FAMILY......this is a picture of the extended family...the young generation...the fruits of our loins....Nicole, Ryan, Linette, Caleb, Kai, Ken ,and Mia....(seems like just a few short years ago)....and a picture of me a couple of years ago (this pix was included only because I am clearly computer challenged when it comes to importing pictures...this was supposed to be a pix of all the "Moms"...oh well!!!)
The Websters dictionary's fourth listed definition for "family" is, "all those claiming descent from a common ancestor; TRIBE or clan; lineage." Therefore, the tribe known as Wellfleet is one big family!
Let me introduce myself, I am one of Wellfleet's "Mom's", Jodi Birchall. Sharyn and I have been "family"/friends since I was about 19 years old...I am approaching the big 50th birthday....that's 30 + years of fun, laughter, joy and sorrow. I was with Sharyn and Jan the day Caleb was born, as well as, at the birth of both Kai and Max. For those of you who don't know....Sharyn pops babies out in under twenty minutes flat, so all births were at home ....I was the fortunate one to help "babysit" what ever children were around while she was taking a few minutes out of her busy day to have a baby...what a beautiful experience to witness (truly). The day Kai was born I was supposed to distract Caleb while Sharyn was doing her good work...he would hear nothing of it...I was reading, singing, dancing, making funny faces.....all he wanted was to be by Sharyn's side...and so he was, he arrived at her bedside moments after Kai was born. When she was in labor with Max, she decided that it would be better if I was in the room with both Caleb and Kai to witness the birth of Max...we were sitting in a rocker in the bedroom and I had the two boys on my lap....however, this was not good enough for Caleb....he insisted on being right by Sharyn's side....his face next to her face, "Mom, are you O.K?"....stroking her forehead with his hand...it was fine with her and moments later Max came into this world.....a day I will never forget and cherish always.
WE raised our children together.....there was and still is a close knit group of us "Moms".....Shelley, Trudy, Eva, Jane, Ellen, Anne, Carrie, Lucia, Sharyn, and myself...we are the WE.....we got together as a group once a week, WE took turns at each others houses for coffee in the morning to share fun and parenting "stuff"....later, as the children grew...and some were off to school it became coffee and mimosa's.....when they all were in school and we all started working again, we would get together in the evenings without the kids and share stories, food, laughs and margaritas........and it goes on and on......WE have gotten together for the last 24 years every Christmas to have fun and just be US...although the time we spend together these days is less than when we were younger, we continue to love and respect each other...WE are family......when Caleb got in his accident it affected all of us so profundly because he was one of US...one of OUR children...our children are all friends to this day...it was their brother, their friend......the whole tribe was profoundly affected as well....the prayer circles......the fundraising.....the bloggers....people who have never met Caleb are now part of the tribe....at the Oysterfest this past weekend....his name was everywhere....Shaye had a booth to fundraise for his "brother"...total strangers beame part of the tribe....all connected through love and caring for a fellow tribesman....FAMILY......I would not trade this family for anything in the world....there is definitely something very special about the Wellfleet Tribe....we take care of our own and unite, as one, when needed......no matter what...
Caleb is a strong, stubborn, spunky, athletic, funny, loving, caring, "old soul" in the tribe....he has the love and support of all tribesmen....he will be home when he's ready.....he will love again....he will have a loving and supportive future....the tribe won't have it any other way.....I can't wait for the day when his smiling face is back in town.
I can even see into the future when all of us "Moms" are sitting in our rocking chairs on the porch of our privately owned nursing home, (which just happens to be Sharyn's home), visiting with our kids as they come to change our diapers, and make our meals, and clean our "home"....we'll be telling stories, laughing, loving, drinking margaritas,(just enough to wash down those meds we'll undoubtedly be on!)... and just being family,........Sharyn, by the way, will still be wearing her bright red lipstick....maybe a little on her teeth and some outside the parameters of her actual lip line, but she'll still look "hot"... and WE won't care......we're family........it's all good!
