Route 202 – “The Real Deal”

I (Erin – Jamie’s hand on my shoulder in the below picture) have spent quite some time compiling my memories of Jamie. Early on I wanted to make sure I shared everything. Silly, I know, especially because there’s much that I’ve left out. I have so many special memories of Jamie. It’s an honor to share those memories and what her friendship meant to me.

Jamie and I developed a friendship our freshman year at Conestoga High School. My first “real” memory was during pre-season for soccer that year. We were sitting alone on the concrete, surrounded by everyone’s equipment bags, putting on our cleats. Jamie pulled her strings very tight, checked to make sure no one could hear her, leaned towards me, grinned and said, “I think we made varsity!” Sure enough, we did ;). We were the only ones from our class to make ‘Stoga’s varsity soccer team our freshman, sophomore and junior year. We formed a special bond.

The day we got our uniforms. J sat next to me, “I hope no one already has #1. I reeeeeally hope no one has #1”. We went in to choose our uniforms by class, making Jamie and me the last to go. She held my arm and strained to see what number each player before us came out holding. When a teammate walked by us she would ask, “What number are you? Did anyone take 1?” She did quite the happy dance when she found her official ‘Stoga uniform with a big old “1” on the back waiting for her on the gym floor

We shared a hotel room in Danville…our first tournament with ‘Stoga. At one point we were in our room, MTV was on and all of the roomies were dancing like crazy to Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. “Good Vibrations” was a team favorite during pre-game warm-ups that year. It’s a memory song for me to this day. It was ridiculously hot in Danville and the heat got the best of Jamie. After a trip to the ER, she returned to the hotel room and we were “shocked” to discover she still had an electrode stuck to her side. She stood in front of the mirror as we moved in for a closer look. We conferred about the best removal method. A hot compress? Shower? Rubbing alcohol (where would we find some)? We braced ourselves and sympathy winced as she attempted to remove it on her own…and it just peeled away. We had a good laugh.

Shortly thereafter, Jamie asked me if I’d want to be a guest player for her travel soccer team, and she mentioned me to her coach. I rode with Jamie and her dad to the fields. I didn’t know what to expect at my first travel tournament, but I loved it. I was asked to play with the team regularly and a new adventure began.

So many memories from tourneys. Specifically one night when neither of us could sleep. Jamie whispered very quietly to see if I was still awake and we ended up talking all night. We talked about life: about sex and morals and boys and peer pressure and college and careers and uncertainty, etc. We were still talking when we got up the next morning and dressed for our first game. That was an awesome night. I can’t remember what kind of soccer we played that day, but if our soccer suffered, it was totally worth it.

I remember when Jamie broke her arm and my Mom took her to the ER. On the drive home Mom talked about what a nice girl Jamie was and mentioned that she enjoyed Mom’s music. Mom was into Peter Cetera. I wonder if Jamie was being polite? 😉

During the fall of our sophomore year, Jamie and I both made a Premier Select soccer team comprised of top players from a large group of high schools in the area. She began giving me rides to practice, which was a bit further away. We talked about anything and everything on those “long” stretches of Route 202. We really got to know each other. I loved that she didn’t possess all the cattiness and insincerity that Conestoga bred. I never once worried that she was going to turn around and tell people about the things we discussed on those car rides. Oh, and I have to admit, I was so jealous of her car. I loved that white Celica…blue interior…manual… soooo wanted one.

I remember a bunch of the Premier team clan standing around between games when one of the parents started rocking his hips back and forth and singing “Wild thing! You make my thing swing!” Jamie and I stepped out of view because we couldn’t keep our composure. Somewhere through it all I know I heard him say, “Well, what ARE the right words?”

I remember the Marriott in Boston that connected to a mall via an enclosed bridge. Jamie and I ventured to the mall alone and positioned ourselves strategically down a bit from a liquor store. We spent a good half an hour debating the pros and cons of asking someone to buy something for us. Should we pick a guy and be flirtatious? Definitely! What if we got caught? What if our parents saw us? We went back and forth and almost approached a few people before turning away at the last minute. We giggled at our lack of boldness. We eventually decided not to risk it. We walked away empty-handed. I think we both enjoyed the little adventure…even if we had nothing to show for it.

I remember countless games with the Deens and O’Brien’s on the sidelines and going to grab food together in between. I remember quick breakfasts, hotel buffets and this one German restaurant that Jamie and I went to with our Dads. It was white with a big shiny black bull statue out front. I don’t know why it sticks out. Perhaps because it was an actual restaurant, not fast food, and just the four of us sitting down together. We all got along so well.

Back to Conestoga soccer. Many good times and memories our Sophomore and Junior years, but pre-season senior year didn’t start off well. On the second day, at the end-of-practice scrimmage, Jamie and I both went for the ball. I planted my foot hard in front of the ball and Jamie’s foot connected with my ankle. I yelped and went down. She gasped and collapsed beside me, “Deenie get up”, she said with urgency, “You’re fine, Deenie, get up. C’mon”. She stood up immediately yelled, “NO! GET. UP.” as if disciplining a puppy. I looked up at her through tears and she put her hands on her head as if squeezing it and pulling back her hair at the same time. There were tears in her eyes. She walked off a bit in a semi-circle, “NO, NO, NO”. Then she returned to help me off the field. “Deenie you can’t be hurt. This is our year! You’re gonna be okay!” She apologized as we took all of my gear, revealing a rapidly swelling ankle. I told her she was just playing the game and had no reason to apologize. She was eventually encouraged to get back to the scrimmage. My ankle was sprained. Crutches and sidelines for a few weeks.

Unfortunately, I was dealing with a lot of really tough stuff during that time. The night I quit Jamie came running after me yelling, “Deenie! Deenie!” She found me at my car. “Deenie you can’t quit, we need you! Please don’t do this. I’ll walk back on the field with you and we can pretend this never happened. You can’t quit…it’s our senior year…you love soccer…you love this team” As tears streamed down both of our faces, I told her what was happening to me. I shared something with her that no one else knew. “Erin, why didn’t you tell me any of this?” She hugged me and we sobbed together. I watched her stand, just sobbing, with her hand over her mouth as I pulled out of the parking lot. She was still there when I turned off the property.

The last time I spoke with Jamie I was struggling and Jamie wanted me to know that she was there for me, she would do anything to help me and I wasn’t alone. I wasn’t forthcoming. “C’mon Deenie you can talk to me. It’s so much better to talk about it. You know you can trust me.” I could see the concern in her eyes, and after all those car rides, hotels stays, breaks between tournament games, etc., I knew she meant it. I knew I could trust her. Jamie was so caring. So heart-connected. Such a blessing.

Jamie was a very special person. The real deal. I loved being around her. I trusted her. I never felt judged by her. She was a wonderful mixture of sweet, fun, adventurous, mischievous, interesting, unassuming and smart. She was beautiful in every sense of the word. Whatever was at the forefront of her personality was contagious-at least for me. I’m blessed to have known her, and to have called her my friend.

I’m so deeply saddened by Jamie’s passing. Romans 8:28 says: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Even when I don’t get it, God’s got it. Someday I will see Him face to face and I can ask Him why.

To Maureen and Dan, Doug and Kathryn, Paul, John, Larkin and Reagan, close friends and family: Know that each one of you truly is prayed for often and as specifically as I’m able. As God lays you on my heart, I lift you up. You are never far from my heart and mind. Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

Thank you for this website and the opportunity for me to share another piece of Jamie with those who know and love her.

With love,
Erin (Deen) George