Jeremy Michael Whetung - Online Memorial Website

Please don't look so sad, Mama, please don't cry-
cause I am in the arms of Jesus and He sings me lullabies
Please, try not to question God, don't think he is unkind.
Don't think he sent me to you, and then He changed his mind.
You see, I am a special child and I am needed up above.
I'm the special gift you gave Him, the product of your love.
I'll always be there with you. Watch the sky at night...
find the brightest star that is gleaming, that is my halo's brillant light.
You'll see me in the morning frost that mists your window pane.
That's me in the summer showers. I'll be dancing in the rain.
When you feel a little breeze, from the gentle wind that blows, that's me
planting a kiss on your nose.
When you see a child playing and your heart feels a little tug, that's me,
I'll be there, giving your heart a hug.
So , please don't look so sad, Mama don't you cry., please don't look so sad, Mama, please don't cry-
cause I am in the arms of Jesus and He sings me lullabies.

Hi “Gammie” Whetung,

I remember you always wanted friends of Jeremy to call you that each year at his memorial service.

I can’t imagine what this time of year is like for you and your family. I find myself thinking of Jeremy at the most unpredictable times; I never know when he is going to pop up in my thoughts. Sometimes he makes me laugh, thinking of how he loved to “raise all hell” at the back of Miss Devlin’s classroom. It makes me smile to think of how shy he was presenting me with a Beanie Baby bunny the summer we were “going out” wayyyy back in grade six. Sometimes I get overwhelmingly sad to know he will never experience the things I do as I go through life, to know he will never have a Facebook profile on which I can look him up, I will never wonder “what that guy is up to.”

I wrote this little poem (more so a list of memories)  last year around this time when I got thinking about how few solid, complete memories I have of Jeremy. Then, as I started writing, I realized I had more than I thought. It summarizes “highlights” of my whole relationship with Jeremy from our first day of grade 3 until January 19^th, 2005. I thought I would share it with you because I remember you were always so open with us, Jeremy’s St. Paul’s friends, and always wanted to share your day of memorial with us. I miss those services at St. Peter’s. I miss having the option of talking about him to people who knew him, since I now live away from home.

I think of your family often. The memorial website is beautiful. I hope you can enjoy a few more memories of Jeremy from the perspective of someone who had a stormy friendship with him that was thoroughly childish in its immaturity, but also sweet and honest for that reason.

Take care,

Jacquie Watkins

I wish I hadn’t thrown your hat that day; you were new and thought my desk was yours.

I wish I hadn’t ratted you out that day when Mrs. Millage caught us giggling.

I wish I had checked “yes” that day when you passed the note; my sly “maybe” drove you nuts.

I wish you had let me catch you that day; you were so fast and couldn’t spare me the victory in a single game of tag.

I wish we’d caught each other’s eyes that day when we danced in the gym; we were too shy.

I wish I had returned your kiss that day, but I turned my head and you only caught my cheek.

I wish you’d invited me to your desk for lunch that day, but I had dumped you two weeks before and you wouldn’t speak to me.

I wish I hadn’t rolled my eyes that day; Graduation was boring and you tried to make it fun.

I wish I had danced with you at Grade 8 Grad, but we were “so over” and I laughed at the request.

I wish I hadn’t told you to “just shut up!” that day; it was the last thing I ever said to you, and I really didn't mind your cocky banter.

I can still remember your phone number, but why can’t I remember what we talked about all summer?

I can remember how I stepped on your toe when we hugged, but why can’t I remember what you smelled like?

Footsies underneath the desk, tickle fights on the sly, running round and round the playground; you’d look back and flash that goofy grin, knowing I could never keep up.

Someone’s baseball knocked against my mouth; you were the first to rush to my side and put your arm around me.

First love?

No,

But yours was the first sweaty hand I ever felt grasp my own.

 

The snow is here again and your not here it isn't fair we had so much more to do. So many ways to laugh at ourselves, others wouldn't understand. I watched the snow fall today and I could see where you cleared out the area so I could watch the animals on the back field, the sun was shinning on the fire pit you made for me, just like diamonds in the snow. I remember watching you carry those heavy rocks to make the pit, they weighed as much as you...even when you were small, you always tried to tackle things twice your size...and just have that big Jeremy smile on your face when you finished. When I see the butterflies I think of you, always moving, doing something...I see the bear and I think of the strength you had...I see the deer and they remind me of how alert you were to others needs...when I hear the wolves at night, I think of how important your family was to you...then I see Framus, he is always wanting to be huged ,and it feels good to hug him because you did...that last night you were here at my home, I remember how sweet you smelled...good old AXE...and your little razor stubble...I never got to tease you about growing up, because you never did, we still had so much left to do...my love for you is forever...

I think of Jeremy when the first snow falls. He loved the winter, he introduced me to a snowmobile and to this day when I get on one and I giver some gas I can't help but giggle uncontrolably. He taught me how to lean the right way around corners, unfortunately I wasnt to fast at learning and I leaned the wrong way and fell off. Jeremey Helped me up and made me get back on.

 

Come to think of it he taught me how to shoot, and lol he took my friend and I out on a little tin boat with a tiny motor. The motor failed on us and we were taking on alot of water. I bailed water while they paddled us back to shore... we bantered back and forth who was the fat one sinking the boat on the way back up to the top of the road.

 

He's in the water, sky and earth, and as the seasons change he grows and changes with us, and one day we will join him and be one with all of those we have lost.

 

Until that day we will all remember Jeremy and those we have lost and live every day in their name.