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Birthday Memory: First Tribute Poem To Jacques and Torin Lakeman

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Written as a Tribute to Jacques & Torin Lakeman who passed away tragically together on 2nd December 2014 – I read this poem and another poem called 'computing' at their memorial Service on 16th January 2015 and both the poems are posted with their parents blessing. A Jactor memorial project has been set up – see this link - if it doesn't work please google jactor project facebook

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jactor-Project/378173279030533?fref=nf

Round to the house they all went to play Today it was special it was Jacques Birthday The boys played in their room – where we couldn’t see The adults sat down to drink some tea All went well for quite a while But Jacques rushed downstairs not wearing his smile DISASTER! We dashed upstairs to discover the issues Sad eyes greeted us we needed some tissues The football birthday cake had been taken to the room To be brought downstairs later for us to consume Now it lay on the floor – oh what a mess Voices were hushed no one would confess Then we all heard the most terrible roar Ray had arrived – he saw the cake on the floor His voice wasn’t hushed oh boy he could shout BOYS GO TO THE GARDEN – JUST PLEASE GET OUT The boys dashed off outside and continued to play It didn’t ruin Jacques birthday The cake was retrieved and patched with green icing The party continued it was very exciting Just a fond memory of their childhood days Precious memories of one of Jacques Birthdays Written on 4th January 2015 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jactor-Project/378173279030533?fref=nf or Google jactor project on facebook if the link doesn't work

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M. L. Kiser

Date: 1/20/2015 1:05:00 PM

I know that those warm and loving words were quite appreciated by the funeral attendees and family.

Jan Allison
Date: 1/20/2015 1:45:00 PM

Their dad Ray the 'read out' the line 'BOYS GO TO THE GARDEN – JUST PLEASE GET OUT' - it caused much amusement at the service:-) Hugs Jan xx

Sandip Goswami

Date: 1/19/2015 3:20:00 PM

Great tribute. I am speechless...

Jan Allison
Date: 1/19/2015 3:27:00 PM

Its a very vivid memory from a birthday party - it was one of the memories that came to us when we chatted late into the early morning when we heard the boys had died. it was an honour to be asked to write 'memories' poems and then to actually read them at the memorial service on Friday:-) Hugs jan xx

Sara Kendrick

Date: 1/19/2015 1:26:00 PM

Great tribute to the boys..It is an honor to their lives that you remembered this detail..Sara..Thanks for dropping by..

Jan Allison
Date: 1/19/2015 1:37:00 PM

Thanks for the lovely comment Sara - it was one of the things my hubby and i chatted about at around 2.30am when we were trying to come to terms with the tragic news. it was an honour to be asked by their parents to write the poems and I read them both at the service on Friday in front of about 160 people:-) Hugs Jan xx

Richard Lamoureux

Date: 1/18/2015 11:17:00 PM

Good night Jan.

Jan Allison
Date: 1/19/2015 1:07:00 AM

Thanks so much Richard:-) Hugs Jan xx

Maurice Yvonne

Date: 1/18/2015 8:28:00 PM

This is a beautiful memory and written so well. As I remarked in the second of the two writes, this is just a tragic story but you did yourself proud in both poems you wrote. God Bless You your family and the Lakeman Family too!

Jan Allison
Date: 1/19/2015 1:06:00 AM

Thanks so much Armand. I was honoured to be asked to write for the service and the 2 poems were based on memories my hubby and I shared on the night we learned they had passed away:-( love and hugs Jan xxx

Arthur Vaso

Date: 1/18/2015 3:16:00 PM

Tributes are always sad, and yet so heartfelt, this was lovely Jan!

Jan Allison
Date: 1/18/2015 3:18:00 PM

Thanks so much Arthur and I love your tribute in your avatar:-) Hugs Jan xxx

Shane Cooper

Date: 1/18/2015 2:00:00 PM

Thank you Jan for sharing what is obviously a precious memory for you. And you have made such a lovely rhyme of it for the memorial service. You are such a wonder and give so much of yourself to others. i am proud to call you friend.

Jan Allison
Date: 1/18/2015 2:03:00 PM

Thanks Shane I am honoured they asked me to write for the boys:-) Hugs Jan xxx

Paul Callus

Date: 1/18/2015 11:57:00 AM

Very well written with effective rhyme. You did a good job here Jan, and it was brave of you to read this in public and in front of a special audience. Getting Ray to participate was the icing on the cake! hugs // paul

Jan Allison
Date: 1/18/2015 12:11:00 PM

It was brilliant Paul - Ray was such a good sport joining in that one line - and it made people laugh - it was a marvellous celebration of their lives, live music, poems, singing, audio, video and photographs - a few tears but much laughter:-) Hugs Jan xxx

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 1/17/2015 10:58:00 PM

You must have known them pretty well to know this story of them, Jan. I think you told me about them being your son's friends, right? This is so nice of you to do for the memorial.

Jan Allison
Date: 1/18/2015 4:33:00 AM

They were friends throughout primary and secondary school and would play at each other's houses at the weekends - I have so many memories but this one sticks in my mind for obvious reasons! Hugs Jan xx

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 1/17/2015 10:55:00 PM

Jan, just wanted you to know i copied and pasted that link and it won't come up. Maybe you can get it put in the box?

Jan Allison
Date: 1/18/2015 4:31:00 AM

will do Andrea:-) Hugs jan xx

Skat A

Date: 1/17/2015 10:16:00 PM

Interesting poem, Jan.... SKAT

Jan Allison
Date: 1/18/2015 4:30:00 AM

Its actually what happened at the party Skat the cake ended up on the floor - it was one of the things my hubby and I talked about when we heard the boys had died:-( Hugs Jan xx

David Meade

Date: 1/17/2015 3:47:00 PM

It's these fun crazy stories that weave the tapestry of life with family and friend. Sweet are your words . . . . 7

Jan Allison
Date: 1/17/2015 3:50:00 PM

When we heard of the boys tragic deaths my husband and I sat up talking until 2.30 am - this party in particular was in our thoughts and memories of the boys playing in our dining room with three computers linked up together hence then 2 poems:-) I was honoured to be asked to write poems and read them at the service:-) Hugs Jan xx

Richard Lamoureux

Date: 1/17/2015 3:30:00 PM

I am sure your words were a comfort to them. It is good to share happy thoughts at a time like that.

Jan Allison
Date: 1/17/2015 3:33:00 PM

It was a wonderful evening Richard - poems, music, photos, audio, video a few tears but much laughter:-) Hugs Jan xx