Love to all...........Jodi
p.s. A special "thank you" to all the volunteers, musicians, artists, craftsmen, towns people, town employees, businesses, and anyone and everyone that helped and worked so selflessly in making all the fundraising efforts so successful....thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!
p.p.s."Make new friends, but keep the old......one is silver and the other gold." Here's to all the new friends and family.... and the old as well..........gold is a beautiful color indeed!
34 comments:
i have the best "family" in the world- growing up with all the amazing moms and brothers and sisters has made me so proud to be from wellfleet. oxoxo ryan
ps. thank you mom for not including the one of us all in the bath tub.
Jodi- you are an amazing woman/mother/friend/teacher. To transform caring into action- this is what I have witnessed. You are there completely.Thank you - this gives the "kids" a sense of security which lends a space for their ownership/action which we are grateful for. To be present, even in a small way here is extrordinary. As we watch these kids take hold of their lives I can only smile and have hope for humanity again. sending healing thoughts for all. ann m
Jodi,
You're such a hot sh*t...
One of a kind, but certainly the kind of friend/family everyone hopes for.
What were we thinking staying in Orleans all these years?
Love to all of you Fleetians,
Paula
Jodi I loved what you had to say -- it all points to a comminity that cares and helps explain why Caleb is able to feel the love and encouragement to help him heel.---- and for Sharyn to know she has all that Family power working for her and with her.-- if possible, could anyone else reserve a room in the "OLD GIRLS HOME:?
I feel the tears a comin'! TRULY BEAUTIFUL JODI
again i will say it.... wish i grew up in wellfleet!
amy in ct
i'm jealous...sort of...not really...my life was good & it wouldn't be what it is now if i too had raised my girl...same age as yours...here in fleet. it boggles my mind to think of the support you all had raising your kids...
i was in santa fe raising alita...alone. 'tsall good though bcz my girl is her amamzing self, but i dream of what it'd have been like to have such a possie.
i'm grateful to "be here now" & witness the results. it's my boys turn now to be reared up...by me AND one of fleet's best!
any of you from the forementioned tribe who want to mentor dakota...step right up!
so great*full to know you all...i'm honored
Jodi- After a sad day with the memories and loss of another special friend.... Your words put a smile on my face…. I'm privileged and proud to be part of such a great group of girlfriends and Tribe. The thought of growing old on Sharyn's porch with Margaritas, meds and my tribe sisters sound goood to me!
and Jodi THANK YOU for being THE major organizer in all the fundraising this summer the time, caring and unselfishness it's a beautiful thing you, and so many others contributed.
Caleb, it warms my heart to see you sitting on the side of the bed instead of in it… looking handsome as always.
To all…. tell your tribe you love them.
Eva
Jodi,
Not another word needed to be said/written.. you let us all visualize how it was, and will be. Thank you so much for your strength, you are such a beautiful, honest, as well as very humorous Wellfleet Mama/Woman. Thanks for being one of my many other mothers, and always keeping a watchful eye out on us youth. You rock!!
Much respect.. xo. Clance
I have watched from afar at the wonder we call Fleetians, only in past years did I get to learn the inner workings and secrets of what it is to be a Fleetian, a Billy, ect. To my suprise my sister fell in love and is happily married to a Fleetian and my other sister's daughter my niece is 100% Fleetian and I couldn't be more proud of that.
I know for a long time my sister and I when we first stumbled upon the mysteries of Fleet would ask why didn't we grow up in Wellfleet, we have a lot of the same qualities and we love them for there love, humor, passion, spice, and soul.
I have written many pieces about Fleet and the wonders that spawn from it and in it; each one ceases to amaze me as I learn more and more of a culture only one town over from me which at times can feel miles and miles away because of the spirit Wellfleet has. I longed to possess some of that atmosphere in my being and I feel I might just be breaking the ice. When I think of Wellfleet I think Potter Boys and Sharyn, they are like synonyms (you can't have one without the other). As I went through highschool watching the Fleetians growing up into their own individual unified selves I couldn't help but be envious of their sense of community, their pride, their energy.
