My Stroke

Jan 20, 2013 9:45pm

It was Boxing day. I was Just getting out of the shower when I felt a little twinge in my right leg, and went to lay down a little. Three hours later I was face down on the floor, paralyzed and in no pants, trying to make myself understood over my iPhone.

Struggling for my life, I was having a stroke.

Thankfully, Julia was on her way home and when she saw the mess I was in she called the ambulance. The next thing I knew I was whisked into a van and off to intensive care. For the next week, I sometimes spoke sense and, I learned later, sometimes spoke utter gibberish, to a small circle of friends and loved ones, as meanwhile the blood pressure numbers soared and fell and soared again.

One week later, My condition stabilized, and I moved into the acute rehab unit where I am now. I am paralyzed on my right side but with signs of querulous life that are seized upon with great zeal by an enthusiastic army of physical therapists. Every tremor is cause for more celebration and even more strange calisthenics; I am sometimes a mere plaything in the hands of my therapists, kneaded this way and that.

I am aware of what a near miss it has been, and how far I have to go to recover my full range of movement. No one can say for sure if the range of motion in my right hand will ever be enough to draw the way I once did, but I plan to teach myself to draw with my left hand while we wait to see the outcome of my right. The first drawing samples in this experiment are absolutely hilarious but I hope they will improve.

I am told that these early weeks are where the most gains are made, so I am pushing myself as hard as I can. My brother Jo and Julia have been my only companions as I submit to mirror therapy, electro therapy and being strapped into a harness straight out of the ThunderDome.

But I must say that although I am in lock down, hearing from each of you is a big part of my day. As I fall asleep Julia reads me your comments, encouragements, jokes, stories and asides and it gives me a lot pleasure. I get cards, notes and presents that cheer me up and make me feel connected, even though I am in a sort of therapy limbo.

So thank you, all of you. I am very much looking forward to the day when I can hobble out of here and see you all again!

Love,

Jamie

51 thoughts on “My Stroke”

  1. Holy shit, I’m crying over here. Julia’s messages have been informative and heartwarming, but there is no substitute like connecting directly with the source. Jamie, I have no doubt that you will once again bring to bear all of your humanity to influence in large measure the world around you like you have in the past. I can’t wait for the time when you will be able to reminisce about these events as but a minor hiccup in your life as we ponder the intricacies of the universe over a cup of coffee. Keep up the progress my friend. My thoughts are with you.
    Wes
    — January 20, 2013

    Reply
  2. Wonderful wonderful wonderful to finally hear from the man himself (no offense, Julia … maybe it’s a guy thing). Jamie, your account brings it all into focus for us. Good luck with that left hand … I have to imagine you’ll be inventing a sinister new art style for yourself (you may recall from Arthurian studies that “sinister” is a heraldic term for left-handed), and finding yourself happy with it. But yeah, all those seemingly meaningless twitches and trembles on your right side are terrific too. Proud of you for pushing yourself so hard, matey – though you may be exhausted, the dividends will pay off in the years to come. And whatever the case, the art comes from the head, not the fingers. Your head still seems good! So very very very glad to hear from you.
    When it’s all over, you’ll obviously need to relax a little, and what better place to do so than on McLoinish’s Farm. In the mean time, I hope to see you soon. And Chris, of course, sends her love too and lifts you up in prayer. You may recall she’s working a new job in the Rehab Unit here in Springfield.
    — January 20, 2013

    Reply
  3. Hey Jamie! I’m so glad to hear your voice again!
    I’ve heard that sometimes after strokes people find they have new talents – have you tried belting out Bowie’s catalog at the top of your lungs yet? Physical Therapists LOVE that! I’m thinking ‘Heros’ ain’t a bad place to start?
    Love you m8 and Muffy and Simone send their love too,
    Scott
    — January 20, 2013

    Reply
  4. Jamie–Sooooooooo good to hear from you! Having you hobble back from the brink sounds like wonderful progress. We love you.
    — January 20, 2013

    Reply
  5. Good on you Jamie. Great to hear from you personally. You’re showing the same fighting spirit as your mother had. I remember that she too forced herself to write with her left hand.
    You have given us all a fright but I feel now that recovery is in sight. lots of love
    (Aunty) Marg
    — January 20, 2013

    Reply
  6. Who is Peter Sheehan? I’m totally stealing “budgie smugglers” from him and honestly, Jamie, I am astonished I didn’t hear that one from YOU first.

