Comments for John http://blogs.iwu.edu/matthews Semi-regular musings about my son John D. Matthews Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:41:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 Comment on Missing by Natural Therapy » Missing http://blogs.iwu.edu/matthews/?p=61#comment-10 Natural Therapy » Missing Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:49:21 +0000 http://blogs.iwu.edu/matthews/?p=61#comment-10 [...] James Matthews put an intriguing blog post on MissingHere’s a quick excerptWe have spent several hours around the kitchen table talking and laughing and commiserating together, and it has been wonderful therapy. I am really not sure why I have not done a better job of staying in touch. The guilt thing? … [...] [...] James Matthews put an intriguing blog post on MissingHere’s a quick excerptWe have spent several hours around the kitchen table talking and laughing and commiserating together, and it has been wonderful therapy. I am really not sure why I have not done a better job of staying in touch. The guilt thing? … [...]

]]> Comment on Abby by Anonymous http://blogs.iwu.edu/matthews/?p=55#comment-7 Anonymous Fri, 15 Feb 2008 21:17:20 +0000 http://blogs.iwu.edu/matthews/?p=55#comment-7 Jim, I asked Christa if I could use her login to write in this blog. I am so glad that you told me about the blog while we were exercising at the gym. I have now read the entire series, and I was moved to tears at several points. I was just getting to know John before his accident, but I knew enough from my girls to know how much they liked him. I do remember how excited John was to land a part in Les Miz. I did not remember that Valentine's Day was John's birthday. I should have known by the tear in your eye that I saw as I got on the exercycle. Watching a friend in pain is hard to do, but nothing compared to the pain you have dealt with over the last two years. But as I listened to you talk about John, it made me feel better. You made me laugh with stories of earlier birthdays. I enjoy talking about our children. You have had a profound effect on my daughter's life. I wish that I could have known John better so that I could have had a small part in his life: watching him run at a Special Olympics or congratulating him on a musical well-done. I have never hesitated to ask you about John, but this blog has given me an even deeper insight into your relationship with him. Thank you for sharing those memories. Steve Jim, I asked Christa if I could use her login to write in this blog. I am so glad that you told me about the blog while we were exercising at the gym. I have now read the entire series, and I was moved to tears at several points. I was just getting to know John before his accident, but I knew enough from my girls to know how much they liked him. I do remember how excited John was to land a part in Les Miz.

I did not remember that Valentine’s Day was John’s birthday. I should have known by the tear in your eye that I saw as I got on the exercycle. Watching a friend in pain is hard to do, but nothing compared to the pain you have dealt with over the last two years. But as I listened to you talk about John, it made me feel better. You made me laugh with stories of earlier birthdays. I enjoy talking about our children. You have had a profound effect on my daughter’s life. I wish that I could have known John better so that I could have had a small part in his life: watching him run at a Special Olympics or congratulating him on a musical well-done.

I have never hesitated to ask you about John, but this blog has given me an even deeper insight into your relationship with him. Thank you for sharing those memories.

Steve

]]> Comment on Anniversary reflections by Bob Rogers http://blogs.iwu.edu/matthews/?p=7#comment-1 Bob Rogers Thu, 12 Apr 2007 21:31:20 +0000 http://blogs.iwu.edu/matthews/?p=7#comment-1 Jim and Mary Ann- What a beautiful way to remember and honor John. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences. I admire your courage in being able to walk this difficult journey with people that care deeply about you and John. It is obvious the special relationship that you shared with John. John was a wonderful, well-loved person. I had chills thinking about you hearing his voice again after almost 1 year. I hope these few seconds brought back many years of wonderful memories. God Bless, Bob Jim and Mary Ann-
What a beautiful way to remember and honor John. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences. I admire your courage in being able to walk this difficult journey with people that care deeply about you and John.

It is obvious the special relationship that you shared with John. John was a wonderful, well-loved person. I had chills thinking about you hearing his voice again after almost 1 year. I hope these few seconds brought back many years of wonderful memories.