My closest sister and I are like Caleb and Kai, as we are two completely different people with very different personalities but without the other we are lost wondering souls. I must say everything went beautifully this weekend at Oysterfest, and as alaways I was proud to be part of it. Nice job with the Caleb booth! The only parts that made me tear up were when they talked of Barbara, for she was pure energy and watching the Shuck off! Just last year I stood with my sister, her now husband Tyler, Kaitlyn as well as Sharyn and Kai. We were cheering for Caleb, mind you we were all toasted from wine or beer and rowdy and it was only noon, Caleb had been shucking all morning and before Caleb went up to shuck Kai gave him a total arm rub down; at this moment my sister and I looked at eachother knowing that bond as sisters that they have as brothers, it was touching then and he went on to the next day, partly because he had so many people cheering him on by pure will power and because Caleb is that awesome of a man. Again we stood center to watch Caleb in the final Shuck off the next day screaming as loud as we could for him and again he had been shucking all morning; I won't forget laughing with Sharyn about everything especially that if it was one of us trying to shuck we would be there until next year or further. We laughed for a while joking about how long it would take us, I having attempted shucking an oyster only once (luckily I was wearing steardy gloves) and I am sure with the Potters as her family I don't think Sharyn has had to shuck an oyster either.
The thoughts that ran through my head were rough and sad as I missed the presense of such energy that your whole family exudes effortlessly. I only live one town over and may never climb to the peak or the summit of Wellfleet but I will continue to write about the fabulous entity that is Wellfleet.
There is no doubt as I walk around the town or the harbor, driving the back roads just to feel a sense of what they have, I will continue to pray for Caleb every moment I can for he surely comes up in almost every thought.
As for Kai you better stay in school because that is what Caleb would want, trust me, (I could not finish College because I kept getting sick, and at times my sister would look at me wishing she could give me her strength but I would say no! You go and finish your schooling, I would much rather you finish school and me be the sick one than the other way around. And so now years later she is almost done with her masters. I am proud to say that I corrected and edited almost all of my sister's papers/projects and that is what I could contribute to her success as she contributed strength for me to fight. No matter the pain I was in or the torment I was feeling I was always glad it was me in the hospital than either of my sisters. I can say that my family was always my biggest strength, but one's inner strength shines when one is put into darkness and a light is possible as long as the person is a fighter. (And Caleb is a fighter)
I may not have had to relearn speach, or walking, routine tasks or life itself. But I have been dealing with hospitals and doctors since I was born and though I have not been in the hospital for any stays in the past three years I was there every other month for ten days at a time confined to four walls and a bed for seven years; among the fourteen surgeries I had and the umpteen infections, and weeks at home recovering I gathered strength and a sense of my own being. I must say for a family who was so tragically thrown in to that world you have all done a remarkable job with dealing with it and your strength is endless it seems. It is only human to feel weak and down at times especially in that setting but we are all here arms stretched out and holding so that when one falls we can pick you right back up. Max you continue to be the strong quiet one but you were always the quietest of the Potter boys but not in any way less vibrant. Sharyn you continue to keep me in awe with your dedication and dictation, thank you. There is always choppy waters when the fog is thick but when the wind finally lifts that fog Caleb will come flooding in like the tidal wave he is, The Pirate Captain we all love him for being. Your doing a great job and working hard it is not easy to be in your situation, and I think we all need to take a little patience and realism from Caleb and his strength.
I am sorry to have written a novel again but it has been so long since I have written on the blog it just came flooding out. Thank you to Fleet for being Fleet and the "Von" Potter/Lindsay Clan for being you. With all the strength, support, and love I can send I also send lipstick kisses and warm hugs. I love you all. And respect to the guest bloggers, Kai I love your blogs as much as mumsie's.
