August 18, 2008

We are instituting something new with this website update, called “Jim’s Spotlight”. Every time we update on the home page on the left hand side we are going to feature someone who has influenced me in some way that should receive a little extra recognition. If they have a website, we will direct you to their website, if they don’t we’ll direct you to a page of how they influenced me. 

Now, a little about me. As my disease progresses, which it is, I’m losing more and more stamina and it’s getting harder to breathe, I’d like to tell you about the most remarkable woman I’ve ever met. Why today – it’s her birthday. When I asked what she wanted she said, “For more people to consider a $1 (the least) or more to your ALS Fundraising, as they have no idea what this horrible, under funded and little known incurable disease does to the diagnosed, their families and their friends.”

As special days occur, I can tell you when you are in the downward slide of your life, special occasions become much more meaningful, it’s like crossing another barrier that you made and you made that one, now what’s the next one?

I call this lady Mother Theresa. I could fill pages of why but I’ll just outline a few things:
She helped raise her sisters at a very young age
She has always been around to help someone in need
She was there for all 4 births of one of her sister’s children’s births
She went back and forth to San Antonio for 4 years when another sister, Tina, had cancer and unfortunately passed away. One year she made 17 round trips to help take care of the children in San Antonio
She was there for my sister’s, Shawn, first birth, Prescott , and flew home after the birth. Unfortunately my sister developed some complications over night and Melanie got on a plane the next day and went back for another week.
She took care of Prescott during my sister’s second birth, Aubree, my godchild, so Alex, my brother in law and Shawn could spend more time together and didn’t have to worry about the day to day care of a 3 year old.
She and I have now taken the nieces into our home permanently to give them a better chance with their education and to open more of their possibilities than they could in Guadalajara .
During all these years she kept working
She went through 25+ years of my shenanigans

And now she’s faced with the hardest, most time consuming horrible experience of all, to take care of her dying husband, which if you haven’t read one of the past updates go back and see what a normal day is for the two of us together. And it’s only going to get worse. Does she show any of her frustrations? Nope. Her only problem is her problem she has had forever, she can’t say NO. Weddings, bridal parties, baby showers, you name it she’s always ready to help and everyone wants her because she’s so talented.
 
Well I found a little poem to honor her on her day:
 
 
My Loving Wife
 
You've been there
to laugh with me
to cry with me,
to be proud of me,
and to be happy for all
the good things in my life...

You've shared my disappointments
and listened and helped me
through difficult times.
You're
the most important part of my life...
and you always will be.
I Love you.

I give thanks to God always
for you...
I Corinthians 1:4
 
There’s an old expression, I’d rather be lucky than good, and I hit a grand slam on having Melanie as my wife, she truly is one in a million.