God Bless,

Bob

]]> Comment on Anniversary reflections by W. Michael Weis http://blogs.iwu.edu/matthews/?p=7#comment-4 W. Michael Weis Wed, 11 Apr 2007 21:48:16 +0000 http://blogs.iwu.edu/matthews/?p=7#comment-4 Jim and Mary Ann, What a powerful testimony of your faith. I know this has been a terribly difficult year for you and I know that the pain will remain forever, though perhaps not as intensely. John was many things, but he was always genuine and a tremendous gift. I think Jim said it best when he said that he lived as God intended us to be--joyful, spontaneous, real. You are good friends. Thanks for sharing this. Mike Jim and Mary Ann,

What a powerful testimony of your faith. I know this has been a terribly difficult year for you and I know that the pain will remain forever, though perhaps not as intensely. John was many things, but he was always genuine and a tremendous gift. I think Jim said it best when he said that he lived as God intended us to be–joyful, spontaneous, real. You are good friends. Thanks for sharing this.

Mike

]]> Comment on Anniversary reflections by Mona Gardner http://blogs.iwu.edu/matthews/?p=7#comment-3 Mona Gardner Tue, 10 Apr 2007 20:12:45 +0000 http://blogs.iwu.edu/matthews/?p=7#comment-3 Jim and Mary Ann-- Thank you both for sharing these anniversary thoughts about John. I, too, have thought about him (and of course I've thought about you) this week. As you may remember, John was at my house, attending a going away party for Janet McNew, the last night before his accident. I feel privileged to have shared a few brief moments with him that evening and to have received a box of chocolates from him as a hostess gift John was born into and lived in a wonderful family all his short life. He could not have asked for better parents or siblings, and I am sure--from his smiling face--that he knew and felt that, too. I have no doubt that you will hear his voice again. Mona Jim and Mary Ann–

Thank you both for sharing these anniversary thoughts about John. I, too, have thought about him (and of course I’ve thought about you) this week. As you may remember, John was at my house, attending a going away party for Janet McNew, the last night before his accident. I feel privileged to have shared a few brief moments with him that evening and to have received a box of chocolates from him as a hostess gift

John was born into and lived in a wonderful family all his short life. He could not have asked for better parents or siblings, and I am sure–from his smiling face–that he knew and felt that, too.

I have no doubt that you will hear his voice again. Mona

]]> Comment on Anniversary reflections by Mary Ann Matthews http://blogs.iwu.edu/matthews/?p=7#comment-2 Mary Ann Matthews Mon, 09 Apr 2007 20:52:23 +0000 http://blogs.iwu.edu/matthews/?p=7#comment-2 I couldn't wait to read the notes from the High School kids, girls and listened to the cd the night we received it in May. I was happy to hear from the kids who knew John at school and it made me aware of John's own life apart from his family. I never knew he had so many girl friends or that kids enjoyed him in gym class. I was delighted that he liked to dance and that the girls looked forward to being his partner. I was sad that there were only 4 seconds of John's voice and a little envious that it was directed to Jim alone. But it was the nature of our relationship. I was always pushing John and probably often a søurce of his discomfort in the world. I saw my role as looking ahead and trying to introduce him to new things and master new skills. "Mom, calm down!" I work with a little girl while her mother home schools her older sisters. I was trying to help her weave a pot holder with the square toothed potholder weaving kit. We were both becoming frustrated, stopping to pick up a dropped loop, putting the loop back on the tooth, over and under. At one point she grabbed a loop, slung it over her thumb and finger and shot at me. I shot back. We went on to shoot all the loops across the room hitting the cat, shooting it into the waste basket, on the couch and behind the couch. We had a wonderful time! Sometimes isn't that the real point of spending time together? Thank you John. I couldn’t wait to read the notes from the High School kids, girls and listened to the cd the night we received it in May. I was happy to hear from the kids who knew John at school and it made me aware of John’s own life apart from his family. I never knew he had so many girl friends or that kids enjoyed him in gym class. I was delighted that he liked to dance and that the girls looked
forward to being his partner. I was sad that there were only 4 seconds of John’s voice and a little envious that it was directed to Jim alone. But it was the nature of our relationship. I was always pushing John and probably often a søurce of his discomfort in the world. I saw my role as looking ahead and trying to introduce him to new things and master new skills. “Mom, calm down!”

I work with a little girl while her mother home schools her older sisters. I was trying to help her weave a pot holder with the square toothed potholder weaving kit. We were both becoming frustrated, stopping to pick up a dropped loop, putting the loop back on the tooth, over and under. At one point she grabbed a loop, slung it over her thumb and finger and shot at me. I shot back. We went on to shoot all the loops across the room hitting the cat, shooting it into the waste basket, on the couch and behind the couch. We had a wonderful time! Sometimes isn’t that the real point of spending time together? Thank you John.

]]>