    Just got back from Rancho Nicasio – know that place? If not you should – funky little honky tonk out in Nicasio on the way to Pt. Reyes, next to that tiny, charming church that looks like a movie set, surrounded as it is by nothing but a few gravestones, a pair of jack rabbits, the rolling hills, and a little league baseball diamond.

    We met a bunch of old (C)P’ers, the excuse this time being seeing Velvy’s band. Don, me, Jenny Head, Sandra Kimberly, Anne Smith, Carl Willat, Chris Whitney, Sara Anderson, Karen Hughes, Mary Mathaisel… and I’m sure I’m forgetting others. Plus the attendant gaggle of kids.

    We talked about Denis’s purchase of a trailer in Palm Springs in an AARP-age trailer park, and how great it would be if we all followed and got trailers there too, so we could feed each others’ mangey little dogs when needed, have fondue night and dictionary night, and if anyone’s trailer got too quiet, go over and make sure someone hasn’t fallen and can’t get up! (All of this much later, of course, when we’re old enough to qualify. ;) That would be rich, wouldn’t it?

    Everyone’s pulling for you and wishes you all the best. It was so nice to come home and see this news from you tonight. Keep up the amazing hard work!
    XO Stephanie
    — January 20, 2013

    Reply
  7. Hey, it’s so great to hear from you, and hear your story, but most of all to heat your ‘voice’. My God, what a scary thing to have happen, but gee you’re doing SO WELL. Left hand, right hand, whatever, of COURSE you’ll be able to get back drawing again. Of that I absolutely have no doubt. Keep up the hard work James. Sending you lots of loving, healing thoughts and prayers. Also sending you a little care package from Oz. Lots of love and big hugs,
    Janine xoxoxoooo

    —January 20, 2013

    Reply
  8. Great to read your voice, Jamie! It was our experience that the brain strives for symmetry; it seeks out the opposite side constantly. We were amazed at how quickly our son rewired his brain. And from Julia’s posts it sounds like your doctors and therapists know exactly what to do when they recognize the signs. Keep climbing that mountain, brother. We are all behind you.
    — January 20, 2013

    Reply
  9. Yay, Jamie!
    It’s great to hear your voice in your journal entry. Work hard bubba! It’ll pay off. I want to see the left handed drawings! Looking forward to catching up with you.
    Kev
    — January 20, 2013

    Reply
  10. Good to hear you’re moving forward with the left-handed drawing! Frazetta said, “You draw with your brain, not with your hand!” Worst case scenario, you become an fantastic left-handed artist; either that or you become an incredible ambidextrous one. I’ve got some left-handed doozies that I did, as well as some early right-handed ones that will be good for a laugh that I’d love to show you some time. Either way, you’ll still be better than Rob Liefeld on his best day, and that’s with you drawing with the lights turned out. I know when your doing your exercises, seeing the results can sometimes feel like watching the grass grow, but keep pushing and before you know it – you’ve made progress. Go Jamie!
    — January 20, 2013

    Reply
  11. James! I started drawing with my left hand for a while when I started having nerve problems with my right. It was an interesting adventure. Talk about drawing loose! I can’t imagine having everything in one hand shut down all of a sudden not to mention what you went through as you described. I’ve learned though that nerves can grow back in re-institute themselves in an amazing why. It takes a while but they slowly and surely grow back.
    Here’s a video you shot of Josefina and I. Might be fun to re-visit if you have time.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUf6kyWrUTI&list=PL7FA8939ABF6B779B&index=6

    — January 20, 2013

    Reply
  12. Jamie, so good to read your voice, too! We are tracking you and think of you every day. You mean a lot to this family and we are rooting for you.
    — January 20, 2013

