Rock Star Greeting
“JULE!” “HELLO!” “THERE SHE IS!”
My Dad greeted me (and everyone) with such exuberance! His greeting alone made you feel like a rock star – someone he couldn’t wait to see.
Out of everything that I miss about him, I miss the way he made me feel when I walked into a room.
My Best Decision of 2012
Back in 2012, I started saving voice messages on my phone.
My Dad, my Mom, my Aunt Claire, my brother Brian, my best friend Tonya …
… I don’t know why I started, but I am so grateful that I did!
Hello! Hello Jule! You just called. I call you back and I can’t get you! What’s going on? Love you to pieces meeses!
Tom Kelley Voicemail/My Wonderful Dad
I can just feel his love for me when I listen to this! When I close my eyes, it’s like he’s right here with me.
Clandestine Video Recordings
Once my son was born, I started secretly catching moments, on video, of my Dad with him. I would hear them start to play and I’d push record without them knowing.
If you listen, you will hear how encouraging my Dad was with my son.
They had a connection that ran so deep – as a journalist I wanted to capture that, truly in the moment, just as it was.
Today, I want to hug myself for doing this!
When I’m missing my Dad, it is so uplifting to hear him talking. Some day, I know that these videos will help my son understand how much my Dad adored him!
Don’t Wait for the Right Moment
I wish that I had done more videos.
I wish that I had sat him down and asked him to tell the stories that he often told – about his sisters, Katherine and Janie, his favorite Aunt Lu and summers in Coudersport, Pennsylvania visiting his aunts and cousins.
My Dad had chronic health issues. Our time with him was not as definitive as someone who might have cancer and know that they are dying.
Her Sweet Voice
My friend Kelly Weller looks just like her Mom and always glowed with pride as she talked about her – her art, her love of their coastal Alabama community, and her family and friends.
I never met Kelly’s Mom, but I understood the kind of love that she felt for her. It reminded me of the adoration that I felt for my Dad.
Kelly’s Mom was dying of cancer when she started something incredible:
When she was diagnosed with terminal cancer I made a list of things to do and to experience. I wanted a video of her sweet voice and to hear stories about her childhood, stories only she could tell. That summer, we worked our way down my list and hers – we went to Seaside, her happy place, twice and she said she forgot that she was sick when she was there.
Kelly Weller/Facebook Post
This year, on the 5th anniversary of her death, Kelly shared a video of her Mom talking about her life. I loved listening to her talk – she really did have such a sweet voice! Facebook Post and Video Here
As I listened, I also wished that I had done the same with my Dad. He was a great storyteller and I know that we all would have gotten such joy from hearing him tell those stories!
No Do-Overs
Death does not allow for do-overs, but life, right now, allows for gifts that will nurture and comfort you.
Julie Kelley, Founder Truly Jude
Forget about trying to find the best gifts to buy this Christmas. Forget about asking for something that costs money.
Instead, as you gather with family and see people that you love, give yourself the gift of having their voice with you always.
It will be one of the best gifts that you ever give yourself.
Truly,
Julie
Your. Soulful. Spaces.
A friend described this time in our life, with our mom’s terminal cancer, as “love on steroids”.
Kelly Weller, My Friend
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