I suppose my aunt Jenny has been on all of our minds lately. It's so hard for me to imagine that it's already been an entire year. I've been reading Mindy's and Heather's blogs just admiring how well they can write and tell their memories of Jen. I just wanted to pass on some of my memories that I have of Jenny as well.
Tonight I was at a stake dance and the song "Put a Little Bird House in Your Soul" came on over the crowd. I screamed "I LOVE THIS SONG!" and tried to remember the last time I had heard it. Then I got to thinking of the tapes the Jenny made me when I was in like 2nd and 3rd Grade. I remember Jenny Sykes (that's how I remember her) said once in a comment on the blog Heather put together for Jenny that "If Jen took the time to make you a cd, then you were receiving a gift straight from her heart." I was fortunate to recieve a couple of those gifts. She made me two tapes with the covers made from magazing cut-outs. In fact, Jenny inspired me to do the same thing for my friends this year for their Christmas present. I just wanted to share with you some of the songs she put on those tapes for me.
Tonight I was at a stake dance and the song "Put a Little Bird House in Your Soul" came on over the crowd. I screamed "I LOVE THIS SONG!" and tried to remember the last time I had heard it. Then I got to thinking of the tapes the Jenny made me when I was in like 2nd and 3rd Grade. I remember Jenny Sykes (that's how I remember her) said once in a comment on the blog Heather put together for Jenny that "If Jen took the time to make you a cd, then you were receiving a gift straight from her heart." I was fortunate to recieve a couple of those gifts. She made me two tapes with the covers made from magazing cut-outs. In fact, Jenny inspired me to do the same thing for my friends this year for their Christmas present. I just wanted to share with you some of the songs she put on those tapes for me.
What a Wonderful World - Heavy Cloud No Rain - Chain of Fools - Superstar- Angel - Always You - Sigma -Getting Better - Just Around the Riverbend - Grease - Sweet Home Alabama - There She Goes - You Were Meant for Me - Don't Turn Around - Material Girl - The Promise - Angel - Girls Just Want to Have Fun - Theme from Charley's Angels - I Will Follow Him - Moon River - Hit Me With Your Best Shot - Because You Loved Me - Lullaby
On the other tape, there were songs like "Wonder Woman", "Bird House in Your Soul", "Baby Let Your Hair Hang Down", "Little Bitty Pretty One" and a whole bunch of other songs. If you've noticed my music that I have on this blog, a lot of it came from Jen's tapes...and you thought I was weird. :) Those tapes got me hooked to 60s music. I remember she accidentally put the song "Angel" on my tape twice. Little did I know it was probably a mistake that she didn't want to go back and fix, but instead of telling me that, she told me that she thought I would like that song the very best and put it on their twice for me. And you know what? It was my favorite.
Another memory was those amazing times at Lake Powell. I remember on one trip Jenny made up stories off the top of her head and shared them with all the cousins. We would beg her at the end of each day...or whenever we were bored or not swimming...to tell us the next half of the story. The one I kind of remember was about these Fish-People (not mermaids! They were people with gills) that lived deep in the ocean and they discovered a city or something...I don't completely remember. But I do remember that it was one of mine and Ariel's favorite things to do - to sit in the shade of the cliffs on top of the house boat and listen to Jen.
I also remember, probably on that same Lake Powell trip, that Jenny gave me, Ariel, Brent, and Bryce nicknames. I'm not sure what my nickname was, but Ariel's was "Tuts" and I think Bryce's was "Hawce." We just loved that! She also was trying to see how tan she could get on the trip. She had a pack of star stickers with her and everyday she'd put one on her ankle - hoping to leave a tan line of a star...for a 6 or 7 year old, I thought that was weird.
Do you remember that evil killer bunny movie Jenny and Jen Sykes made? I remember that show SCARED ME TO DEATH. I hated it.
Me and Ariel used to think Jenny was so mean because she was always yelling at us to stop running around. What a fun sucker. Then she went on her mission and when she came back, we thought she was really nice! Me and Ariel decided that her and Mindy had switched places (no offense Mind). :) Jenny left mean and came back nice and Mindy used to be nice but was the mean one now. Me and Ariel always loved Jenny though (and we loved you too Mindy).