Love Rachael
P.s. It seems I always feel when Caleb is on the mend because the open wound I have been trying to heal for ten years is on the mend as well, I may go five times a week to Randoulgh for Hyperbaric Oxygen treatments which take a lot out of me, but they are helping my wound since it is half the size it was when I started on May 18th this year. When Caleb had steps backwards coincidentally I did too and when he made leaps and bounds into the right direction I did too. I would find out after the fact and in some way couldn't help but want to Thank you Caleb for being you because there is no one in the world like you. Thank you and love to all of you.
Thank you all for letting us see a glimpse of your (our) family. I feel like I know so many of you, and what a beautiful family that has been created. I have followed closely since being at Fleet the week after the accident. I admire each any every one of you for letting us strangers into your lives. I have never seen such and outpouring of love and support like this before. All will be well very shortly. I can't wait to go back to Fleet next year and just sit and watch you all hopefully getting to meet some of you. You all are going to feel like we outsiders are stalkers.....just want to take it all in and feel the family spirit.
Peace and love to you all. Thanks for sharing
I am in awe of Wellfleet. Your strength and sense of community is amazing.
Going to Nauset we always looked at the fleetian as a little different, I now know the reason why, and it is a good reason not the reason kids in high school judge by. Jodi if you get the chance please load the pictures of the "We", I bet everyone is as beautiful as you and Sharyn.
J
Jodi - Oh I love you and am so eternally grateful.....mumsie
Hi Jodi,
That was great. I enjoyed the picture of the "kids" when they were young. Everyone looks EXACTLY the same...well, a little older though! ;) The only one that I couldn't pick out was Linette. They were all SO adorable.
I love it here in Wellfleet so much, and hope that while my Son, Caleb is growing up, I have the privilage of GOOD COMPANY, as you all did. My Caleb just started Pre-School at Wellfleet Elementary and on his first day I knew about 80% of the Moms. Living in a small town is truely a blessing. I am very greatful that my Son can call Wellfleet HOME!!!
Thanks Jodi,
Nicole Miner
Yikes! Stalkers? I was thinking about this group of Mom's. They were amazing fundraisers from way back. They used to work their asses off raising money for the original Wellfleet Preschool (which was a co-op). The Mom's raised money and worked there too. Among their many other worthy endevours some of them later started the Mustard Seed Kitchen. It was a kitchen in the Congo Church where volunteers made food for shut ins and anyone else who needed it, the recently widowed etc. and at the same time seved as a drop in center for local teens. They could come after school and get a grill cheese sandwich, cookie, muffin and help in the kitchen or not and hang out in a warm safe place with their friends until mom got home from work. Sharyn and Anne and Ellen Webb made this happen (along with all the volunteers)and later Sharyn worked alot with the local police to help improve the relationship between the teens and police. Those skills honed over the years (and passed down to their children) made this fundraising effort for Caleb a natural for this group of very admirable local Mom's.
Jodi,
What a beautiful post...beautiful pictures. I can clearly recognize each kid in their picture. And you, my god, what a beautiful earth mama you are. I have always enjoyed your amazing gumption, sense of humor, and take charge attitude. You have inspired me in so many ways, not to mention all of the children's lives you have affected over the years, not just within your TRIBE but also in the collective TRIBE at Nauset High. I so miss, how you would make us all laugh and at times make us all cry, for you wear your big beautiful heart on your sleeve and share your emotions in a most profound way.
I'm having a memory of you cleaning up Carol P's gardens and planting mums for her the fall that she was dying. I remember pulling up to the house for my "shift" and there you were, digging and weeding and planting because you are a do-er, and even though she was so ill that she may never make it out the door to see the beauty that you were creating, she could certainly feel it.
Thank you for your selflessness, and your kind and giving spirit, and for making me laugh.
Thanks for all that you have done in support of the Lindsay/Potter clan, they are blessed to have you in their lives.
Rock on girl-
Audrey
Jodi,
As far as friends go you are definitely gold or even kryptonite you Super Mom/friend/teacher! Where did all this time go? Seems like yesterday when the kids popped out! Voila! Presto magic they have all grown up...No one can take away the fond memories...Those are treasures forever... Great post!
