A collection of stories from our next-door neighbor and Jamie's good friend, Patti

I held Jamie when he was home- day one or two of his beginning. Slightly fussy, Mychael explained Jamie was awaiting "food" and Elene was in the bathroom. I just swayed with the sweet baby in my arms, who forgot about eating and went soundly to sleep. 

We had frogs on our welcome mat. Jamie used to come over and do "Frog jumping" & "ribbets" all over the porch and up and down the sidewalk.

Jamie loved to come over and play at Patti's. Once we had a sword fight with his plastic sword and my pen. We played and laughed and even chased him up the street (to capture the pirate). 

Jamie loved to come over and ask for candy or feed the little gold fish in the tabletop aquarium. He always had questions about everything. "Why can't the fish come out of there?" He loved to wind the music box and play with the view master.

Last summer, hearting hysterical laughter from the front yard, I looked over to find Demetri doubled over in laughter, while a naked Jamie was nonchalantly "hands free" peeing in the front yard. 

When Jamie came home from the hospital after breaking his arm, I brought him some candy, watermelon flavored (it's good for you because it has water in it- according to Jamie), and a very tiny bear. He told me he was naming it "Lovey". The next day he was giving it rides in his sling.

I will always remember seeing his curly head and barely seeing his eyes as Mychael backed into the driveway. He always looked to see what was going on! He even had me eat a flower one day (making sure I ate it all) that his dad said was o.k. to eat.

Going to School: A few months ago, Jamie came over very early and was going to have breakfast, get dressed etc. and go to the bus stop. On our porch I explained that we had to be very quiet, as no one else was up yet. Walking into the kitchen and seeing the coffee maker brewing (loudly), Jamie proclaimed: "That's loud".

Cabrillo Monument: We missed the sailing of the Star of India, so we went to maybe see it at the point. We were right in the middle of the clouds rolling by, he got to climb a tree, see the view, touch the old armor, see where San Diego is on a California map and hold a real sword. WOW!! Jamie was dressed for the occasion in his pirate outfit.

Super Hero Jamie. Running around our yard, over at our house, etc. With his cape on- sometimes with clothes, lots of times- cape only!! Happy & Free.

My favorite memory is when Gary and I took Jamie and Demetri to the Zoo. It was Jamie's fourth birthday. We went on the zoo bus ride. Very loudly at each stop, Jamie would ask: "What is it?" "What does it do?" "Where does it live?", "Does it have a tail?" When viewing any nature show we still ask each other "Does it have a tail?" It was a wonderful fun-filled adventure!

Recently watching Gary using a shovel in our yard, Jamie (thinking of a rototiller?) stated "that's how they did it in the old days". He also "helped" drag a chunk of concrete and a post telling Gary "You couldn't have done it without a little help".

Last time I saw Jamie He had made finger marks across the mud in our yard. He was gleefully stomping through the compost pile. Asking him what would mom & dad say if he came home with muddy feet, he replied" They'll probably give me a time out". (Well worth it).

Patti Geary.