Jimi's 10 year Victory Celebration

[Bliss Doubt]

Today we convene for a 10 year victory blow-out celebration with @Jimi, given by

@SnapDragon NY
@gopher_byrd
@2WhiteWolves
@gloopdegurp
@Bliss Doubt
Ninjas

We're a music game friend group, but all of Jimi's many friends on the wider VU forum are invited and encouraged to participate in his surprise celebration party today, with messages, cards, songs, jokes, food, whatever you want to bring.

10 years ago a bear called Jimi was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. With bravery and determination, Jimi refused to give in to despair. He rejected the so called "cures" offered by the conventional medical racket, and decided to keep his own counsel, with the loving support of his wife Jean. Not only did Jimi defeat the diagnosis, but made it his avocation to help others deal with their health challenges, with the research he does every day, and posts on his VU thread "Jimi's Daily Health Articles".

Jimi's own healing protocol of prayer, diet, carefully chosen natural supplements, exercise and perseverance, has given him ten more years of life so far, since the time of that diagnosis. That's a great start.

Today we'll celebrate with Jimi with the things we all love: friendship, fun, music, food, humor, and the joy of a summer day spent lazing in the sun and being together.

We can start the festivities with some music:

To mark the victory: "I will not be leaving quietly" by Five Times August

To mark the 10 year milestone: Band, Ten Years After. Song "I'd Love to Change the World"

To mark the promise that holds Jimi in good stead, "There Shall be Showers of Blessings", Willie Nelson

When any one of us heals, that healing goes into the world as a promise, as a force. "Heal the World", Michael Jackson

One of Jimi's favorite songs, his view of the world he inhabits: "What a Wonderful World", Louis Armstrong

For this two day event, SnapDragon NY has thrown open her home. We'll have a pool party, lunch, vapes, leisure time, and finally the victory celebration dinner.

Keep tuned.

 

[Bliss Doubt]

First our music game friend group stopped inside Snap's home to have our family pic taken for the occasion:



And handed Jimi the cards we made (though it doesn't mean Jimi's many forum friends can't stroll up today and post more cards to him):






Music for card reading time (gotta have it):

"My friend the Witch Doctor" by David Seville, another of Jimi's frequent posts on the music game thread:

Jimi & Joplin are a music match. "Piece of my heart".

"10 out of 10", Baby Shark

Keep your hands to yourself - Georgia Satellites

Rock & Roll Music to the world. Jimi loves rock & roll, and the band name is about today, Ten Years After:

 

[Bliss Doubt]

With formalities done, it's time to party. Our beautiful lake front venue, thanks to SnapDragon NY:



As you can see, we have poolside refreshments: assorted cocktails, some just fresh organic juice, others spiked, plenty of juicy watermelon. There is the bottle of limited release Bear Fight Whiskey provided by Snap:



Jimi is goin' in:



Bears like pools. This guy isn't even happy to stay in the kiddie pool. Wants to know what that big pool with the deep end is all about:

The party play list includes some of Jimi's favorite songs, and songs we have chosen for the occasion:

Black Betty by Ram Jam

Running Bear and Little White Dove - Johnny Preston

Too darn hot - Irene & her Latin Jazz Band

Baby keep smilin' - Compay Segundo w/ Lou Bega

After sun and fun, it's time for lunch.

Open toast sandwiches for all of us kiddies at heart, some sweet, some savory, some fruity, some veggy:



Potato salad, tomato salad with plenty of fresh herbs:



Pizza!



And Jimi's celebration cake. Any bear, or anybody at all, will love this almond flour shortbread cake with macadamia nuts, cherries and berries:

It's all vegan Jimi, so eat your fill.

 

[Bliss Doubt]

As the afternoon advances, the sun becomes strong and hot, so after lunch we find a shady place to sip some of that Bear Fight Whiskey so generously provided by Snap, and create our own cloud cover with our vapes. The afternoon is free for each to do what comes naturally, a walk by the lake, a nap, dangle your feet in the pool, play cards, whatever it is. Life is good.



Wolfie's card to Jimi came with the invitation to a soft interlude, an easy lazy day, a nap if he wants one, not because he's brought low by pain or fatigue. Just a natural snooze after lunch, rarely available to hard working Jimi, for the enjoyment of being in a beautiful place, among friends.



Bears like naps.

If Jimi does decide to grab that nap, it isn't hard to imagine he might dream of his healing garden, a place of hard work to be sure, but a happy place. An important part of Jimi's victory protocol is trusting and enjoying organic food he grows himself.





Although Jimi's friends love hearing about and seeing photos of his planting, growing, harvesting, canning and cooking in his "Garden Time" thread, we wish for him a carefree day of happiness, a day without burdens, chores or concerns.

Drinking from the garden hose?

Or maybe that nap time will take Jimi to dreams of his beautiful bride and life partner Jean:

Joe Cocker - "You are so Beautiful"

Ten Years After, "Love Like a Man"

 

[Bliss Doubt]

We can only speculate about how Jimi the bear came to be living among the humans, helping the humans, living as an example of faithful love, intelligence, resourcefulness, strength and determination, and healing.

