Ghockeymom's Blog

July 2024

Forty years old…..  When I turned 40, John Michael was 10 years old; we were living in Dickson, Tennessee, just out of Nashville.  What a birthday – Roller Blade lessons on the corner of where West End and Broadway begin in Nashville… Mother and Daddy were in to visit, and we ate well as Jim always knew the best places to eat…. with him, Ramona, Jessi and Val joining us every night for several days of celebrating.  My birthday cake was right off the Southern Living March cover.

Forty years old….. John Michael would turn 40 on the 27th…. So thankful that Blair Family tradition says to never turn down an opportunity to celebrate life and laugh.  Today, I remember John Michael’s sweet smile and infectious laughter.  He loved family more than anything….. his aunts and uncles and cousins (more like siblings) and then his Grandma and PaPa whom he worshiped. As with the past 15 years, I write these notes as tears slowly flow down my cheeks…. Tears of sadness, tears of longing to see my sweet baby again, tears of love, and tears of joy that I was blessed to have this child for 25 years.  

My heart is thankful for all who had an impact on his life….. family, friends, coaches, teachers, Sunday School teachers who modeled integrity, character, kindness, respect, unconditional love, and to always put God first.  John Michael was the embodiment of all of these; the impact of his life cannot be measured as he touched so many lives – as my mother said many times, “John Michael did more in his 25 years than most do in a lifetime, but he will be remembered for what he did for others.”  

Today, I remember his love of reading and writing – more thankfulness for his writings he left behind.  How many times did I bribe him to go shopping with me or do anything else with the promise of going to the bookstore to buy a book. Memories of Walden’s Books and Davis-Kidd Book Stores in Nashville, as well as Books a Million in Huntsville – I can still see him getting “lost” in his perusing, and, then, bringing me a stack of books to buy.

In my years of writing this blog, I have revisited the same message and repeat it today.  We are not guaranteed tomorrow.  Each day is a gift.  When we lose a child, no words can explain the way our heart breaks.  We must all find our own journey to live and find a way to honor the memory of our child.  No one can find it for us; but, I am thankful for so many who find a way to walk it with me.  My journey takes twists and turns and detours, but it is a journey that always brings me back to my faith.  

“Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’, and it will move.  Nothing will be impossible for you.”   

– Matthew 17:20

My heart is heavy; the heaviness permeates my body….. even my soul. Fourteen years might as well be fourteen hours. The month I dread…. October ….. the date I dread… the 11th. My mind tells me to focus on the positives… the wonderful life John Michael had.  This day will pass; my joy will return, for joy is not a feeling; it is a mindset, an inner peace that only comes from intentional living and great faith.  Faith…. a paradox of sorts that includes trust of “what lies before me is the best to come”….. And the bit of fear of knowing I am alone in that quest.  I know people will say “your faith will guide you; God will guide you; we are for you”  But, in all reality, that quest or leap of faith can only be taken alone….  

I take the same steps each year…. Placing a wreath on the cross by his gravesite, writing this blog in hopes of making myself feel better, but also to give a message to those who may be new to this journey of living after losing a child.  I so want it to be a message of hope that as the years pass, you (and I) can find a sense of peace. But, in reality, that sense of peace quietens only a portion of your heart.  The other part of your heart screams “I miss you more with each passing day.”  The other part of your heart also becomes heavier. I read somewhere that the day people no longer say your name,you are forgotten.  I hope a day never goes by that I don’t speak John Michael’s name; I hope others will still remember this child of mine who brightened my every moment. 

Many ask me why I still work…. I don’t really work at school; I take a journey each day with kids who are looking for their own path, who put their trust in me that I will take care of them.  So, the paradox; maybe the only way we find our own faith is through serving others, maybe this faith of “sights unseen” is actually seen through our actions every day… in how we treat others, how we look at others, and how we put our trust in knowing that when we serve, our eyes are opened to see His handiwork, His Angels, His plan for us, and most of all, His peace.

My musings this October 11 may not be soothing; perhaps they are just thought provoking or maybe they are just the ramblings of a mama.  But, they allow my inner soul to continue in this life, winding down the path of faith, the journey to see my child in everything I do as I someday reach my final destination.