Kevin
How my heart bursts with love for you today girlfriend...
(AND how i wish that we could teach a class together at school, because, you know.. that WE would be the behavior issues in class, NOT the kids!!) the world needs your clear headed focus and your selfless energy, and wellfleet's already got it. rock on jods.... me
Those days were fun. Thank god for good friends and this tribe. I for one am so grateful for the love and compassion of these women and children that I call family. I know we will always be there for each other and thats what makes us all so strong.
Its def. time for a coffee girls, is this friday too soon. Let me know. My house at 6/7ish? xo Carrie
In the mid 70's my not-yet-husband and I lived in N. Truro and would venture all the way to The Sheraton in Eastham for yoga classes and to use the "fitness" equipment. A stunningly beautiful, golden-haired Goddess ran the joint. That was over 30 years ago....the Goddess was, you guessed it...Mumsie.
Well, Ted and I got married and left The Cape for a few years...came back w/ 2 babies... and, as we were leaving The Red Balloon toy store one afternoon, this stunningly beautiful, golden-haired Goddess and her 2 stunningly-beautiful cherub boys (Max was yet a dream) were alighting from their vehicle. We figured out who we were....having not seen each other in 6 years or so....and she bubbles over with an invitation to "coffee" at her house to meet new moms. Sounded great....kids included! And being that it was at Sharyn's...a sweet frittata, homemade biscuits and the yummiest coffee available.
In walks Jodi Birchall...beaming and full of comic-story from the get-go. Jodi could take the most mundane situation and turn it into an episode of Second City caliber. Vivid....life-like....full color story teller that she is...and non-stop. It was fruitless to try and tamper...begging for mercy...the gut pain was too much to bear.
My introduction to a life-long,through thick and thin, True Blue Girlfriend....one who doesn't hesitate to scooter to your house to drill some holes to hang curtain rods, deliver a walker for your 50th birthday or bring you full-of-garlic chicken soup when you're down with a cold. I love you, Jodi... sharing of tears and laughter will find us "rocking" our time away on Sharyn's porch in our Golden Years, fer shur.
Onna codda podda fishin....
LOADS of love to Sharyn and Caleb....come on home soon.
XXX Shelly
Realized there is another Eva here - well I am Eva in N.Y. Ever since visiting Wellfleet in Aug I have been checking in on the boy whose angelic face covered the windows of Main Street, and for whom candles flickered in the night. What a ride, what a miracle, and what a joy it has been to witness his return to you and the world.
And Sharyn - a little more therapy and lots of sun on that hair, and you should have your boy back
It almost looks like little Caleb is saying AAARRRGGGHHHH! in this preschool photo.....
even then
the pirate comes threw
I went to the OysterFest for the first time on Sunday. I went with my spouse and in-laws. My goal was to say "Hello" and introduce myself to some of Caleb's friends. I had the opportunity to meet Shaye, Jenny and Katy. I was so happy to finally connect with some of Caleb's people but they seemed so vulnerable and somber. It made me worry that Caleb wasn't having a good day. I asked about him though and they all said that he was having a fine day. I wanted to hug each of them because in a way I feel like I know them but really I'm just a stranger and I could sense their wariness. I wish I could have figured out what to say to let them know that I cared -- that I was sincere but it just felt awkward. I think that in that moment I felt the helplessness that Caleb's friends and family feel daily. All I could do was purchase some oysters and feel the sadness knowing full well that there was nothing more I could do.
