Over and out

Dear Jess,

We started this blog on Thanksgiving Day (also your birthday) last November 27th because we were all, let's be honest, freaking out. Something terrible had happened to our friend, and we needed a way to tell you that we were behind you, without overwhelming your voicemail box. Three months and 211 blog posts later, we have become an army of cancer ninjas. We have reminisced about your intimidating first impressions, told stories about you, sifted through pictures to find one that might make you smile, donned red bracelets and ninjagnome t-shirts, and promised to grow mustaches in your honor.

This is the last post on the blog, but Jess, we're still your ninjas. We will continue to condition and practice our moves, because who knows when you might need one of us to tell a funny story to banish a dark thought, sing a line from Eye of the Tiger, or share a bottle of pink prosecco on somebody's porch somewhere. We are Team Jess! And we love you.

Love always,
Your Ninjas

Peace Yoda Style

Jess-
Sending you love and peace everyday... Yoda says it best.
You are loved, and continue to be superbly amazing.
Big hugs, Alison


(This was a post from long ago...but it seems appropriate now, still. Sorry A!)

On to the next thing

Blogs may come, and Blogs may go...but Ninjas are forever!

Even though we will not be united in Blogdom, we are still here. Your family of support. Your Ninja army. The closing of the blog put me in mind of a few things I am looking forward to: the Moustache-off 2009 (June), spring blossoms and daffodils, and a nice adult beverage on the patio in Crow at the end of a long day. Ahh, it gets no better.

hugs and love,
Rohanna

jess on the mountain

Don't do it!

So, Jess. I know that a lot of people get a tattoo after surviving a difficult experience, or as a symbol of strength and triumph. I respect this tradition, but I've seen so much bad ink that, as your friend, I feel I must warn you against some tats that you may be considering. We can help you come up with something meaningful and, well, not-horrifying, if you decide to go this route.

Big Thank You

Thank you Melissa and all of you who set up the blog. It really helped some ninjas in Vermont to know there was this phalanx of ferocious and sweet ninjas out there spporting Jess. Welcome home, Jess.

Can't wait to see you!
Anne

I Saw You

5th Street Market

You: Tall, long dark hair, beautiful laugh

Me: On the cell phone, trying to stand in the sun, so happy to see you

Shall we get together for some mischief and mayhem?

an open letter to the ninjas

To all the Ninjas:

Jess and Mark are home. Hurray! Back at work, back at the gym, back at a dinner table near you. It's not exactly the same - for example they'll be leaving again for a few weeks off and on, and Jess actually turned down a glass of red wine last night. But that's ok. We'll take what we can get around here, and it's almost rose season anyway.

To the far flung ninjas in Portland, Vermont, Montana, St. Louis, Southern California, and everywhere else - please know that the MacBlaines are well cared-for by the locals. We're bringing dinners, checking in, providing couches for curling up with tea, and offering more help and food than they could possibly want. We're doing it on behalf of all of you too - we know how much you love her. We know because you've been reading and posting on this blog.

Jess has told me how much people's words on the blog have helped her, and I think it's safe to say that the blog has helped a lot of us, whether we've been regular posters or not. It has helped me. It's comforting to know how many people out there love my friend Jess. I love knowing that so many people are thinking about her every day, wearing their red bracelets and willing to bare their soul in this public forum to make sure Jess knows how special she is. We are Team Jess! Cancer ninjas! Banding together to support our girl through the worst days, and raising our glasses to the best days.

It's time to close the blog. Jess needs different things from us now and she's checking email a lot more. I will keep welovejessblaine@gmail.com open until next week in case anyone has a last post. After that I'll make a book for Jess from the blog so she can remember all the sweet things people said and all the love we are still sending her way.

Love,
Melissa

home

Welcome home my dear.



So you're back. Back in our funny little city in the valley. Back on your porch, watching the mist rise off the fields across the road. Back in your own bed, drinking coffee from your own pot.

It's going to be a little weird for a while probably. Maybe a little culture shock? Like coming home after a few months in a foreign country (no offense, Portland). But the citizens of this place welcome you with open arms. We can't wait to hang out with you, take care of you, and be part of your new normal.

And pretty soon it will feel like it was all just a dream...


Love, Melissa

ninjagnomes

"It's complicated," we said when they asked. "It's kinda hard to explain," we said. Camilla tried: "so, we have this gnome thing, and then there's this ninja thing..." The lady walked away shaking her head. "No, we're not a team. Or a cult." We said. But maybe you'd better come home soon to keep us out of trouble.