    Reply
  13. James,
    In a recent report from Julia she mentioned you were “busy with an iPad” so I KNEW we’d all soon be reading a first-hand account of your scene — and you know what? It’s GREAT, a seriously fabulous chunk of pithy reportage, fresh from the front lines, funny and informative and MOST OF ALL — it’s your voice, man, unbeaten and unbowed, you’re still the same guy who can take an idea, turn it around and make us laugh and think at the same time. And you know what else? All us lefties are THRILLED you’re practicing at ambigdextrosity, because we know it’s your IDEAS that make your drawings so great, and so you’ll be making us (the Brotherly Band of Hand Sinister) all look good.
    (your pal)
    — January 21, 2013

    Reply
  14. Jamie I am thinking of you and Julia constantly, I know you are receiving great care and I loved reading your update. Looking forward to seeing you both again!! Please lean on your circle of friends and family, that’s what we are here for!
    Love,
    Sadie and Nowell
    — January 21, 2013

    Reply
  15. Hey Jamie,
    Word does get through even to the disconnected! I am sending good wishes from Portland, Or. where I have been residing for the last year and a half. To make you laugh, I will share my latest parenting woe – my 5 year old purposely peed on his bed last week – a protest against going to school. I was very adult about it and yelled, “Fuck,” walked out and then made him remove 5 stars from his star chart. I suppose this is what they call testing boundaries?
    In any case, sending lots of warm wishes for a speedy recovery. Maybe you can help remote parent from the Ipad.
    beth
    — January 21, 2013

    Reply
  16. THE VOICE RETURNS! Let the scrolls be unfurled! And another Jamie Baker lecture tour commence! … It sure is great to hear you pal… and some of these notes and responses are excellent… you write a story about being laid out with your naked ass in the air and McClenahan is glad it’s all in “focus”… it sucks you have to be in therapy, but at least you had an iron clad excuse to miss Velvy’s band… and I’m not sure Stephanie knows what “budgie huggers” are – an Australian thing? or just an Irish thing? AND I just want to tell you all that I know for a fact that Jamie has been texting dueling d**k jokes with Dave Gordon for days.
    Thank you Julia and hang in there ThunderNerd!
    — January 21, 2013

    Reply
  17. Jamie, how wonderful to “hear” your voice, and what a wonderful message. Just for that I’m going to post this on your wall, of course from the Viz Profanisaurus:
    mid-loaf crisis n. Anything that spoils the enjoyment of a good tom tit, eg. a doorbell or telephone ringing, a dawning realization that there is no bumwad, or a policeman approaching the shop doorway.
    — January 21, 2013

    Reply
  18. Hey I’ve been drawing with my left hand for. 54 years!!! It’s about time you caught on!

    But seriously… Jimmy I’m so relieved to read your lucid account of your event. Actually I’m relieved to hear any account as I’m sure are all of your good friends. Onward and upward my friend. We love you, yes even in your budgie smugglers.
    —January 21, 2013

    Reply
  19. Jamie BRAVO!!!!!!
    We can see and feel you through your words, Chris had a smile all day from your update, keep them coming. You’re in our thoughts every single day.
    Mountains of love and waves of joy
    Lisa, Chris, Jet, Felix and Venus xxxxx
    — January 21, 2013

