SPECIAL MEMORIES OF THE BEIJING OLYMPICS

BY JUDY HAUGHTON-JAMES


        I am big fan of athletics and recently I have had reason to focus on this. First I had a visit from my cousin who was a coach of one of my former high schools. As I interviewed him for the school's website we recalled the wonderful achievements of athletes from that school. 


        Now in full focus are many of our top athletes with our 4 day Jamaica National Athletics Championships being held at the National Stadium. These Championships will determine the athletes who will represent our country in the World Championships in August .


       Wonderful memories flow as I remember August/September 2008 when my twin sister and I sat in our living-room watching the Beijing Olympics. She was not feeling well but was still able to enjoy Jamaican athletes winning medals and parading with our black, green and gold flag!  Right now I can picture her seated in our gold living-room chair with a smile on her face and there was certainly a lot to smile about. Just look at the achievements of our small country at those games:
       Usain Bolt - Gold in the Men's 100m with a world record - 9.69 seconds
       Usain Bolt - Gold in the  Men's 200m with a world record - 19.30 sec.
       Men's 4x100m relay - Gold - world record 37.10 seconds
       Shelly-Ann Fraser - Gold in the Women's 100m
       Sherone Simpson  & Kerron Stewart - Silver in the  Women's 100m! 
       Yes! That is right! Two Jamaicans won silver medals in the race!
       Veronica Campbell-Brown - Gold in the Women's 200m
       Kerron Stewart - Bronze in the Women's 200m
       Shericka Williams - Silver in the Women's 400m
       Melaine Walker - Gold in the Women's 400m hurdles - 52.64 seconds
       Olympic Record
       Women's 4x400m relay - Bronze 


      The time that we spent together revelling in the great performance of our athletes is among the many special moments that I will treasure. It is still hard to believe that only 2 months later in that year she departed this life. One thing for sure, great memories live on forever.

WE MADE MOM LOVE MILO!

BY JUDY HAUGHTON-JAMES
   
    My post a few days ago showed a comic strip featuring mothers at a mothers of twins support group meeting.  They all looked so tired. I asked Mom if this is how she felt at times when Janine and I were very young. Well, she said that Janine and I resulted in her getting to love the energy food drink, Milo. Sometimes she got so tired that she would mix a glass of Milo and put it in the refrigerator. When it was cold enough she would drink it. She never regarded us as 'double trouble' or the 'terrible twos' though!:)  Today she still loves Milo and especially during these hot days on our 'Island in the Sun.' Attached are some pictures of Mom, Janine and me.  At least she did not look worn out as yet in the first picture! She was seated behind us in the second one! Maybe a bit tired eh?!

SMILE A WHILE AND GIVE YOUR FACE A REST!

http://www.gocomics.com/closetohome/2011/06/14

Over the weekend a friend sent me this comic strip. Mom and I had to smile when we saw it. In my next post I will give my take on it. In the meantime smile and give your face a rest!

A TRIBUTE TO DAD

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to all fathers and grandfathers. I am happy that since Thursday I have been able to pay tribute to my father on this Blog.  Today I end my tribute with this poem titled 'A TRIBUTE TO DAD.'

BY JUDY HAUGHTON-JAMES

My dad was a politician who truly cared,
So much with people he willingly shared.
Never in doubt that he was elected to represent,
Not like some politicians who are often absent.


A father that has made me proud,
Oh how I wish he was still around.
A short life based on good ethics,
An example of decency in politics.


Stood tall and looming with his integrity,
Determined not to ever lose his dignity.
To his dying day he eagerly served,
Doing good for people he never swerved.

dance with my father again-celine dion22.flv

Thanks to my friend Jacqui Bodden-Prince for sharing this Celine Dion version of this wonderful song with me on her fan page at www.facebook.elainejames

Celine Dion - Dance With My Father (2008 Version)

SPECIAL FATHER - SHORT STAY

JAN(LEFT) DAD & JUD ( RIGHT)
LAST PICTURE TAKEN BEFORE HIS DEATH - JAN. 1975

BY JUDY HAUGHTON-JAMES

      As we are about to celebrate another Father's Day I take time out to pay tribute to my father Harold Haughton-James who passed away when he was 56. At that time Janine and I were only 13 but I will treasure those years as during that time we learnt some important life lessons.


