "jo wo bay me day lay, jo wo bay me day lay.... (i'm typing this out phonetically of course)..."

All i can say is, I'm half sorry that there weren't more of us in that room with Hayley. There would have been wheelies in the aisles for sure! And a whole chorus of voices. And Hayley's drooling, bed-headed classmates would have never known what hit them! :)

Then poor Hayley would have to spend the rest of the year trying to explain...

But, "the best way to explain it is to do it," right?

Hey, Hayley. Can i visit you at college sometime? :)

Until next time,
Stay strong and keep smilin'!

introductions

so let me introduce myself:

My name is Faith Carter. Many of you reading this blog probably know me. Or maybe have heard of me somewhere along the way (I hope much of what you've heard has been positive). I have been a true Jabberwockian for over 32 years now. I started attending Camp Jabberwocky as a young child at what is now known as the "August Session," and now spend part of my summers in the "July Session. (When I began attending Jabberwocky, sessions were called "Childrens' Camp" and "Adult Camp," but now with the intermingling of populations...)

I love to keep in touch with folks I meet through Jabberwocky every year. It's very important to me, as I consider Jabberwockians to be members of my family.

I've been asked to keep this blog active throughout the months that we are not together. I am thrilled to have this honor, and will do my best to do my best with it. :)

I will tell you now that I almost certainly will not be updating this blog daily, as Arthur does during the time that Camp is in session. But I *will* be updating on a regular basis, so feel free to enjoy... and if you have comments, stories, announcements,etc... PLEASE share! :D

Thanks, and I'm sure we'll be in communications soon.
Faith

ps.

Please be aware:

I am NOT a professional writer (though I hope to be, someday). So please forgive any grammatical weirdness. :) Also, sometimes I revert to my "e.e. cummings-ness," and forget to capitalize things. I don't mind it, but some people find it odd. Again, if this happens (as I'm sure it will), please bear with me. Thanks

Stay strong and keep smiling!

ME :)

Virginia Hackney

The Jabberwocky Community lost a good friend last week. Virginia Hackney passed away after a strong battle with cancer and we'll all miss her. She was always generous, high spirited and very considerate of others. Here is her father's email message:


"Friends and Fans of Virginia --
Virginia died at about 5 AM this morning. As Judy Fisher and the Hospice folks have been telling us, she died as she lived, full of determination and and being as active as possible. As the scope of her favorite activities began to shrink because of physical condition, her body also began to close down. Mary Beth and Allison picked Virginia up in her wheel chair for lunch yesterday, after we realized that we had failed to change her morphine patch on Wednesday. Caroline Croft changed the patch, and that helped calm her spirits almost immediately, so she was in a good mood when she trundled up Main Street toward the Black Dog. Lunch did not go perfectly. The group ordered, but Virginia was in some discomfort. Finally, she said she wanted to go home. Her friends obliged. When Judy Fisher heard what had happened at the restaurant, she came right away and spent a long time with Virginia. From this consultation came a change in the medicines to make Virginia more comfortable, and a change in the "companionship" regime. Someone would be with her at all times. Mary Beth and Allison volunteered to be on duty last night. Virginia was delighted as they are very special people in her life. At the end of her session with Judy Fisher, Virginia said, "I want to be with my family." She came out of her bedroom in her wheelchair and sat with visitors (Tomar Waldman and Mary beth Norton) and family members. She remained subdued but alert through supper. Mary Beth and Allison came back at 7:30 PM, prepared to camp out with Virginia for the night. Virginia went to bed.
Mary Beth knocked on our bedroom door about five o'clock and said, "Things are changing." We went down immediately and Virginia was peaceful and still. Her two companions told us later that Virginia was awake and asleep all night. At one point, she looked at Mary Beth, sitting by her bedside, and said, "Lie down and get some sleep." Later, she asked to sit up. After a few minutes sitting, she asked to lie down. Lying down, she coughed gently a few times and was quiet. That is when Mary Beth fetched us.
We soon all agreed that she was probably gone, so we called Hospice and Dr. Fisher. They came quickly and determined that Virginia was dead. Ann was there helping. Our children and grandchildren arrived right away, as did Caroline. It was a comfort to have such a loving crowd telling stories, sharing memories, shedding tears. Rob Hensley, Virginia's pastor at Grace Church led us in prayer as we crowded around Virginia's bed.
The funeral service has just taken her body to the funeral home. We have begun to think about what to do next. We have a meeting with the funeral director this afternoon and will probably make decisions there.
Meanwhile, we are thankful for Virginia's amazing life. She was an inspiration in death as in life.
We are blessed -- Sheldon"