This mama wants nothing more than to remember sweet times and memories as July 27 arrives again. Two weeks ago, my sister Karen was cleaning and found a copy of John Michael’s resume from his junior year of high school and brought it to me.  At first a tear started to slowly fall, but quickly I began to smile while reading how much he had accomplished by his 16th birthday.  A tough summer as my daddy passed on June 14, 2000.  John Michael loved my parents so much that he said if anything ever happened to Skip and me, he didn’t want to live with my younger siblings and their families….. he wanted to live with Grandma and PaPa.  Three days after my daddy’s service, we put John Michael on a plane in Knoxville, Tennessee, as he headed out for a month touring England, Wales, and Scotland with Student Ambassadors. Sweet memories flood my brain today:

• Getting a phone call from Betty Creson at the bank – “John Michael’s account is overdrawn.”  When he called a few days later, and we asked him how in the world he could be overdrawn, he began to tell us how every time they stayed in a hotel, he would send his dirty clothes to the hotel laundry instead of waiting for a homestay visit or the youth hostel.  Then, he proceeded to say his suitcase had burst from all the presents he was buying – he bought for almost everyone in his extended family (especially coffee and chocolate for Grandma from the famous “Betty’s” out of London).
• Fast-forward to his first week at OU – “I met the nicest lady at the dry cleaners – I took my laundry, along with my dry cleaning, and they folded my towels so neatly.  She says I can bring both my dry cleaning and laundry every week and she will send you a bill every month” – yes, that was my son.
• High school junior year:  “John Michael, I thought I told you to buy a Great Value brand for the groceries you were buying for the Student Council Christmas box to help needy families – and, did you notice how much you spent?”  “But, Mama, we buy name brand on that peanut butter – they would like Jiffy better, too, – and, I just bought all the things you buy on your Christmas grocery list.”
• Returning from so many school activities:  “John Michael, how did you spend so much money?”  “But, Mama, I thought _____ needed this, also.”
• John Michael never missed an opportunity to mow an elderly person’s yard, to buy another gift for his grandma, or to help a friend or a stranger.  He always had a job – but most of them, even in college, didn’t pay much, if anything.  He just loved helping people. In high school, he would give me a list a mile long of whom he wanted me to make Poppy Seed bread for…… custodians at school and especially “Mr. John Henry and Mrs. Hilda” who cleaned at the Courthouse where he worked during high school. I received letters from them all after he passed, speaking of his kindness.
• His infectious smile and chuckle……. How blessed I was to be his Mama.

Life is fleeting; the one constant in life is our ability to make a choice each and every day of how we face the world.  I’ve chosen to prayerfully meet the day head on, to honor John Michael’s memory by trying to make a difference in someone’s life.  Am I always successful?  No, but, I’ll never give up on my goal. I read Mitch Albom’s book Stranger in the Lifeboat this year.  And, I quote:

“When someone passes, people always ask, ‘Why did God take them?’ A better question would be ‘Why did God give them to us?’ What did we do to deserve their love, their joy, the sweet moments we shared? ….. Beginnings and endings are earthly ideas. I go on. And because I go on, you go on with me. Feeling loss is part of why you are on Earth. Through it, you appreciate the brief gift of human existence, and you learn to cherish the world I created for you. But the human form is not permanent. It was never meant to be. That gift belongs to the soul. “

May all of us cherish this world and the “moments we share.”

Once again, the leaves begin to fall, reminding of us how beautiful hues of color bring us a time of reflection and warmth as we prepare for the “dead of winter,” yet during the winter, the bright red berries, the evergreen trees, and the glistening of pure white snow brings its own type of beauty…….

Once again, I prepare myself for the month of October, when a beautiful boy who was kind to all, brought laughter to many, gave comfort to those less fortunate, and shared his love of his country, his family and mostly, his God every day of his life, crossed this world into the realm of forever.  So, I take solace in knowing that I must reflect on his life as a gift like none other and how fortunate I was to have him in my life.  

Once she loses a child, a mother’s heart will never be whole again, but as winter teaches us,  life continues on even in dark days, where beauty still abounds and awaits for us to glisten, to have peace and joy, knowing that what lies ahead is greater than we can “only imagine.”

John Michael Gore loved to read – especially powerful words of redemption and hope, sparkled with a little mystery.  He would have loved Mitch Albom’s book Stranger in the Lifeboat, a powerful message of healing and hope, and I quote from the book “When someone passes, Benjamin, people always ask, ‘Why did God take them?’ A better question would be ‘Why did God give them to us?’ What did we do to deserve their love, their joy, the sweet moments we shared?”

Dear John Michael,

I am so thankful you showed me what it was to never give up loving life, to strive to make a difference no matter how big or small each and every day.  I am so thankful you left this earth with a smile on your face as you could see your future. I am so thankful you took adversity like a grain of sand and through it to the wind.  I know you savored dark, rainy days, where you would study at your desk by the big picture window and dream of what lay ahead – I know you were heartbroken when we sold our Tennessee home that brought you such comfort.  But you are truly home now, and I dream of the day we will be together again.  I know Grandma shared that with you when you met her this summer – my last words to her were to tell “my baby I love him.”  