       He was a jovial father and a politician who had no time to consume himself with hate. I admired the ease with which he had friends from the opposition party and how he treated people equally regardless of their political affiliation. The tribalistic attitude of our politics at that time could not change him.


       He started his political career when a Councillor was not a paid official but showed dedication to service. He was a shining example that one does not have to be paid in order to carry out his duties well.  So much so was his commitment that even when he had his first stroke in 1970 and was hospitalized he kept asking questions concerning his duties as a Parish Councillor.


       At times he took us to and from school. On our way home some evenings it was like a Geography lesson titled 'GETTING TO KNOW YOUR PARISH.' We enjoyed his traversing here and there as we got to know several areas in St. Mary - Belfield, Islington, Oxford, Free Hill, Bailey's Vale and Hampstead, to name a few.


       Early in the morning on August 14, 1975, he sat with us on the veranda and we had a good time chatting and laughing.  I can still remember as we drove out with our aunt-in-law that morning she said "Oh, I forgot to tell Harry good morning."  We turned around and saw him as he stepped back into the house. A few hours later he collapsed and died at the Parish Council meeting. As fate would have it he died serving people.


       He was a real church man and served as a member of the Church Committee for many years.  He was also a Justice of the Peace and would sign documents for persons who came to his house at various times of the day from Sunday to Saturday.


       The words on his tombstone tell the story of his life "I have fought the good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith" - 2 Timothy 4:7


       Having lost my identical twin sister in 2008 I have become more and more curious about death. I have read several books including 'Healing Grief' by James Van Praagh. I am here hoping that Janine and my father have already met each other in the afterlife.  I still wonder how coincidental it was that they both died on a Thursday, just before noon and a few weeks before they would have celebrated their birthdays. Dad and Janine are at peace and I know we will all meet again some day.

FATHER

BY JUDY HAUGHTON-JAMES

Sunday June 19 will be celebrated as Father's Day. From today until Sunday I will post tributes to my father. I will always remember his dedication to service.



Faithful and devoted public servant


Always helpful and caring to his fellowman


There to serve without thought of compensation


Happy, jovial and often with a smile


Eagerly giving service to his country


Ready, willing and able to stand up for a cause.

AWESOME POEM FOR THE GRIEVING

My brother attended a funeral on Sunday and I have just seen the funeral programme with this awesome poem at the back of it. I did some research and found out that it was written by British Poet and Painter David Harkins:

      "You can shed tears that she is gone

        Or you can smile because she has lived.

        You can close your eyes and pray that she will come back

        Or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left.

        Your heart can be empty because you can't see her

        Or you can be full of the love that you shared.

        You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday

        Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

           

        You can remember her and only that she is gone

        Or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.

        You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back,

        Or you can do what she would want:smile, open your eyes, love and go on."

LAUGHTER IS GOOD MEDICINE

BY JUDY HAUGHTON-JAMES

       We have often heard the saying "Laughter is the best medicine." Recently I read that research has shown that 1 minute of laughter boosts your immune system for 24 hours while 1 minute of anger depresses your system for the next 6 hours.  Nevertheless all of us who have experienced the loss of a loved one know the emotions we go through and how difficult it is to smile and laugh when we are going through the grieving process.

       When the day comes that you discover that you can smile and laugh again then you know that you are healing no matter how slowly.

       A few days ago I had to laugh when a friend sent me an email message titled "Courtroom Humour." This is a lawyer questioning a witness:-

            Q. How old is he?
            A. John is ...
            Q. You said he is Joan's twin, right?
            A. Right
            Q. So the same age as her?
            A. Right.

           Now you tell me! If they are twins they must be the same age! Well! Well!