"Yesterday's the past, tomorrow's the
future, but today is a gift. That's why it's called the
present."
~~Bil Keane
Hi all,
Happy anniversary, everyone!!! Fifteen years ago
tonight, JABB started with four TBAA weekly viewers joking
around about how the John Dye fans needed a 12 Step Program
to help them with their addiction. Who woulda thunk
that fifteen years later, JABB would still be going?
Wow. We've gone from writing about drool buckets to
debating the issues of the day. Not too shabby!
Yay us! :-)
Unfortunately, this issue is coming right after my return
from a week plus vacation with limited computer time.
So there's not as much here as I woulda liked to have
included. However, what is here is sincerely
meant. Whether you've been with us for well over a
decade or just recently joined us or simply visit the site
every so often, thank YOU for being a part of the
John/Andrew Bucket Brigade!
God bless,
Jenni
So... What I'd like to do is spend a lil time looking
back but also a lil time looking forward. Here goes...
My Fifteen Favorite Memories of
JABB's Fifteenth Year
(more or less in chronological order)
1.
Starting to redo the TBAA
Photo Gallery with Season 5 photos from the
DVDs. Be gone, annoying THC logos! I've just
barely started adding Season 7 snaps and am so looking
forward to the day when those awful logos are a thing of the
past.
2. Writing the Ode in JABB
366/CABB 17. Poems and such used to be a fairly
consistent part of JABB... not to mention my young
adulthood. However, I hadn't written much if any
poetry in years when I sat down to write that one. For
just a little bit, if felt like the good old days when JABB
was light and goofy. It's not that I want to go back
to that. Personally, I like writing the more
substantive stuff. But every so often it's nice to
revisit lighter times.
3. Getting an email from a tutor whose student was
using this
page for research. Apparently the boy thought I
might want to include a link on Colonial dentistry that he
had found. I most certainly did want to add it and
that email made my day! I hope that studious fellow is
continuing to study hard and well and enjoying what he's
learning.
4. This is how much of a nerd I am but writing the
Angel Rules part of JABB
369 was crazy fun for me. I do so love analyzing
stuff that has no super serious real world
application. :-)
5. Writing "Abide
With Me." I'd pretty well abandoned writing
serious "issue" stories since finishing "Safe" shortly
before John passed away. And I wasn't very proud of
that as it seemed like a cruddy way to honor John... hiding
away from real stuff and just constantly writing cutesy,
homey stories. But this plot line came to me and just
wouldn't go away. It also brought Joshua back and,
since then, things have been A LOT easier. And... I
will never think of paper clips the same way.
6. JABB
375- I think it's safe to say that those of us who
were around at the time were just pretty much dazed when we
worked on the first John's birthday newsletter after his
death... only a couple weeks after the fact. And by
the next year I was still in a funk. So much so that I
couldn't even remember what we did for John's 49th birthday
(quizzes apparently). But I genuinely enjoyed working
on John's 50th birthday issue and getting help from Rebecca,
Cindy, and Nicole. John is truly unforgettable and if
you ever want to see fifty reasons why, look no further!
7. Putting together "Roots
& Wings." No, it wasn't my most refined
story. But it was fun! I had a great time
reliving a vacation I actually took. (I saw
Hogwarts!) Plus, I had a blast while actually on the
trip because I spent part of it brainstorming how Andrew and
Co. would react to various things. But I really loved
the opportunity to glimpse the future just a lil more.
I'm so psyched for JABB in 2014 that I can barely stand it!
8. "You Might Be a Dyelander If..." in JABB
378. It may not, at first glance, seem that
impressive. However, it was a rather big return to
"normal" for me. Andrew and LJA penning stuff together
used to figure into JABB (both newsletters and the YG)
fairly often. But as with other things, it largely
went away after John's death. But with that... I could
do it again!
9. Yeah, okay, so it's a lot of story stuff on this
list... But I loved writing "The
Keeper's Story" because, while he had appeared in
other stories, I felt like this was my first chance to start
fleshing out who Joshua is as a person. Plus... it
gives the first hint of one of the things I'm so looking
forward to about 2014: Joshua playing Jesus (aka himself) in
Andrew's production of Jesus Christ Superstar.
