Thursdays with Jesse

In the fall semester of our senior year, Jesse and I spent a great deal of time together, because we had all of our courses together. We became a little unit: traveling back and forth between Blake, Cutler, Beveridge, and Schauffler Library, bemoaning our homework load and talking each other through the stress of early decision college applications.

Though this was a stressful time in our lives, we both took great joy in what would happen on Thursday. We would get out of Erik Cooper's AP European History Class (see picture below) at 11:00.

We would promptly sprint up to the dining hall, which had just opened moments ago, where we would walk right past the other food to get to the taco bar which was only there on Thursdays, where we would quickly slap together a taco or two each, grab a cup of coffee, and precariously balance these items in our hands as we rushed to Cutler Science Center for our Environmental Science class, laughing and leaving a little trail of spilt coffee in our wake.

Panting, we would fall into our seats beside each other and wolf down our tacos during the first several minutes of class. Because class was extended on this particular day, our teacher, Becca Leslie, always brought a delicious assortment of doughnuts, which Jesse and I would always happily sample. After class, we would head back up to the dining hall, usually too full to eat (although on occasion we would make nachos at the taco bar) and spend a while just sitting there, stomachs full, enjoying a rare moment of relaxation in that stressful period of our lives.

Also, because I can't resist: us and our final Environmental Science project, the genius of which was fueled on tacos, too much coffee, and our extensive knowledge of eutrophication.

-Lilly Richardson/ Ithaca, NY/ NMH '08

Jesse's Ship

Jesse,

Venture out to explore the far reaches of this universe. How could you resist, strong, brilliant, inspired being. You have moved through this world with grace, curiosity, humor and love, as you will move through every world you visit. Your deep knowledge of your infinite spirit has saturated your steps and will carry you with it. Your wise soul has chosen to bless us with your beauty before moving on to bless others and we thank you from the deepest place in our hearts. Your presence has changed us and has changed the world, as it will change all of the worlds you touch upon. Your presence will continue to change us as we incorporate your wisdom into every step we take. Last night you visited me in a dream. You were on a cruise ship waving goodbye to me. You smiled and rolled your eyes at the drama and absurdity of this choice of vessel for your journey, yet I knew that you were making all of the choices and that you'd chosen this ship just to show me the ever lightness of our journey. I say that I will take you with me into something I'm calling the future. As I say the word you laugh and roll your eyes again.

Until we meet again know how much I love you, how much we love you. Take that with you.

You laugh and roll your eyes at us, loving us back, knowing more than we ever can that you will never leave in the first place.

Forever with you,

Todd

The Pure Light Within You

May the longtime sun shine upon you
All love surround you
And the pure, pure light within you
Guide your way home

Sa - the universe/totality

Ta - life/creation

Na - death/dissolution

Ma= rebirth/regeneration

-a traditional song followed by sanskrit mantra that follows the cycle of life-

Todd Bresnick

Hallowe'en

More dress up! As two tall, bespectacled, scholarly, and polite young men at NMH - who happened to spend most of their time in the library's Reading Room - Jesse and I became sort of a unit. Some called us each others doppelgangers. On Hallowe'en of 2006 we decided to take this to another level and dress up as each other:

It was a lot of fun to see people's delayed reactions; it was commonplace to see us sitting together in the Reading Room, it just took people a minute to realize which of us was which (that's Jesse on the right and me on the left!). On most days between classes we could be seen, dressed as ourselves, seated on the couch or chairs in front of the fireplace. I enjoyed these normal days even more than the Hallowe'en when we switched.

It was great to play with him in our improvisational quartet Meat Pie, our forays to Northfield for Tea Society meetings were made far better by his stately presence, and I wont soon forget this Hallowe’en switch. But what I remember most about my NMH days with Jesse is the assured feeling I got every day when I came into the library and found him already studying there, or came to orchestra rehearsal and rosined my bow next to him and talked about the happenings of the day and the enormous amount of homework we still had for the night. I'm not sure what I'd have done without him.