    Reply
  20. Hey James I’m glad to hear your progress is steaming along at a clip…. You might want to see if they offer sabre duelling as a remedial technique, now that you can stand, you’ve just got to add a shuffle to it and keep moving forward, in a sort of Douglas Fairbanks/ Errol Flynn kind of pose, and just sort of thrash your right hand about…..whilst holding a sword obviously. You’ll look real sharp and I’m pretty sure they’ll let you win most of the time given you’ve had a stroke. Everybody gets to wear padding so you can really flail away…..although…look, Lisa took the whole family sword fighting……..what kind of a family activity is that really? …..and Jet launched into an attack that she parried with her bum the whole duel thing came to a halt for a couple of minutes while the instructor regained his composure wiped the tears from his eyes and got back to the business of scoring. I didn’t quite get the concept of scoring though, remember the military came up with this stuff as a way of prepping for the real thing, guys with moustaches slashing around with proper razor sharp swords. The duel ends when the first guy registers 15 hits, each hit is a strike with a sabre that under normal circumstances would have you running to the school councillor. I (thankfully) beat Jet 15 to 14………………….a margin of 1….It’s pretty well a guarantee that the first time you get slapped with a real sword you’re going to say…yup you win take it..so does that mean that in real life I’ld win by killing him 15 times to his killing me 14? I think the guys with moustaches probably weren’t shaping up to other guys swinging swords, sure maybe something pointy, but probably not swords. Well that’s about all that’s happened in Australia this week….except my father in law sent me a chainsaw he isn’t using …which is great cause I don’t have one, but now I do……I’ll let you use it when you come back for a trip. OK let’s see………………….nope, nothing else has happened.

    Before I go….. I’m sure you’re keeping up with news between bouts of exercise, the NRA guy La Pierre, keeps hammering on about large magazine automatic rifles…. isn’t that showing a little too much determination if you’re just trying to bag a couple of squirrels and ground hog or two. No it wasn’t La Pierre it was some other guy on a talk show run by a Brit, the networks are probably trying to reinvent the Frost report….this guy was absolutely incandescent with rage, man it was the funniest thing I’ve seen in ages. Full blown ‘my cold dead hand’ type paranoia on national TV. If I find it again I’ll send it to you.
    Keep working hard James, I’m so pleased you have such great support…thank you Julia. Your pal Chris
    — January 21, 2013

    Reply
  21. How wonderful to hear directly from you, Jamie. We look forward to future drawings from either hand and I am happy that your sense of humor remains intact. Actually, I’m totally impressed!
    Keep on keepin on.
    Betty & Kristen
    — January 21, 2013

    Reply
  22. Jamie-I’m not sure I know what querulous means. The fact that you do is one of the many causes for celebration of you and your recovery. I am rooting for you and so impressed with your strength and determination. Much love to you and Julia.
    — January 21, 2013

    Reply
  23. A woman was at her hairdresser’s getting her hair styled for a trip to Rome with her husband. She mentioned the trip to the hairdresser, who responded:
    “Rome? Why would anyone want to go there? It’s crowded and dirty. You’re crazy to go to Rome. So, how are you getting there?”
    “We’re taking Continental,” was the reply. “We got a great rate!”
    “Continental?” exclaimed the hairdresser. “That’s a terrible airline. Their planes are old, their flight attendants are ugly, and they’re always late. So, where are you staying in Rome?”
    “We’ll be at this exclusive little place over on Rome’s Tiber River called Teste.”
    “Don’t go any further. I know that place. Everybody thinks its gonna be something special and exclusive, but it’s really a dump.”
    “We’re going to go to see the Vatican and maybe get to see the Pope.”
    “That’s rich,” laughed the hairdresser. You and a million other people trying to see him. He’ll look the size of an ant.
    Boy, good luck on this lousy trip of yours. You’re going to need it.”
    A month later, the woman again came in for a hairdo. The hairdresser asked her about her trip to Rome.
    “It was wonderful,” explained the woman, “not only were we on time in one of Continental’s brand new planes, but it was overbooked, and they bumped us up to first class. The food and wine were wonderful, and I had a handsome 28-year-old steward who waited on me hand and foot..

    And the hotel was great! They’d just finished a $5 million remodeling job, and now it’s a jewel, the finest hotel in the city. They, too, were overbooked, so they apologized and gave us their owner’s suite at no extra charge!”
    “Well,” muttered the hairdresser, “that’s all well and good, but I know you didn’t get to see the Pope.”
    “Actually, we were quite lucky, because as we toured the Vatican, a Swiss Guard tapped me on the shoulder, and explained that the Pope likes to meet some of the visitors, and if I’d be so kind as to step into his private room and wait, the Pope would personally greet me.
    Sure enough, five minutes later, the Pope walked through the door and shook my hand! I knelt down and he spoke a few words to me..”
    “Oh, really! What’d he say?”
    He said: “Who fucked up your hair?”
    — January 21, 2013