Super fun!
10. The return of "Jenni
and Jenni Write JABB." Again, it was just a
matter of reclaiming some of what was lost. I had left
this feature behind cause I was afraid reading my old
journals would just make me really sad about John and some
personal stuff. But ya know what? I had fun
cringing at my younger self. It was definitely okay!
11. TBAA's Season 7 coming to DVD and the announcement
that Season 8 is on its way. WOO HOO! I *loved*
sending the emails out when I'd get notification from
TVshowsonDVD. Awesomeness!
12. Writing "Chava."
Not only was it a story that was very much on my heart but
it was also the ultimate "back to normal" sign for me.
I was writing that story the night before I learned of
John's death. When I felt up to it, I would peck at it
in the days, weeks, and months that followed.
Sometimes I'd only get five or so words out then stop.
Finally, I abandoned it entirely. But then this spring
I felt pulled to finish it. Now I have and, yes, I do
feel like things are normal... well as normal as things can
get around here. ;-)
13. ::blushes:: I had a very good time writing "Song
of Songs." And I'll just leave it at that.
14. Getting new members! Having folks join us
has always been something I looked forward to but as the
years have worn on, that's become even more special.
To those of you new this year: I'm so glad to have you with
us!!!
15. Finally getting some new material for the JABBer's
Fiction Page courtesy of Kemara. I'm honored to
have your stories included there, Kemara! To everyone
else, I hope you check the page out.
My Sixteen Hopes for JABB's
Sixteenth Year
(in no particular order at all)
1. TBAA's Season 9 on DVD!
2. Always just a little more writing time!
And the same for all my fellow writers out there.
3. More peace, less
pain. More joy, less sorrow. More laughter,
less tears. But also the wisdom to know that
sometimes we can hear God best in the pain, sorrow, and
tears.
4. "My mind is clearer now. At last all too
well I can see where we all soon will be. If you
strip away the myth from the man, you will see where we
all soon will be."* So, well, seeing where they
all will be.
5. I hope for a fulfilling year for all our
members in their families, among their friends, with
their faith, with their careers and at school, in their
homes, and in every aspect of their lives.
6. Lots more fun, lively, and informative
discussions on the JABB YG!
7. The discovery of new and exciting ways to
imbibe caffeine. ;-)
8. Writing in Baby Belle... permanently and not
just in flash forwards!!!
9. Possibly finding out the significance of
Andrew's rose...
10. Rustling up more time to enjoy TBAA, ToD, and
all the rest of John's work... even if for the dozenth,
fiftieth, hundredth time!
11. More soundtracks... whether for JABB stories
or just JABB in general. I miss making those and
reading the song lists from others. Just one of
those things there never seems to be enough time
for. But given I still listen to the ones that are
nearly ten years old... probly worthwhile.
12.
Finding more ways to honor John's legacy and thanking
him for the difference he's made in so many lives.
13. Maybe... just maybe... finally finding the
courage to attempt to make some sort of red velvet
something instead of just writing about all these
amazing sweets.
14. That John Dye and TBAA fans who just need to
talk with people who "get it" find their way to us.
15. Visiting more with our current members and
growing closer as a group.
16. Getting more chances to carry on that all
important message: God loves you. Tons.
So that's it! Once again, happy anniversary to all
of you! Who knows how many more years JABB will be
here but I am certainly glad for the years we've had and
look forward to however many more there are to
come! God bless you all!
*From "Heaven On Their Minds"
from Jesus Christ Superstar by Andrew Lloyd
Webber and Tim Rice. It's not that this song
is hugely significant in "The Carpenter," only that
those are the first spoken words in the show.
This newsletter is
dedicated to John simply for being so amazing,
intriguing, appealing, and awesome that I've been
writing or co-writing these newsletters for fifteen
years and it seems like so many fewer years.
Time flies when you're having fun!
(Photo Credits: The photographs used on this page are
from Touched by an Angel and owned by CBS Productions,
Caroline Productions, and Moon Water Productions. They
are not being used to seek profit.)