Mundane Details…
For months after Jamie died, the only memories that my mind was able to focus on were very recent ones. Maybe because I couldn’t or can’t comprehend how someone who is with you, talking to you, calling you, emailing you one day, can just be gone the next.
Jamie and I talked pretty much every day, even if we were both very busy and it was only for two minutes. I miss our back and forth banter with each other. I miss everything about our friendship. I’ve become obsessed with finding any and all email exchanges we had over the years, as finding even the smallest, seemingly non-important email exchange, somehow brings me a little piece of her, or of us. This is one of our last email exchanges. It makes me smile and of course, cry, but it’s very “us” type of communication, and I suppose that’s why I can’t help but read it over and over again and try to hold on like hell to my last memories of her.
From: O’Brien, Kathryn Anne
Sent: Monday, July 23, 2012 9:21 AM
To: Jamie Kindem
Subject: mundane details…
Now that you’ve taken care of the most important things such as your bikini line, paper to hang on Peanut’s wall, choosing font types, scamming Homegoods with a lamp swap, perhaps we should move onto the less important, really non-issue, to do’s…do you have a bag packed? If not, maybe we should do that Wednesday evening before we go to Chili’s. Let’s be honest, if we try to do it afterwards, nothing will get done…
Let’s review the things you need:
• outfit to wear to hospital
• outfit to wear leaving hospital
• slippers and flip flops
• ipod?
• Chargers (for everything- phones, camera, flip camera)
• Camera
• Flip camera
• book (for both of you); journal? – very good idea
• “Dr. Seuss” book to baby in utero!!! Great idea
• Chapstick
• Tinted moisturizer/make-up?? (If you think you’ll want to put any on at all) – oh yes, bringing whole make-up arsenal
• Headband, hair bands – this I will forget.
• Toothbrush (for both of you)
• Body lotion!!
• Infant car seat ***
• Baby clothes!! Diapers (or I guess you can steel them from there)? I have one outfit but she may be too big for it, need to pick out another
• Breast pump? They have one there – but good point mentioning as I need to go ahead and buy a new one…
• Pregnancy pillow? Maybe just one of my reg pillows?
• Snacks?
• Seltzer water reserves oh, that’s a good idea
Hmmm…that’s what I’ve come up with off the top of my head…thoughts?
xoxox.
Ki
From: Jamie Kindem
Sent: Monday, July 23, 2012 9:26 AM
To: O’Brien, Kathryn Anne
Subject: RE: mundane details…
Yes, good idea. I was thinking we could do a little mall walk prior to eating too. Maybe not – we shall see. We’ll have a good idea of where things stand as I have a doc appointment at 9:30 Wednesday morning with Munoz. See comments in red.
From: O’Brien, Kathryn Anne
Sent: Monday, July 23, 2012 10:09 AM
To: Jamie Kindem
Subject: RE: mundane details…
What do you want to do at the mall? I’d rather not walk around just for the sake of walking around. You know I hate window shopping, it just makes me depressed. But if there’s something specific you’re looking for, I’m happy to come along and help. Have you already asked Mom and Dad to help with the kids that night? You should probably do that, if not. Are we planning on meeting right after work, or not until later?
P.S. I have HORRRRRRIBLE period cramps today. YUCK.
How are you feeling? Peanut kicking you a whole bunch? OMG it’s going to be so weird actually calling her by her new name after referring to her as Peanut for so long! I was saying to Paul the other day while you were napping and I was hanging with the kiddos eating their snacks, isn’t it so weird that there’s going to be this totally new person to love around here? Like you look at John and Larkin and how much you love them, and it’s crazy to think that there’s going to be another one that you love JUST as much. Pretty cool. You’re a lucky lady. Mwah.
From: Jamie Kindem
Sent: Monday, July 23, 2012 10:10 AM
To: O’Brien, Kathryn Anne
Subject: RE: mundane details…
Dumbaskus… I need to MALL WALK to get the baby out of me. You will join me and like it. We won’t stop and window shop, we will be powerwalking to justify chilis.
5 Comments
April 30, 2013 at 2:20 pm
Wonderful, Kat. Intimate, loving and precious details of my two precious girls. You are so being Kiki and she is so being the appreciative and bossy big sister (“America’s Sweetheart” redux.)
So, as I recall, the mall walk did not happen, and Chili’s did
But you had a good reason.
May 1, 2013 at 2:49 pm
Kat – this is fantastic! It’s a small reminder of what a great sister you were to her…I mean, what a list you put together for her!! I actually have been doing the same…going back to old emails with her. It’s a refreshing dose of funny banter and good memories. And reading her last reply to you here made me laugh hard! “you will join me and like it” – OMG sooo Jamie and sooo funny! Thank you for sharing this. Keep strong and carry on!
May 1, 2013 at 8:21 pm
Kat, I remember you telling me about how Jamie wanted you to walk with her, so went to her house after work. Your story was how disgusted she was because you had make up on and she didn’t. You looked hot and she ……..didn’t. It made me smile just as your emails did. Thanks for sharing. It is often the small, funny exchanges that stand out most.
May 2, 2013 at 8:02 pm
Kathyrn,
I wasn’t sure I should respond, but wanted to tell you I love your posts, the website and all the details, it has made me feel closer to Jamie and your family. Very BIG Thank you to you, Paul and your family for your courage and keeping Jamie in our thoughts and our lives. I truly miss Jamie at work and catching a few stories and laughs in between the daily work. I hope that I can see the kids in the future and possibly meet up with you sometime and hear more stories. Would love to meet for lunch, please feel free to contact me anytime.
Take care,
Rene’
May 30, 2013 at 12:59 pm
Hi Rene, Thank you. I’m happy to hear that they bring you a smile and make you feel a little closer to J. I’d love to meet for lunch sometime in the future or meet up so you can see the kiddos. Hope you are well.
Kathryn