    Reply
  24. Jamie it’s so great to hear from you!
    That your positivity and sense of humor has not wavered even during such a difficult time, is incredibly uplifting and inspiring. You are a man among men, sir! Keep rockin it there in the Thunderdome- you will emerge victorious!
    All my best Ted M
    — January 21, 2013

    Reply
  25. Hi Jamie,
    Here’s to more well wishes and love. I cant wait to see you come out of this better than before. I have a Maverix painting you made in my studio that is even more of an inspiration to me now. Take care brother I hope to see you soon.
    Sergio
    January 21, 2013

    Reply
  26. Just think, you train your left hand to draw and then you get your right hand drawing again, you can do double the drawings at the same time! :) Can’t wait to see that.
    — January 22, 2013

    Reply
  27. Hi Jamie and Julia
    How great to have such a long bulletin from yourself, dear son James, and that splendid photo of the two of you reflected in the window of your balcony.

    Your whole story to date contains much to warm the heart; and I have difficulty giving adequate expression to my paternal pride in the love and solidarity among my children and Julia. We’ve all been much in Jo’s debt for the vividness and engagement of his progress-reports to date, and are looking forward to Rob Jr’s addition to your team as our proxy, as the saga continues.

    Go from strength to strength, all of you: and God bless the work.
    Love from me and Wendy, and from Alex and Mandy who arrived in Armidale just this Tuesday . Dad
    — January 22, 2013

    Reply
  28. Ive been drawing with my left hand for 50 years! Welcome to the club! Great to hear your voice, even if it is in writing. Cant quite get the image of you face down in your nudies jabbering in your iphone, out of my head, but I’m sure you’ll draw out this image for us soon enough…. keep getting better chumley!
    Rej x
    — January 22, 2013

    Reply
  29. Jamie,
    So great to finally read your voice on this! I can’t wait for you to master your left hand so you can go head to ambidextrous head with my bro, Steve, in a double set of chopsticks each, dueling for food at our next dinner gathering! You prolly won’t make it to Mock’s bday dinner this month, but I’m hoping you will be around, double-fisted ready, for Steve’s in March (maybe still too soon, but at least one can hope). Now up and at ’em, and slay that monster with the power of The Dragon!
    Stew
    — January 22, 2013

    Reply
  30. Dear Jamie and Julia,
    Thank you so much for your updates, and Jamie- it’s so good to hear your ‘voice’! We’re so happy to hear about the victories you’re having in your recovery. You must be working so hard to be making these things happen. Drawing with your left hand… that’s SO great. I was so inspired by this when I read this on Sunday that I’ve been drawing and painting with my left since, in solidarity with you and to see how I deal with it. It’s slow going and wibbly, but there’s something i like about it; I have to really be mindful about what i’m doing (which is helpful), and seems like i get a more interesting line than my right. Anyways, I’m hoping it’s getting more comfortable for you to draw with your left, and you’re starting to enjoy yourself with it.

    Zadie and I were saying a nighttime prayer tonight (trying to get in the habit of it with her), and while i was rambling about something else she said “Don’t forget your friend Jamie.”
    We’re sending heaps of love and positive thoughts!
    Larissa, Steve and Zadie xox
    — January 22, 2013

    Reply
  31. Brother Jamie,
    If that chump Roger Dondis can draw with his left hand so can you, my brother. kisses on your backside,
    m
    — January 22, 2013

