jess,

with as little as i really know you, and the dozen or less times we've seen each other, i feel like i have an image for each time, it's got to be because you have always been full of smiles, funny, giving of your friendship and so full of life. i'm sorry you are going through this right now, i have thought about you every day since i heard, sending you strength and love to get through this hard time. looking through your blog you have so many people, loving you so deeply, telling such great jess stories.....they've got your back!

with love,

meg

From Patricia

We're all keeping you in our thoughts -- you'd be in our prayers if we were praying sorts, but living in the northwest has kind of eclipsed church, so from the church of Eugene and Ashland, we're sending our very best wishes your way.

I'm lucky enough to have first-hand experience with your tenacity, creativity and fighting spirit -- you've always been good at everything you've taken up, and though this fight is totally unexpected I know that you can beat this thing.

I wish I could rush over with some soup or comforting casserole or a really good bottle of wine -- it wouldn't be nearly as good as anything you could come up with, but you've always inspired me to try a little harder with cooking, among other things.

Love,

Patricia

Don't piss her off

Have you ever been punched by Jess? It hurts. Mostly I get punched by Jess for saying the wrong thing. Usually a flippant crack of some sort, then POW! A shot to the shoulder that rattles teeth loose. Sometimes I get punched for Mark saying the wrong thing. I don't get that, but this thing has definitely messed with the wrong person. Even when she's happy and nice, she packs a wallop, and I think this may have pissed her off. It has pissed me off. Kick it's ass, Jess!

Thoughts from this week

You have been on my mind much of this last week Jess. All of it good except maybe for some residual jealousy that you are tall and I am not. I am listening to Waifs Radio on my big Ceder tree porch (thank you for your help with re-roofing) after barely surviving a coin flick fight with Joel, Milo, Teja, Kavi, Padma and Jordan. Joel actually took me hostage in my own bathroom -- his superior size was no contest to my fierce biting skills.

I have spent a fair amount of time this week thinking about what I believe. I am not a deist -- you know this. I believe in science. And it brings me comfort to know that in this situation, with this most scarily named cancer, science is with YOU. The limited amount of research that I have dredged up leads me to believe that you are in good hands with your doctors, your family and the love of your rather large adopted family.

Jess: you have taken the world by storm with your style and your brilliance. Thinking of you brings a smile to my face. I do tear up at times, but mostly I smile. I am attaching this photo from a recent birthday celebration to highlight your fabulous self. 

You and I have shared common annoyances and petty grievances. You have taken my food weirdness in stride (probably wondering how I could be missing crucial taste buds when I refuse mushrooms, bacon or goat cheese). You were there for me and for my sister five years ago when our world broke around us, bringing much needed respite and normalcy. You were there to raise a glass to our new Commander in Chief. I look forward to sharing the next bottle of red, white, pink or bubbly. Cheers to you.

Keep your toenails polished,

Roh

PS: apologies to you and Mark for the dashes. I know they indicate a lack of sophistication with grammar ... but I do love them.

Helvetica

So the other day I opened the mail to find a t-shirt I'd ordered with the word helvetica written across the chest in white. When I saw the sleek san serif, the one that once made order out of a chaotic design world, I thought of you because I knew you'd get the irony, think it was funny that the mother of all typefaces was on a t-shirt, and because I knew you'd call it a typeface not a font. That's just one of the things I love about you.

Here are a few more:

You are the inspiration for rope swings, truck rides in the country, long meals that last three hours, feet on the table and salad eaten with fingers, swimming on a hot summer day, planting improbable gardens. You take in stray pups like me, feed them, house them, marry them off and welcome them home, always. You are as at ease drinking fancy wine as you are drinking PBR and you can talk literary smack with the best of them and still break down about J. Lo. You can take one on this chin, and this is certainly one of those times, but I know you'll get up, pissed off and swinging.

I can honestly say that my life would not be what it is if you were not in it.

It is for all of these reasons that you are going to be okay -- there is just no other option. You have dinner parties to throw, shoes to buy. And I know two little girls who need Aunt Jess to tell them stories of the phamily pharm and rope swings.

I wish I could bring you a stiff cup of coffee to your bedroom in the pointy house on the hill and tell you, while looking at the million shades of green out of your window, that this is all a bad dream. But I can tell you this: We are here, we will be there soon and you are going to kick this.

Sending nothing but love to you and Mark.