Harlin Glovacki, Greenfield, MA (NMH '08)

A Perfect Pot of Tea

I think of Jesse every time I make a pot of tea- which is most mornings. Jesse has made me many a pot of tea at Lisa's house in a perfect teapot which he made himself when he was like 11. I remember one time he let me take on the task of the tea making while he got out the shortbread biscuits. I made it a bit too strong under his watch - he kindly kept it to himself how bitter I had made the tea until I myself said it was a bit too strong and he gently said- "well maybe just a little." From that point onward- in the mornings as I spoon the tea in the strainer I think "is this the amount Jesse would put in?"
I think I have gotten it down by now but it is still part of the morning ritual.
Jesse is a joy to chat with and one of my favorite people to have a conversation with, especially of his age, and I have a lot of favorite people of his age- I teach high school because I love people of his age. He is both from another time and in his own way completely contemporary cool- thoughtful and sharp, unique and classic and always interesting. I have always been anxious to hear what is going on in his life, what he is pursuing, what he has seen, what is inspiring him, what is going on in his world. Inevitably he was up to interesting things.
Jesse has enviable style! What other high schooler gets an antique couch reupholstered for a gift and looks for three piece suits at the thrift store? Beyond cool. The last time I was at Lisa's, before moving to Thailand, about half the furniture in her living room was part of Jesse's collection.
Going over to dinner at Lisa's was always a special affair when Jesse was home- the table laid out perfectly and beautifully by Jesse- always elegant. I was always excited for the chance to catch up. Jesse made time to tell me what was going on in his life, join our conversations and listens to the stories of our lives. He is the kind of person who is just fun to be around because his perspective is so unique and so purely - Jesse. And what a great twinkle in his eye!
We have been reaching out to everyone we know to pray for you guys. There are many people out there holding you with a lot of light and love. When we tell your story, Daniel always leads with "Jesse is the kind of person who transforms you when you meet him" and it's true. You are part of our extended family and we love you. You have changed our lives and made them richer by knowing you. Thank you for always being a reminder about how important it is to express your unique self and shine brighter because of it! Thailand feels so very far away right now we wish we were there in body more than anything. We are there with you in spirit for sure and every morning you are with me when I make my pot of tea. You are very much loved by many.
Robin and Daniel

My family and I are praying for you.....JJ Johnson

Dearest Jesse,

I have a few things to say before you go.
First of all, and most important, is that I Love you, and I will always remember you.
Second, I want you to know that I See you. I See you between all these layers of perception and physical limitation. I was frightened of myself, frightened for you, and so I stepped away at first instinctively. But I will not step away now. I love you, and I See you, amidst the pain and the fear and the unknown. I feel I have given you too little credit for the heart, the strength, the courage I know you have, caught up in my own little world of fear and delusion. I have held myself back too often in your presence. You may never know the depth or the breadth of my care for you in any intellectual sense, but I tell you now, once again, that I Love you, that I See you, in the hopes that you will Know this somehow before you go.
Third and perhaps last, I Honor you. I Honor you, Jesse, for this incredible journey you have taken, for your heart, strength and courage throughout. As I told you before, I have been amazed at your tenacity and dignity throughout. And I consider myself Honored to be your friend, and to travel part of this journey with you. We had some splendid fun, and I treasure these memories. They are precious to me, as are you. For I Love you, and I See you, and I will always Honor you.

I bring with me the prayers of your friends. Know that they Love you, that they See you, that they Honor you.
I bring the blessings and prayers of my family: my parents, their significant others and the various and sundry other members of our households. Know that they Honor you, and they Love you because I Love you.
I bring also the prayers of many family friends and connections. Not all of them know you, or even know your name, but they have been praying for you and your family, and they Honor you.

I hope that your last days in this reality are warm, peaceful, and filled with love. Life will not be the same without you. I wish you well — Safe travels and enriching adventures on your next journey and on, into the next cycle. May you pass easily into the beyond, into the unknown and there find rest, renewal, strength, healing and perhaps new life.

Merry Meet and Merry Part and Merry Meet Again, my dear, dear friend.

With love, always,
Your friend,
Emily

Emily Jacke, NMH '08