    Reply
  32. Julia, my dear girl!
    A very nice try, but you can’t pull that stunt over on us! There is no way Jamie could have written that very nice post! NO WAY!!!
    There was not one mention of, poo, pee, boobs, farts, knickers, wobbly bits, wanking, spanking, drinking, or the runs. Christ! No swear words either…so that rules out it even being written by an Australian!! Look, It’s so nice of you to try and buck up our spirits with a sweet “letter” from Jamie with all this heartfelt gratitude and stiff upper lip type blather, but until I read something that sounds like it came from the profanisaurus or is ludicrously rude, I am convinced Jamie is still dribbling bubbles in a drool cup and rolling his eyes to communicate. “Eyes left for poop, eyes right for willie, One bubble for pudding, Two bubbles for a back scratch.” I mean I know the man! I’ve spent days with him…He is incapable of going more than a few minutes without a rude noise coming from some part of his body and most of them are intentional and some of them even sound like English!
    Look, I love Jamie as much as the last private dancer he hired, but you don’t need to give us a show for our sakes….We can handle the truth…well at least I can. I have handled a lot of things and I have the weeping sores and warts to prove it! So unless our Jamie has had some sort of personality swap, please help him to write the naughty, foul mouthed, curse studded drivel we expect from him. Really. Do it for the kids and let him spell odor with a “u” like they do in England.

    God bless you both for keeping us in the loop and may Jamie be offending us all very soon! xoxo
    Kirk
    PS – FYI – The visual of Jamie lying face down and pantsless on the floor, trying to make sense while jabbering into his iphone is one I see every year at Comic Con after 4am Saturday morning…We used to call that, “A good night out”….
    — January 22, 2013

    Reply
  33. Hey Jamie and Julia,
    Thanks so much for sharing this story with us. I am impressed by you both. Of course, I already was. Can’t wait to see those left handed drawings! Keep getting stronger, Jamie. We all love you both.
    And, Jamie, have you checked to see if you have any Dead Zone powers?
    —January 22, 2013

    Reply
  34. Hey Jamie,
    Ed and I unbelievably happy to hear all the news of the rehab successes. You will be back at the Cons and signing art work with both hands at the same time before you know it! We think of you every day, and look forward to when Julia posts that you have finally run screaming from that place protesting yet another cup of green jello!
    In the meantime, Ed sends bad jokes:
    One day an
    Englishman, a Scotsman, and an Irishman walked into a pub together. They each bought a pint of Guinness. Just as they were about to enjoy their creamy
    beverage, three flies landed in each of their pints, and were stuck in the
    thick head. The Englishman pushed his beer away in disgust. The Scotsman fished the fly out of his beer, and continued drinking it, as if nothing had happened.
    The Irishman, too, picked the fly out of his drink, held it out over the beer,
    and started yelling, “SPIT IT OUT, SPIT IT OUT YOU BASTARD!!!!”
    — January 22, 2013

    Reply
  35. Hi Jamie,
    Paul Diener here. Tony just sent me this news and I am so sorry to hear this.. Could it be the lesson here is to never take a shower on Boxing Day? Seriously though, get better as quickly as those doctors will let you. The world still needs your charm, your wit, your smile.These are things we cannot do without. Hang in there!… Paul
    — January 23, 2013

    Reply
  36. Thinking of you today, Jamie! As a left-handed person I am delighted to hear you are entering our fold. Watch out for righty scissors, though, those are just a mean joke. And the logos on mugs are always facing the wrong way. I can’t wait to see drawings from you again, hope that you post some. Keep on getting better and kicking ass!
    xoxo -vera
    — January 23, 2013

    Reply
  37. WOW so cool to hear from you Jimmy, that must have been so scary laying on the floor, not able to move with no pants on. It’s kind of my worse nightmare really. It made me so happy reading your journal entry except Julia doesn’t use such big words like querulous. So can she please write the next one. Love you buddy, your doing great.

    I thought I would share something funny as well. Deane is away for 4 months working on a film so Ginger has moved back home. Moving her out of her flat was ridiculous, how does a 21 year old accumulate so much crap. Anyhoo she loaded up the car with all her boxes and of course didn’t think to unload it. So when I went ot go out I couldn’t see out the back window, I thought I should move just a few of the boxes and make it safe. The first one had coats on top so I thought it was full of clothing but no. The bottom of the box dropped out and empty Sailor Jerry rum bottles about 30 of them rolled down the driveway. Plus a few plastic skulls left over from Halloween. My neighbours already think I’m a nutter I’m sure this has added to their confusion.
    XXX
    Joy
    — January 23, 2013

    Reply
  38. Hey there –
    Just thinking of you and wanted to let you know. It was great to read your message the other day. I’m sure you will keep improving, you’re one tough little black duck.
    — January 24, 2013

    Reply
  39. Hoy Mate. It’s effing great to hear you again.it seems that although your right hand isn’t working yet your irascible wit is undiminished , maybe even stronger. No doubt you will soon be taking the pists out of the therapists.