Jesus replied, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”  John 11:40

The summer of 1984 was hot and dry – just like this summer.  Due any day to give birth, Skip would take my sister-in-law Ramona (pregnant, also) and I for a jeep ride – every night we would stop at Baskin-Robbins – then, ride around Stillwater, hoping to help along John Michael’s arrival, as he was a couple of weeks overdue. My brother Jim had just graduated from college and was a new accountant for Price-Waterhouse – stuck in western Oklahoma counting grain in silos – or something like that.  

Every summer for the next 25 years would find us celebrating somewhere special – a vacation or just a favorite restaurant and movie – not one birthday did we ever miss celebrating together. I can remember almost every movie we ever saw on the 27th….. Batman, Robin Hood, Tombstone, A River Runs Through It, Field of Dreams.  The decorated cakes…. A baseball field, a hockey stick, and on the 16th – a jeep on top of it meant the blue jeep would be his for the next two years – the same jeep we would ride in before he was born – the same blue jeep that still has a home with me.  Summer of 2000 – my daddy passing and John Michael at 15 headed out to England, Wales and Ireland for a month – bittersweet summer memories.

Fast forward to 2022….. What a summer.  It began with this “senior” taking the high school seniors to the beach, beginning a new job, and then the passing of my mother.  John Michael loved my parents.  After my daddy passed, John Michael loved doing things for my mother and having her come see us.  She loved coming to see us in Tennessee – driving the other jeep to the beauty shop, meeting all of John Michael’s friends from both church and school, going with us on church ski trips, to Atlanta and Birmingham to watch him play ice hockey…. Then, after going to college, he would take mother to eat at Pete’s Place, where daddy took her on their first “real” date.  She would go to Mom’s Weekend with me at OU. This summer – The Summer of 2022 – so nice to have all our family together, but bittersweet again that it was to gather to say goodbye to my mother. I won’t dwell on this summer, nor will I be sad when the long, hot summer nights turn to cool, fall evenings. 

Life…. We never know which road our journey will take us on any given day. I realize that the ones who love you the most and always unconditionally are your parents, your children and your spouse. My journey now takes a new turn… not sure what bends along the way it will take me, but I when I look back to my summer stories, I realize what a blessed life I have lived – thankful for parents who made their children’s summer stories fun and full of love, thankful for a husband who always put his wife and son before anything else except God, and especially thankful for the 25 years I had being John Michael’s mama – for he was truly a blessing to everyone he met.  A life short-lived, but what a well-filled life he had; my mother said many times, “John Michael did more in his 25 years than most people do in a lifetime and left a smile wherever he went.”

Happy Birthday, my sweet boy!

Journeys……. we are all on a journey, taking either a familiar or uncharted path; as we meet each day with its twists and turns, we forge ahead on our “forever journey”… spending countless hours in our dreams and hopes for our future; then, when we least expect it, we are suddenly stranded, trying to find our way.  How quickly our hopes and dreams turn into tears and sadness.  We are lost; we are confused; we struggle to find our way back.  But, there is no way back; we can only travel forward. 

Dear John Michael – 12 years, but only 12 minutes in my mind.  You were my forever journey… How unreal it is for me to visit the cemetery and know I am alone.  But, I quickly find solace in knowing every step I take, it is because of you and dad giving me the courage to become the “journey” – to embrace the wonderful memories of laughter and love that still live and thrive in my heart.  So, as I search my way through this new journey, I give thanks for knowing that “I loved a little boy very, very much, even more so than myself” and because of you, I’ve not lost faith in knowing I will see you again.

“Go in peace. The journey on which you go is under the eye of the Lord.”  Judges 8:16

Valentine 2021 Journey,

I began this blog as the first “anniversary” of John Michael’s passing was approaching – it literally saved my life.  As the first “anniversary” of Skip’s passing approaches, I will continue to blog as my journey continues…… while trying to put life into perspective, many thoughts raced through my mind, but most of all was the thought that on any given day, some are celebrating their happiest day while others are celebrating what they deem as their unhappiest.  Not to be frivolous in any way, I think what happens to us is relative to us only.  The purpose of this blog is to never make someone feel sad, but to give hope to those whose journey may take a path like mine. So, with that precursor, here’s my Valentine’s blog for 2021.

Dear John Michael,

Sorry for moving in on my blog for you, but, blame it on Dad, as he’s at fault, so to speak.

