Jamie and Me

It’s the summer of 1969 at Camp Cedar Crest near Waterville Maine, and Jamie is teaching me to water ski. I’m floating in the frigid water, gazing up at my bikini clad, 17 year old sister. She’s standing in the motorboat with one hand on the steering wheel, ready to speed ahead with me in tow.    

 “Tips up Andie, hold on!” she calls, as she straightens out the boat and I grip the tow rope that connects us.

“Hit it!” I yell in my confident 10 year old voice and Jamie throws the throttle while I emerge skiing onto the surface of Lake Messalonskee! 

With her long blonde hair blowing in the wind, Jamie pulls me around the lake, and I feel free, safe, encouraged, cared for and guided by this brave, beautiful and capable big sister of mine.

Many years later, at her 69th and final birthday via Zoom due to COVID, Jamie explained to our family that she had never driven a boat before that summer, let alone instructed campers how to water ski! Yet she took on that responsibility and challenge, learning and then teaching with the same enthusiasm and grace that sustained her through the many difficulties that were to come in her adult life. 

Jamie led the way as one who rose up and even thrived in the face of many challenges. Her second marriage and first round of breast cancer occurred simultaneously, and she soldiered through surgery, chemo and radiation while functioning in a job she adored as the principal of an elementary school in Fairhaven, NJ. Many of her students’ families were seriously impacted by 9/11 and she compassionately supported them through that very dark time, all the while privately dealing with her own personal health crisis. 

In 2012 Hurricane Sandy practically wiped out her town of Sea Bright, but that didn’t stop her from restoring and loving her dream home by the sea. 15 years after her first breast cancer she endured stage four skin cancer on her scalp, and shortly thereafter her breast cancer returned, this time in her bones. This all happened during her very successful second career as a Life Coach while authoring two professional self-help books and one illustrated children’s storybook. Her brand was “Less Stressed Business” and she used her experience as a recovering perfectionist to help others prioritize self-care. 

Jamie loved children and devoted her life to promoting their education and wellbeing. The mother of two boys, and a grandson, she had a natural ability to communicate with kids in a way that conveyed safety and guidance. As her younger sister, I benefited from her capable and compassionate care throughout my life, and I carry that with me as I guide others on their path of thriving. 

I dedicate this blog page to my big sister who lost her fight with breast cancer in 2021. She blogged like nobody's business and would love me launching my website and appreciating her here. I miss you Jamie Lou, Thank you for believing in me, challenging me and teaching me how to thrive.