Out of the blue I got a text from Harish, someone I worked with at Amgen. He sent me a picture of a thank you card Madison wrote to him and three other colleagues of ours who decided Madison needed an iPad. Given all of the time I worked from hospitals during inpatient chemo and surgeries, Diana asked me if Madison had an iPad. Madi didn’t, claimed she didn’t need one and Diana, Harish, Sunil, and Josh decided she should have one. They knew that I had a tablet with a few dozen movies and Netflix access during hospital stays but Madison refused to use it I’d bet… because the thought I might. Stubborn as we both are, I’m not going to pick it up so she didn’t think I might want to watch a movie… and Madison wouldn’t because I might, and didn’t want me to –not- have access.
The four of them decided to buy Madison an iPad. I configured Netflix on it and brought it to the hospital the next day. Madison couldn’t speak (throat surgeries), but we had several long conversations via two small dry-erase boards… one for each of us. When I gave her the iPad from Diana, Harish, Sunil, and Josh the tears flowed, which of course got me going. Madison embraced the iPad and watched a lot of movies. Of course as stubborn as I am, I never picked up my tablet (told ya Madi!). Having the distraction of being able to watch movies on HER device was huge. She watched a lot of movies and YouTube, and a few days later, wrote the following on her dry-erase board.
The four of them decided to buy Madison an iPad. I configured Netflix on it and brought it to the hospital the next day. Madison couldn’t speak (throat surgeries), but we had several long conversations via two small dry-erase boards… one for each of us. When I gave her the iPad from Diana, Harish, Sunil, and Josh the tears flowed, which of course got me going. Madison embraced the iPad and watched a lot of movies. Of course as stubborn as I am, I never picked up my tablet (told ya Madi!). Having the distraction of being able to watch movies on HER device was huge. She watched a lot of movies and YouTube, and a few days later, wrote the following on her dry-erase board.
Rewinding back to the text that Harish sent me a few weeks ago, he sent the following picture noting that it inspires him every day (sits on his desk).
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Harish, Diana, and Sundar (also from Amgen) and I met for lunch last Friday. Harish causally mentioned “tomorrow is not a guarantee”. In the thank-you card that Madison wrote to them once she returned home from the hospital she closed it with a quote from Joyce Meyer: “Courage is fear that has said its prayers and decided to go forward anyway”, closing with Madison writing ‘so we walk forward in faith and courage… Cancer will not steal my joy today’.
Switching gears, Angela had a sinus infection a couple of weeks back. We have a few leftover prescriptions from Madison, two of which are antibiotics. Hmmm, is it a bacterial infection Ms. Jones, or viral. On her own, she rummaged and pulled one out she hoping would fit her needs. We talked about it, making an appointment with a doctor, nut Angela took a pill. So how/why what happened is a mystery. I’m sitting next to Angela, the bottle of antibiotics is between us, and I press my thumbprint on my phone to wake it up. I haven’t logged on to Madison’s email since 2018 to tidy things up, and I got my current phone last year… 2020, so it never have madisonrjones@gmail configured. So with a thumbprint, my phone presents me with this.
I looked at Angela and told her that Madison wants her to go to the doctor, not dick around with a self-diagnosis and showed her my phone. Angela made an appointment that afternoon. So how things like that happen, why they happen, and what to make of them when they do happen seems simple enough… sheer coincidence. Oh yea, I don’t believe in coincidence. I’ve replaced the PC I used in 2018, and never logged on with Madison’s credentials on this PC.
It’s now my belief that people who lost someone very close to them sees things that are presented to us. Are we looking, searching… or do they drop in our lap because…? My brother Jeff is a Paramedic/Firefighter in Prescott AZ (SO proud!). He texted me a picture of someone who dialed 911 for assistance recently (left)... who looks looks just like our dad, who we lost March last year. Remarkable.
It’s now my belief that people who lost someone very close to them sees things that are presented to us. Are we looking, searching… or do they drop in our lap because…? My brother Jeff is a Paramedic/Firefighter in Prescott AZ (SO proud!). He texted me a picture of someone who dialed 911 for assistance recently (left)... who looks looks just like our dad, who we lost March last year. Remarkable.
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I attended the Chordoma Community Conference in Chicago in 2019. I always go in a few days early to explore the area the conference is at. I was in a museum and saw a picture of someone who had dark curly hair waiting for a phone to ring... and taken aback. That reminded me of the tail end of Madison’s most serious relationship. If the phone doesn’t ring, it’s Rodger. Long story short, she learned that girls can call boys too and hold their feet to the fire. Tomorrow is not a promise...
... and to Harish’s point, tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. In April we lost a very close friend: Tony had a massive stroke and went downhill and finally passed away shortly thereafter. He was only 65. In late July, we lost another very close friend to a massive heart attack. Jerry was only 61, and the attack took him almost instantly while he was helping a family friend with gardening chores. This one was a tough one... gone in an instant. After we got the phone call and hung up, I was obviously saddened but also in disbelief. We had just seen Jerry very recently. Angela made a great point… that we’re starting to lose friends our age. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed.
Something my dad told me many years ago, and Angela and I tend to preach it and eat our own down food. My dad said 'always have something fun planned, something to look forward to'. When I was working, it was the occasional RV trip camping at Carpinteria, a one week vacation somewhere else, but most often, it was just looking forward to the weekend. Here and now, we were supposed to be in Aspen but two things prompted us to delay our trip. I've also been watching last minute cruise deals, and Angela has authorized me to add-to-cart! Amazing... the prices are dropping since Princess can't fill their ships yet. If their sailing anyway, they're better off with some money hoping we'll be splitting a pair of Kings playing blackjack in the casino, versus sailing with empty cabins.
So I'll end with this for now. How is it that Angela is rummaging around for antibiotics and the next time I pick up my phone, I'm presented with a screen that has madisonrjones email at the top? Her email address has no connections to any of mine, yet there it was. If you're like me, you haven't deleted Madison's name/contact from your phone or nickname file. If you're like me, it probably has a picture of her associated with it. I did ponder signing on as Madison and sending an email from her to a few different people. An email landing in your inbox from 'Madison Jones' would be impossible to ignore. I ultimately decided it would be in bad taste or perhaps even hard on them.
You're welcome!
Something my dad told me many years ago, and Angela and I tend to preach it and eat our own down food. My dad said 'always have something fun planned, something to look forward to'. When I was working, it was the occasional RV trip camping at Carpinteria, a one week vacation somewhere else, but most often, it was just looking forward to the weekend. Here and now, we were supposed to be in Aspen but two things prompted us to delay our trip. I've also been watching last minute cruise deals, and Angela has authorized me to add-to-cart! Amazing... the prices are dropping since Princess can't fill their ships yet. If their sailing anyway, they're better off with some money hoping we'll be splitting a pair of Kings playing blackjack in the casino, versus sailing with empty cabins.
So I'll end with this for now. How is it that Angela is rummaging around for antibiotics and the next time I pick up my phone, I'm presented with a screen that has madisonrjones email at the top? Her email address has no connections to any of mine, yet there it was. If you're like me, you haven't deleted Madison's name/contact from your phone or nickname file. If you're like me, it probably has a picture of her associated with it. I did ponder signing on as Madison and sending an email from her to a few different people. An email landing in your inbox from 'Madison Jones' would be impossible to ignore. I ultimately decided it would be in bad taste or perhaps even hard on them.
You're welcome!