My other favorite thing to do was go to Smith and Edwards and see Jen working in the candy aisle. For the longest time I thought that the only thing they had at Smith and Edward's was candy because that was the only thing I ever got there. I'm still not exactly sure what's all at Smith and Eddy's.
Gosh...I miss Jen. Little did I know how much she inspired me to be so much of the person I am today. One of mine and Marie's favorite things to do now is make up bedtime stories. Smith and Edwards is still the best place to get candy. My love for music. She helped me realize how I could design things. I call Marie "Tuts" sometimes. I love taking photos. I love sharing new places with my friends. Me and Alyssa used to love making movies. Jen helped me to realize that school doesn't have to be all about the work....it's funny how things worked out. I guess I had to realize it the hard way - I didn't know what I had until it was gone.
As cliche as it might sound, Jen is my inspiration. I think about her so much. I find my mind wandering over the things she did in life all the time.
Another memory was those amazing times at Lake Powell. I remember on one trip Jenny made up stories off the top of her head and shared them with all the cousins. We would beg her at the end of each day...or whenever we were bored or not swimming...to tell us the next half of the story. The one I kind of remember was about these Fish-People (not mermaids! They were people with gills) that lived deep in the ocean and they discovered a city or something...I don't completely remember. But I do remember that it was one of mine and Ariel's favorite things to do - to sit in the shade of the cliffs on top of the house boat and listen to Jen.
I also remember, probably on that same Lake Powell trip, that Jenny gave me, Ariel, Brent, and Bryce nicknames. I'm not sure what my nickname was, but Ariel's was "Tuts" and I think Bryce's was "Hawce." We just loved that! She also was trying to see how tan she could get on the trip. She had a pack of star stickers with her and everyday she'd put one on her ankle - hoping to leave a tan line of a star...for a 6 or 7 year old, I thought that was weird.
Do you remember that evil killer bunny movie Jenny and Jen Sykes made? I remember that show SCARED ME TO DEATH. I hated it.
Me and Ariel used to think Jenny was so mean because she was always yelling at us to stop running around. What a fun sucker. Then she went on her mission and when she came back, we thought she was really nice! Me and Ariel decided that her and Mindy had switched places (no offense Mind). :) Jenny left mean and came back nice and Mindy used to be nice but was the mean one now. Me and Ariel always loved Jenny though (and we loved you too Mindy).
My other favorite thing to do was go to Smith and Edwards and see Jen working in the candy aisle. For the longest time I thought that the only thing they had at Smith and Edward's was candy because that was the only thing I ever got there. I'm still not exactly sure what's all at Smith and Eddy's.
Gosh...I miss Jen. Little did I know how much she inspired me to be so much of the person I am today. One of mine and Marie's favorite things to do now is make up bedtime stories. Smith and Edwards is still the best place to get candy. My love for music. She helped me realize how I could design things. I call Marie "Tuts" sometimes. I love taking photos. I love sharing new places with my friends. Me and Alyssa used to love making movies. Jen helped me to realize that school doesn't have to be all about the work....it's funny how things worked out. I guess I had to realize it the hard way - I didn't know what I had until it was gone.
As cliche as it might sound, Jen is my inspiration. I think about her so much. I find my mind wandering over the things she did in life all the time.
I love you Jen. Miss you too.
3 comments:
No offense taken, I am the MEAN ONE! And I like it that way. ;) I love your post - you did a great job. We all have such different memories of Jen and then we have some of the same memories as well. One thing we all share: We miss her a lot.
This is great, Jess. I never realized the impact she had on the little kids (although, I knew she did...you all loved her). You have so many great traits of hers and I'm not sure how that happened. You too are an amazing writer. I wish I could remember the name she gave you. I was "Flakey Chick" that year, I believe. I miss her too. She is always near my thoughts, and in that way, she is still here!
Flakey Chick...that is hilarious! And I love that they made a killer bunny movie! That is awesome! I love hearing all the Jen memories. They make my smile and cry all at once.
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