Dear Skip Gore,

It won’t surprise you for me to call you, “Skip Gore” because my favorite thing to call you was “Skip Gore” – and, you would always answer, “yes, my lover,” no matter what my tone was!  How I miss that ever calming voice of yours – never out of whack, well…. maybe, there could be a little bit of “what now” tone, but always, calmness!   I’ve been thinking aloud to myself that you had a lot of nerve leaving me alone like this, but, then, every time I do, strange happenings occur….. Such as, last summer as I was standing by the big maple tree and uttered “you have a lot of nerve leaving me with this big place to keep up,” when suddenly, a Red-headed Woodpecker began to make a commotion – right above me in the maple tree! Oh my gosh, my thoughts racing in my head, he’s telling me to quit my griping!  A few months later as I was thinking, “Skip Gore you have a lot of nerve – leaving me to do these Christmas lights” – suddenly, I heard a noise and this most beautiful cardinal was staring in the glass door at me – seemingly, a reminder again?  Then, one night last week, I had the most vivid dream – you had come to see me, and I was asking you why you had to leave me so soon….. And, typical Skip Gore, in your calm, but slightly stern voice – “why are you worried – we are going to spend eternity together.”  Typical you…… always the right answer. How fortunate I was for this late night visit…… as it allowed me to work on my perspective a little more…… and, to remember the wonderful blessings in the midst of such a sad year for all of our family…..

• for Babies…… how you loved babies and looked forward to new arrivals from the nieces and nephews …. Sweet Riverlyn who you were able to hold, Sweet Baby Jane, and, most recently, Sweet Wyatt Paul
• for Ryder who was brave enough to be the first to stay two weeks with me last summer – what fun riding in the jeep, learning the art of burning (sorry, Val!)
• for Ben who was here the next two weeks – and, became my traveling partner to Virginia – what fun we had at the land auction, learning to drive a stick shift, and then traveling cross country
• for Hayley, who became my traveling partner for over three weeks – visiting college campuses all over the South, swimming with Dr. Debi and Anna Kate, exploring Southern Alabama, nightly fires in the firepit, fireworks at the Council House, lots of jeep rides, and Chinese lanterns above Hurd Creek…
• for the Virginia Blairs, John, Heidi, Hayley and Ben, spending 12 days at Thanksgiving – the kids learning how you skin and quarter a deer, great memories, and then putting up with me for a week at Christmas – shopping, Busch Gardens, shopping, movie nights, and more shopping
• for Valerie, Kelly, Knox, Ryder, Jack and Cassidy – the King and Country concert last fall, all the Opryland Hotel winter fun… for bestie Debi and sweet Anna Kate for joining us
• for Blair, Shawnda, Riverlyn and the boys….. Always making me smile
• for Adam, Sara Jane and Baby Jane…. So pleasant you always when you see my to do list  –  how comforting to see Skip’s truck when you pull up
• for Jessi and Kyle who have given us the sweetest gift for 2021 – Baby Wyatt – and, Kyle, taking on “plumbing duties” at mother’s when you visit
• And, last but not least, Karen and Dusty, who not only “feed” mother every night, but will show up with dinner for me, and encourage me as I attempt to finish all your outside projects – and, just smile as I add to them

I must mention one of the greatest blessings was to take your class this year…. How they love you…. We planted your tree – their “prayer” tree.  It has been a great year of healing for them and me both.

So, in this Winter of Discontent, I find solace in wonderful family and friends, and remember on my saddest day, it is a joyous day for many.  We never allowed sadness to dwell long; I will continue to do the same without you – focusing on that eternity that I will spend with you and John Michael, my forever Valentines.

Dear John Michael,

As I remember your life, the past eleven years are as though it was just eleven hours ago; the words say years, but the heart says it was like yesterday when Dad and I, hand in hand, took that final long walk out of the hospital…. Alone, for the missing piece – you – would forever be missing from our lives. We were three, but as one we lived.  Everything in our life had centered around being the best parents we could for the gift God had given us.  

Immediately, we held on tight, taking turns being strong for each other.  Immediately, we began to remember how blessed our lives had been being your parents and what a difference you made in the lives of all you met.  We knew from that moment on, our lives had to honor you.

Your daddy’s unfailing faith was my strength – how many times did I tell him we will leave this earth together.  Your dad was so looking forward to being well –  last January, he proclaimed that “the next chapter of lives would be giving back and sharing what God had done in our lives and for the many blessings we had been given.”

But, then, the unthinkable – I now face this journey without your daddy – my moral compass, my prayer warrior.  I had no idea today would be so tough; we always tried to get through this day, not bitter, yes, sad, but with a reverence of knowing we are not in charge and, with Grace, we would survive. So, I take this next journey without you both….. physically, that is, but always there with me in my heart and soul as I try to honor you both with every step. 

What comfort I have knowing that like you, your daddy faced his pain and suffering with a courage only brought by knowing what lay ahead – Home.

…… where the streets are golden, where the chains are broken….we will dance on the seas of Amazing Grace, where the Angels sing Hallelujah…. Home       ~ Chris Tomlin