Another Mark on the Doorjam of My Life

Remember when you where growing up and your mom and dad would mark your growth on the door jam? Then you'd walk by and think, "I was never that short." Even as adults we have marks on the door jam of our lives that help show us where we were and encourage us with the possibilities of what could be.

We've had several "marks" to our lives the last few months. Jake moved to Flagstaff to finish college. We got him all settled into an apartment with the likelihood that he will never live under our roof again. When we left him in CA, I knew he'd be back. We told him he couldn't afford to live there, but we had to let him try. Now, I'm pretty sure he can make it on his own. I am proud and scared, happy and sad. Now his marks will be on his own door jam. It's weird.

We lost my sister-in-law after a valiant battle with cancer in December. It just feels different than losing a grandparent or a parent. Even though she was quite a bit older than I am, it's still my generation. It makes the inevitable feel so much closer. When we are young we think we'll never die, then as we age, it just looms closer and closer. But, this is an event that makes you sit back and think about those things that are uncomfortable thinking about, and having those conversations that are uncomfortable to have. I remember about 15 years ago my mom called me on the phone, she wanted to tell me all of the plans she had made and what she wanted to happen when she died. I sat through the whole thing and said, "ok" but was thinking it was an odd conversation. Now I am beginning to understand. I'll admit, I am thinking about the possibility of death a lot more the last couple of months.

Here's some good news, a good mark on my door jam. It looks like I finally found a job! I will be working as executive/personal assistant for a couple who are starting a new business called Action Coaching. When the offer first came in, I was a little hesitant to take a position with a start up company in this economy. But, after doing some research on the company and the people I will be working with, I think I am getting in on the ground floor of something that could really grow. I am excited about the possibilities. It will be fun setting up an office. I see lots of potential.

None of these changes are particularly easy. There will be struggles: learning to live without Jake's energy filling our house, watching my brother struggle with a life lived without his sole mate, starting a new position with no real guidelines and unclear expectations. But, I think in a few years when I look back at these moments in my life, I will see how I've grown, just like I did when I walked past the door jam when I was a child.

Michael's Christmas

Sup world. This is Michael Tucker. This is my "christmas" blog but the rest of my family have just written about their life so that's what I'm going to do. I'm on my school's JV soccer team and I'm having a great time. I usually play most of the game if not all of it. Our record is 2-2. Our first 2 games we were all getting used to each other and didn't do so great but when we got in the groove we pulled off a couple of wins. Practice is everyday after school and I have 3 practices over christmas break. If you did not know, I got into skateboarding over the summer with one of my neighbors. I've been so busy with soccer that I haven't done it in a while but I take it out sometimes and refresh all the tricks I used to do. Now for the christmas part of this blog. I've been looking at the presents that I have under the tree. I'm so excited because I think one of them is an itouch. My mom keeps saying that it's not because they are too expensive but it's from Santa and Santa does not have a price limit. This christmas, my grandpa and my aunt are coming down for the first time. This christmas is going to be awesome! Peace out!
Michael Tucker

Megan's Christmas

2009 definitely threw some curveballs my way. I was certainly not pleased when I learned of the move to Tucson. I knew it would be hard moving in the middle of junior year. But surprisingly, things have been going well here.

I am now a senior at Ironwood Ridge High School. At school I am taking physics, english, government, and statistics. Then I also take a Certified Nursing Assistant Class after school Monday through Thursday, it's 8 hours a week and we are about to start clinicals. I'm hoping this course will help me decide if nursing is the right path for me.

I also work on the weekends at Einsteins Bagels. Then i plan on attending NAU in the fall, which I am extrememly excited for. I know that all of this might sound familiar if you have read Jake's blog. But Jake is actually the one copying me. I decided on NAU, then Jake noticed it looked nice. I got a job at Einsteins, then Jake put in an application. I move to Tucson, and then Jake realizes that he just can't live without me, so he moves down as well.

But all in all, I'm happy with where we are right now and all that my family is accomplishing.