Lesa
Lesa..... I wished you'd just said....Hi ...I'm Lesa with an "e" from the blog....and each of those central Caleb-mates would have known you from/through your words....over the past several months....
and.... I for one....am alternately...wonderfully over-whelmed by what happens to our sleep-ish little town when the Oyster-gates are let down....and sometimes significantly "whelmed" by the extent that we share our little town during those two days....what I ...and I think "many-of-us"DO during such an event....and indeed for most of July and August is to realize that we HAVE a core group....that is our strength....and all through the day or month we renew that through smile recognition... YOU are part of that ....now....through your concern...and involvement in this "little Blog that could"...thanks for being part of it ALL...and thanks to Caleb and sharyn's CREW - von Yellowbeard who is doing all THEY can to help him make his way back to Fleet......aaaaaarrrrrggggghhhhh- ON!@!@!....light!ly....ch/dad...
and PS to Jodi : sweet sweet...fleetian surfing sister....you Rock!
thank you for further sharing the "herstory" of our Tribe.....
pps....I remember the Hay-ride-that you organized for ALL the kids- the night that sharyn was over to yurtland on Halloween night for Sky's birthing..1985!!!..you always were a great one for the best sort of DIVERSION!!!
Anyone have pictures of Oyster Fest?? Please post!!
Not only did Sharyn pop out those little babies but 10 minutes later she looked like she had never had a kid in the first place. I, on the other hand had 10 month pregnancies, 24 hour labors, and after our first son was born, my brother was concerned that there was still another baby to come out because my stomach was still so big!
And Jodi - I babysat Jodi and two of her sisters a looooong time ago - she was hell on wheels then and hell on wheels now. I think it was Shelley that referred to her as a Renaissance woman - she can do it all, cook, garden, sing, play a mean guitar, and be one of the best friends any woman could want. I have had the privilege of knowing her for all these years and of being included in the WE. The time WE spend together is full of laughter and tears and hugs and just knowing that all of you are there is the best feeling in the world. Rock on Jodi, you are a blond goddess as well.
And Sharyn - keep the faith, the lad is coming home soon and we will be there with open arms for both of you.
XOXOXOXOXOX Jane
And she makes fantasic margharitas too!
:) Jane
Jodi-What a blog!! How time flies.I recall the mom's group as The Coffee Achievers' Club. I feel very lucky to have been a part of the tribe even though not full time. It was a great escape for me to come and share the laughter and friendships, watch these kids grow and become brothers and sisters. No matter where in the world they are everyone always stays connected. Thanks for a trip down memory lane. Hoddie Potty Coddie Fishkin.Love to you all, Aunt Judy
Hoddie Potty Coddie Fishkin or Onna codda podda fishin....I happen to know what it means but which is it???? Havent got a pot to piss in!!
Me
hoddie, pottie, coddie, fishkin'!!!!!
oh jodi that was beautiful...
if only I had the guts to have kids back then....
somewhere in my attic is a picture of you all on my roofdeck celebrating my new home in Truro when I made the big move 4 miles north..... I am here visiting this week and happy to reconnect to all of you. peace and love to the tribe.
tim
ch/dad,
Thank you so much for taking the time to write that beautiful post. It made me cry and smile at the same time! Big hugs to everyone on this little Blog that could, especially to our dear Caleb.
Lesa (that's Lesa with an "E"!)
Oh, my God, Jod! You really said it all. We are quite a tribe.
WE have known each other before the husbands were husbands, before the children were born, before the Coffee Achievers became a national campaign, before helmets were considered, before it was unsafe to tan, before cellphones, e-mail and even answering machines, and we didn't even think life could be anything but what we were living in that moment.
Here's to you, to our friends, our family, our tribe, AND to all of you who want to be a part of Wellfleet, come on in!
And kudos to Sharyn, Jan, Kai, Max, Jenny, the doctors and staff of Mass General and Spaulding, and everyone whose stuck close for all these months, for keeping the power of hope and healing strong for Caleb. Caleb, we can't wait till you're home.
Much love to all of you,
Trudy
Thanks Jody for being one of my "other mothers", who was just a stones throw down the hill. You are an excellent role model who have raised an amazing daughter, who is one of the best friends a person can get. I will def.help take care of you guys when you are all old fogies...but Ryan and Caleb have to help...hehe
Post a Comment