Savage

A strawberry in a bowl of peas

Jess -
The birthday card I picked out for you was a quote by Weston Twardowski, age 10 - it says, "You stand out like a strawberry in a bowl of peas." I saw it weeks ago and knew I had to get it for you. I had to get it because you look fabulous in red; you're vivacious, lively, intelligent, and bold. You are a radiant original - a firecracker and a low-key sweetheart with a fabulous laugh, sparkly blue eyes and a beautiful smile. (Who blows those plain Jane peas out of the water!)

Yet with your birthday came heaviness to your originality, and a reminder of how you said you weren't looking forward to 33. And here it is - not at all what any of us want for you. I feel sad, pissed, helpless, and thankful all at the same time. Surely there must be something one can do, yet for now it really isn't about doing, but rather about being where we're at. It's through realizing this that I can again be thankful you are a vibrant strawberry in a bowl of peas, because it's who you are, and who you will be in kicking this thing. You have a graceful strength and a strong will - you are clever, witty, creative, and not afraid of getting pissed off. The perfect ingredients to come out ahead.

So while I'm not "doing" anything to change your situation (although I sure do want to) I am "being" with you. You are in my thoughts and heart. I love you Jess Blaine. You are a lovely and radiant being.

Working in the rain.

If anything ever came along that made me wish I were a praying sort, this would be it. I'd pray my ass off for you. And then maybe I wouldn't feel so unsure about what I could do to help. Alas, I'm not really a praying sort, so instead we'll have to do with a little parable from the Church of MICE:


You know, some people work in the rain; some people run for shelter and the beer cooler.
In some ways, it's kind of symbolic, though. Physically, there is no other way but for you to go through this alone: your body, your fight. But in spirit -- and I know you hardly need to be told this -- you've got so many people with you. And when you have people behind you with a Pulaski and yellow latex gloves, you know you can face anything.

I don't know that I have told you this, but you have always reminded me of my brother. Both of you are fabulous cooks and can make a meal materialize out of seemingly thin air in the most amazing way. Like you hardly even broke a sweat. Like you weren't even really paying attention to what you were doing because you continue to entertain the guests the whole time. Making the whole thing look deceptively easy. It is part of your grace. But it belies your skill and intelligence and strength.

I have been thinking about you a lot. And I know that you have whatever is required to rise to this goddamn occasion.
-- Bob

Milo loves you

Hello Sparkly

Jess,

Hello Sparkly,

I took a second to look up the definition of my nickname for you and I have to say that it really fits you very well.

Meaning #1 : marked by high spirits or excitement
Synonyms: bubbling , effervescent , scintillating , sparkling

Meaning #2 : having brief brilliant points or flashes of light
Synonyms: aglitter , coruscant , fulgid , glinting , glistering , glittering , glittery , scintillant , scintillating , sparkling

You certainly are all of these things and so many more and you have enriched my life by just being in it. I hope you know how many people here in the Marche universe are pulling for you (April Hartley burst into tears on Wednesday because we ran out of Turkey sandwich labels – which I found very confusing until she said that any sort of label made her think of you).

So here is the deal lady, you have to be strong – as strong as we all know that you can be because you mean so much to so many people and we all need a Jess Blaine around to raise the bar. We need you to keep conversation lively and to eat lots of cheese with us, to be a voice of reason in an unreasonable world and to trade good (and bad) books with. I also obviously need you to be my resident proofreader (not to mention that you promised to teach me how to knit).

I miss you around here already and am always ready to help in any way that I can.

Love, Leah

Scrappy Lady

Dear Jess: Here's a photo of you and Mark that I love.














As long as I was digging around in Petanque 07 photos, I thought I'd include this other one, too.















You are one of the toughest ladies I know. You have taught me not to be afraid of power tools or souffles or articles due in 12 hours. I've seen you replace a toilet, and I've seen you dive into a swimming pool in your wedding dress. Both quite gracefully. Last summer, you powerwashed ten years of cat pee from the eaves of our house while drinking a pbr. Later, you went home and cooked an elegant eight-course meal for 14. Okay, so I made that last part up, but you could have and you wouldn't have broken a sweat or let anyone touch a dish. And then you would have built a bonfire and insisted that everyone stay. I'm confident, as we all are, that you will kick this cancer so hard, it'll never come back, and you'll do it wearing a belt buckle and boots.

