Mattie's Blog and his Fight Against Osteosarcoma

Thank you for keeping Mattie's memory alive!

Dear Mattie Blog Readers,

It means a great deal to me that you take the time to write and to share your thoughts, feelings, and reflections on Mattie's battle and death. Your messages are very meaningful and help support me through very challenging times. I am forever grateful. As my readers know, I promised to write the blog for a year after Mattie's death, which would mean that I could technically have stopped writing on September 9, 2010. However, like my journey with grief there is so much that still needs to be processed and fortunately I have a willing support network still committed to reading. Therefore, the blog continues on. If I should find the need to stop writing, I assure you I will give you advanced notice. In the mean time, thank you for reading, thank you for having the courage to share this journey with me, and most importantly thank you for keeping Mattie's memory alive.

As Mattie would say, Ooga Booga (meaning, I LOVE YOU)! Vicki

March 14, 2021

Sunday, March 14, 2021

Sunday, March 14, 2021

Tonight's picture was taken in March of 2005. This was not an unusual sighting in our home. Yes we had rolls of painters tape available! Mattie loved tape and used it for all sorts of things. Creating streets and tracks on our floors was one of its uses! Naturally you need these lines when creating intricate play schemes with cars, trains, and other vehicles! After Mattie died, I can still remember how empty our home felt. It took a very very long time to accept that quiet change, but his presence and the life he brought to every situation will always be missed.

Quote of the day: Today's coronavirus update from Johns Hopkins.

Number of people diagnosed with the virus: 29,432,952
Number of people who died from the virus: 534,810

I have been on a tear this weekend! Yesterday I wrote to the Mayor's office about encampments and today I went around snapping photos of graffiti in my neighborhood. I have reported this twice before and I am hoping three times is a charm. In fact, some areas in the city get hit with graffiti often, so why not have a crew circulate around the city to address this? Why must residents be the ones to report these hot spots? I see our neighboring cities being pro-active with graffiti, why not DC?

Isn't this hateful? This walk sits right in from of the US Department of State. I think it is criminal and truly offensive. I reported this months ago, but to no avail, the graffiti remains!

Meanwhile, I have had several frustrating email conversations with the Mayor's office. I understand they are complying with the CDC guidelines, which states that encampments should not be moved during the pandemic. Nonetheless, as I stated, I feel like tax paying residents have little to no power on maintaining and improving the safety and health within their neighborhoods. This issue, along with graffiti, are hot buttons for me. I also believe that supplying tents, brooms, gloves, and other items to the homeless are bandaids. This is not a long term or viable solution to help people get off the streets, to have access to mental health services that are needed, and to become productive members of our society. Something needs to change and though my letters will accomplish nothing, I still feel passionate to write them.