    Anyway, when all of this came down , I spoke to Julia about the protocol for receiving visitors. My advice was “not until you are both ready” because when I was hospital some folks were kinda pushy. Julia said “oh , i hope Jamie wasn’t one of them”……….

    Well , you WAS one of them! I think I said Friday afternoon and you showed up on Wedesday you MONGREL!
    Anyway, it was a great visit and you cheered me immensely. You were great company and very encouraging. And you have been so caring through my illness. I’ve been lucky to count you as friend.
    Looking forward to seeing you again soon.
    Cheers PHiL
    — January 24, 2013

    Reply
  40. G’Day Jimmie,
    It’s Australia Day tomorrow and there’s public outcry at our 2 national TVC campaigns – Sam Kekocvich literally isn’t much chop this year with Lambnesia and Dick Smith’s TVC almost got banned for too many Dick jokes in 60secs…..tell us what you think.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBM6q_pJBns

    We’ll be having a prawn and beer toast to your health at Tanya and Simmie’s tomorrow.
    -Lisaxxx

    — January 24, 2013

    Reply
  41. Atta boy Jamie! Great to hear the latest news straight from you! Keep going! You are in our thoughts and prayers and I look forward to the day that the Aztecs battle the Celts again! :)
    Keep on my friend, keep on!
    Rhode
    — January 24, 2013

    Reply
  42. Thanks Jamie for proving my point. I always said showers give you strokes. That’s why I never take them. keep getting better…
    Hope the next step is to get visitors soon!
    Rej x
    — January 25, 2013

    Reply
  43. Great to hear from the mighty Baker! It makes my heart warm to know that You are making progress, i know that when you set your mind on something, even mountains are no match! Keep up the good fight brother! Bosco
    –January 25, 2013

    Reply
  44. Jamie, so glad you are now sharing your thoughts with us. Julia has just been great about keeping everyone updated.Keep up your work–onward and upward.You are in my thoughts.
    Lou
    — January 25, 2013

    Reply
  45. Hi Jamie and Julia,
    I’m sure you’ve seen this a zillion times, but I’ve just seen it for about the fifth and I laughed out loud AGAIN. Of course every time I’ve seen it I’ve thought of you and your lot… and wondered what your Aussie version of Americans would be.

    http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/australian-screen-legends/n28598/

    Hope you’re weller and weller, Jamie, and can get outside a little. A wee bit of sun could do you no harm. :) XOS
    — January 25, 2013

    Reply
  46. Rej is right – showers give you strokes. That’s why strokes are so rare in France.
    That’s a Scott Tolmie joke. He came up with it Boxing Day night when we were supposed to be having dinner with you – Julia and Jamie.
    I hope it gives you pleasure to know you were picking up the tab on our chuckles from the get go…. too soon?
    Hurry back pal, making laughs out of the worlds miseries was always your forte. As George Evelyn always says – the biggest laughs come from blows below the belt… or something like that…
    Thinking of you two always.
    — January 26, 2013

    Reply
  47. Jamie,
    I just read your last entry, and let me just say—it’s so great to hear your voice. Keep fighting the good fight, my friend. We’ve all got your back!
    Cheers to you and Julia,
    ~Tony and Adrienne, and Scarlet
    — January 26, 2013

    Reply
  48. Hi Jamie, as much as I have enjoyed reading Julia’s journal updates it is great o good to hear from the horses mouth! So good to hear your making more progress, and your sense of humor is unaffected. That will come in useful in the months ahead. Please keep the drawings you are making, it will be a great document to chart your progress!

    I start back to work on monday. Thanks again for the advice you gave me. Take care my friend
    — January 25, 2013

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Betty Kaplowitz Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.