Love always,
Jamie

ps Yesterday, I ate bacon! I was hoping to lose my bacon virginity with you, but there it was on the brussel sprouts looking so chewy and salty and there was no picking it off. It was delicious. I'm looking forward to sharing a BLT with you.

shotgun hotshots

mice fall 2007

Thinking of You

Jess,

Happy birthday!  We are thinking of you and wish you nothing but the best!

With love,

Padma and Jordan

Jess is bitchin'

Happy birthday to you - Crappy birthday that it is.  However, birthdays are my favorite so I am celebrating you this day of Thanksgiving.  Things I am Thankful for this year: that Jess is my friend, my other big sister, and crafty buddy.  I look forward to your next birthday and the many more to follow.

I echo the sentiments of others and love that you are part of my family.  You are bitchin' and fabulous.  I LOVE YOU.

-Rohanna

It Gets No Rougher

Jess,

I went searching for a quote or song that might offer some wisdom and inspiration during this time, but all I found was an LL Cool J song called "It Gets No Rougher." The intro is a little long-winded (basically, LL recites the whole alphabet, then pronounces it "BULLSH-T") but I like the overall message, which is basically don't f-ck with me cause I'll f-ck you up. LL doesn't offer much insight, but he does write some hard rhymes ("Wicked witch, digging your ditch, giving you stitch by stitch, ain't this a bitch"). All of this is a roundabout way of saying that we are sending you everything we can grab hold of in the hopes of giving you a little extra strength in the days ahead. We love you Jess. We are all proud members of your team. I hope that you will call on us to help. But if not, just know that you are in our thoughts, always. I know you can kick this thing's a-s.

Lew

Hi Jess:

Happy Birthday and Happy Thanksgiving!  While you and Mark surround yourselves this Thanksgiving with friends and family, know that your circle is much wider, and full of people who care about you very much.  

You should also know that recently, while I was searching through the deep recesses of my external hard drive (which made the rounds at some point), I found a 45 minute operatic recital featuring a certain person we all know.  This weekend we will play it.  Loudly and proudly.  

Andy

Love, kisses and karate chops

Dear beautiful lady,

We here at Chez Taylor will be toasting you tonight, on this, the sh*ttiest birthday/Thanksgiving ever. Like it or not, you and Mark are family, so it is with deep and abiding love that I say we're all gonna work together and beat this bullsh*t. I'm working on my karate moves as I type this. You are tough in body, mind and spirit, and you're going to make it through what will no doubt be some difficult times ahead. In the end, though, all that matters is that when we clink our glasses together next Thanksgiving, you'll be there, putting the finishing touches on some fabulous dish and filling the room with your wry wit and sparkling laughter. In the meantime, consider us your servants, your gophers, your slaves (after years of MICE we're used to it). And if you ever need someone to drain a bottle of wine with you, you know I'm always willing to make the sacrifice.

All my love, Rebecca

Greetings

Happy Birthday!
Happy Thanksgiving!
I imagine many people will say that they are thinking about you and I am doing that as well. I am thinking of challenging you to a scramble off on facebook. Scramble is the facebook equivalent of boggle. It is very challenging and yet not challenging at all. It is also a huge timesuck and will surely divert your attention from more pressing matters.
Yesterday as I prepared for the holiday I was thinking about you and wondering what I could do to not be a complete pest and I had a great idea. I went to Marche Provisions and bought a case of wine. Down with Black Rabbit, VIVA MARCHE!
My brother applied to be the delivery driver and Leah was a little incredulous. (Leah, if you read this, you should really hire my brother as the delivery driver.)
Lucy would like to add that she thinks it would be really great to slobber on you, then puke on your black shirt, and finish off with a wet one in your lap. Lucy is still working on showing affection and these are the skills she employs most readily.
I love you Jess and your sweetheart, your cats are in good hands, Joel

Dear Jess

We are all thinking about you. We all love you as well. We all think you will get better very soon.
Love, Liam

happy birthday

Jess! My sweet friend of more than a decade, sharer of jewelry and jeans, partner in party throwing and pre-func wine consumption. I have much to be thankful for today - and you are at the top of my list. This is a dark time, but I re-affirm every five minutes that you will transcend this particular bulls*&t and a year from now we will be celebrating your birthday once again, thankful that this is all behind us. I know you will get through this time with your usual humor and grace, but I also give you permission to freak out and lean on your friends for support. You know I am here for you, unconditionally and completely, but I will say it again and again: I love you and I am here for you, always.
Happy Birthday - Love, Melis