Jake's Christmas

Well... 2009 has been a very busy year for me. When the news of the move to Tucson came around, I decided to stay around. As the rest of the family packed up the house to Tucson, I stayed in California. "Living on my own" (to an extent) was a great experience, which I think helped me grow up a little and realize what I really needed to do. And after some setbacks and a considerable amount of money lost I decided to make the move to our new home in Tucson. Upon arival in Tucson, the most important thing was getting back to work and saving up some money for college. After searching for a while, I ended up working at Big 5 Sporting Goods and Einstein's Bagels. With around 20 hours at Big 5 and about 25 at Einstein's and 2 classes at the community college, my fall semester has been a pretty hectic one. All of which, led me to deciding to attend NAU this next spring. I plan on being there through 2 and a half years and am majoring in Elementary Education and minoring in Music. I'm very excited for this next chapter of my life and look forward to growing up even more.
Jake

Ken's Christmas

It's been an interesting year... changing jobs, changing cities we live in, seeing kids transition to the next step in their lives. Things began with a move to Tucson, AZ in February when I became the new Scout Executive for the Catalina Council, BSA. I had to find Tucson on the map to really know where we might be moving. I joke with friends that Tucson is the furthest east we've ever lived.... it's not very east and is considered the "wild west." We've seen some interesting things since we've been here including Tombstone, Kartchner Caverns, lots of cactus and some very beautiful sunsets. Transitions are always difficult but filled with good surprises too. Lots of neat people in Scouting have been very supportive and encouraging.

We've had lots of friends and family come and visit which we've really enjoyed. Good experiences including watching the OR-AZ game, visiting interesting places around the area and a trip to Vegas recently.

In the summer Jodi and I traveled up to Washington without the kids. A long road trip together brings good opportunities to talk about lots of things. It probably would have been easier to fly but it was fun traveling across the country together.

If you're itching to see cactus, creepy crawling things, the "wild west" and some fun folks (that's mostly Jodi but every now and then I surprise her) - then come visit us. We're always happy to have company!

Jodi's Christmas

I'm dreaming of a white...no green...no brown...Christmas! Life in the desert is a far cry from living in the Evergreen State, but I think we'll all adjust. We moved to Tucson in February. I was never really at home in California, so I am hopeful that that the adjustment to Tucson will be smooth. I have informed Ken that we are nearing the end of my moving days. I am hopeful we will finally find a place to stay. I did some reflecting on my life and the number of moves. Fifteen houses (not including two dorms and an apartment in college), 10 cities (not including college town), 6 states. That is a lifetime of change. It explains a little about my desire to place roots somewhere.

After we left CA, I continued to work for the same company until May. I enjoyed the work, but they decided they really needed someone on site to do the job. I decided to take the summer to be with the kids, since the adjustment wasn't easy for them. Then started my job search in September. I will say, I've never had this much difficulty finding work. I guess my standards are a little different. I want a job that challenges me and pays more than 1/2 what I was making in CA. At some point I will settle, but I'm not there yet. I've been #2 choice on 3 ideal jobs. I'm not giving up.

I am making a few friends, but it is hard. We haven't found the "right" church yet and I don't have a job, so it's hard to meet new people. I'm confident that the connections will come with time. I have enjoyed visits from friends and family. We've had more visitors to AZ then we did living 20 miles from Disneyland (with free passes). A lot of our friends from Ken's office in CA have been to visit. Even with all of my complaining, we did make some good friends while in CA. We had a great time with them in Vegas just a few weeks ago. Having family within driving distance is also nice. Janet has been a gift, helping me unpack and sharing holidays. I'm so glad they are close. Looking forward to New Year's with Dad and Pam.

I guess besides the move, the hardest part of the year has been dealing with my eyes. This is the year that I finally have to accept that I do indeed have RP, and will be dealing with the consequences of that the rest of my life. First off, it is really, really dark in Tucson! My night driving days are coming to an end. If I do drive, I need someone in the car with me to make sure I don't miss something crucial. It has made me really miss my mom. I wish I had someone to talk to who actually understands the frustrations. I had to have cataract surgery this summer. (I guess early cataracts are common with RP patients). Once that was done a film or stain almost immediately formed, leaving me with cloudy vision. Laser surgery to correct that was done in November. Still blurry vision, macular edema (common in RP patients after cataract surgery, uncommon to everyone else). Drops, retina specialists, time and hope that I will eventually have clear vision again, though it's not guaranteed. Not good when center vision is blurry and peripheral is gone. Thinking I should have just lived with the cataracts, my vision was better before the surgery. Hindsight, it's much better than my regular sight.

Well, that is Jodi's year. But fear not, I have the least exciting life of all the Tuckers, so keep checking for their 2009 stories.

Visiting Bloggers

I (Jodi) have been writing the annual Christmas letter for...well, let's just say a long time. I tell you all about what everyone in my family is doing, has done, will be doing. But this year is a little different. In the next few days, this blog will be visited by 5 different spirits, the spirits of Christmas Jodi, Christmas Ken, Christmas Jake, Christmas Megan and Christmas Michael. They will take you back through 2009 to the highlights of their lives, or as Dickens would say the "course" of their lives. We'll have to wait and see if these courses need adjusting.

"Men's courses will foreshadow certain ends... But if the courses be departed from, the ends will change."