| 07/15/09 01:32 PM |
#78
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Paul Smith
I attended Jason's funeral along with Dan, Tanya, Angie, Heather and Missy yesterday. We did not get much chance to speak to her, but I am glad to report that Tiff and the kids are holding up well. We know that Jason is in a better place now. I am still amazed at his strength, will power and fortitude that were on display over the last 8 years as he battled his tumor, "Spiney Norman" as he called it, again and again. Tiffany has been so strong as well, holding everything together for her kids, it is simply amazing. I admire you so much, Tiff. I wish you never had to experience this trial, there is no understanding why this had to happen to your family. But you have perservered, you have grown and become stronger. I am sure that you will easily handle any challenge life ever throws your way in the future. God bless.
I have mentioned how inspirational Jason's writing was on his CaringBridge website. I decided to sample some of his words here, in case you never got the chance to read them...here's Jason, writing last December 15, one week after his third brain surgery:
I just can't wait to see were this ride takes me next! It's kinda like my "spirit dream" I had. Brittany and I were looking at these relaxation cd's that I got. I like the native flute ones, one was called spirit flute and she kept calling it spirit dream, so she said something about me having my spirit dream. This was before my surgery and stuff last week. And by gosh I did have a spirit dream heres how it went. I was at the peak of the Himalayas and on one of those old tabogans and I was sliding down, right on the edge of the mountain, snow was flying all over and it was like a scene from Indiana Jones or Ice Age or something, twenty seven thousand feet, that would be a long sled ride. Anyway I must have had someone riding with me, they were behind yelling in my ear saying "you might has well jump off now, we will never make it, You might has well quit while you can" and I remember looking down the mountain and there was this long curvy trail that went on forever and it looked pretty rough but everytime the guy would suggest that we jump I would tell him that I was going see were this trail took us, I said "I am going to ride this sucker right to the end". That was my dream and I could probably explain every image in it and why it was there, but I think from that moment on I re-affirmed that no matter what "I am riding this sucker right to the end!"
Jason, you rode that sucker. God bless you, and in Jason's memory, give us all the strength to take our own toboggans back to the top for another run while we have the chance on this earth.
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jasonwhittier/journal/61
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