This little guy was orphaned, maybe during bear hunting season, or by a car/bear accident, or maybe he just got distracted and was separated from his mama bear. This one isn't Jimi. This one grows up to have black fur with the white fur "necklace". When he was rescued he was too young to even know how to walk yet, but you see how the exchange of love and trust between him and his human care givers was immediate and enduring. Bear love is why we have fairytales for children featuring bears, stuffed teddy bears, why Smokey the Bear cautions us not to burn down his home, why Yogi Bear is better remembered than Huckleberry Hound (star of the 1958 cartoon series where Yogi got his start).

This article about the symbolism of the bear in our culture will resonate with all who have had the pleasure of knowing Jimi as our friend in the VU forum:

Bear Symbolism & Meaning | Spirit, Totem & Power Animal

The most in-depth Bear Symbolism & Bear Meanings! Bear as a Spirit, Totem, & Power Animal. Plus, Bear in Celtic & Native American Symbols and Bear Dreams!

whatismyspiritanimal.com

All of this is to say that the bear, strong in human consciousness, probably found Jimi before Jimi found the bear. We may never know, but as an avatar, the fit is perfect.

Jimi, thank you for the bear love you bring, thank you for the human warmth, friendship and caring.

 

[Bliss Doubt]

It's time for the victory celebration dinner. After being outdoors all day, we gather around the table in Snap's big air conditioned kitchen. On the menu, all vegan of course, since Jimi eats vegan with very few exceptions, as part of his healing protocol:

Salad tray, choose what you want, dress it the way you want, or just choose crunchy veg appetizers:



Mushrooms bourguignon in rich wine gravy. The big ones are portobello, the smaller ones shitake. Goes great with mashed potatoes. We know Jimi likes his taders. There is crusty bread to sop the sauce of course:



Wine, juice, Bear Fight Whiskey, all to toast ten years of victory over that diagnosis that most people consider a death sentence. Coffee and tea too, of course.

And now we can get serious about some dessert. Banana splits made only with bananas, berries, almonds, vegan whipped topping, a sprinkling of dark chocolate chips:



Our dinner music play list:

For a moment of reflection on where you've been and how you navigated to where you are now, ten years after a devastating diagnosis, gloopdegurp recommended "Bridge over Troubled Waters" by Simon & Garfunkel.

Give me love, give me peace on earth - George Harrison. We know you love it, Jimi.

Counting my blessings, Seph Schlueter

Now let's have what we all dig: "I dig rock & roll music" from Peter, Paul & Mary:

To conclude this long day of celebration, after dinner, dessert, coffee and brandy, Goph offers this, remembered by those who attended the legendary music festival Woodstock, as one of the best performances there. Again this is Ten Years After, the group name that resonates with what we have celebrated today. Song "Going Home to my Baby":

We thank Snap for a beautiful place to gather and celebrate this joyous occasion.

Jimi, keep going. Keep doing what you love, stay in victory, hold onto your faith, because this world is a better place with you in it. Your friendship is treasured, your research is valued, your humor is priceless. Your friends wish you another 30 years, by which time we will have discovered an elixir or some forgotten science that will let us live to those biblical ages, 150 years, 200 years.

 

[Bliss Doubt]

All music for this party was curated by the music game thread family.

Yall come, eat up, drink up, plunge into the pool, have some fun, give your best wishes to Jimi on 10 years of defeating the cancer diagnosis, his way.

 

[2WhiteWolves]

CELEBRATION

 

[gopher_byrd]

@Jimi Congratulations on fighting that beast for 10 years and proving all the doctors wrong! I hope you enjoy your party my friend!

 

[Jimi]

We can only speculate about how Jimi the bear came to be living among the humans, helping the humans, living as an example of faithful love, intelligence, resourcefulness, strength and determination, and healing.

This little guy was orphaned, maybe during bear hunting season, or by a car/bear accident, or maybe he just got distracted and was separated from his mama bear. This one isn't Jimi. This one grows up to have black fur with the white fur "necklace". When he was rescued he was too young to even know how to walk yet, but you see how the exchange of love and trust between him and his human care givers was immediate and enduring. Bear love is why we have fairytales for children featuring bears, stuffed teddy bears, why Smokey the Bear cautions us not to burn down his home, why Yogi Bear is better remembered than Huckleberry Hound (star of the 1958 cartoon series where Yogi got his start).

This article about the symbolism of the bear in our culture will resonate with all who have had the pleasure of knowing Jimi as our friend in the VU forum:

Bear Symbolism & Meaning | Spirit, Totem & Power Animal

The most in-depth Bear Symbolism & Bear Meanings! Bear as a Spirit, Totem, & Power Animal. Plus, Bear in Celtic & Native American Symbols and Bear Dreams!

whatismyspiritanimal.com

All of this is to say that the bear, strong in human consciousness, probably found Jimi before Jimi found the bear. We may never know, but as an avatar, the fit is perfect.

Jimi, thank you for the bear love you bring, thank you for the human warmth, friendship and caring.

No thank all of you, for your friendship helped me to still be here

 

[Jimi]

It's time for the victory celebration dinner. After being outdoors all day, we gather around the table in Snap's big air conditioned kitchen. On the menu, all vegan of course, since Jimi eats vegan with very few exceptions, as part of his healing protocol:

Salad tray, choose what you want, dress it the way you want, or just choose crunchy veg appetizers:

View attachment 226241

Mushrooms bourguignon in rich wine gravy. The big ones are portobello, the smaller ones shitake. Goes great with mashed potatoes. We know Jimi likes his taders. There is crusty bread to sop the sauce of course:

View attachment 226242

Wine, juice, Bear Fight Whiskey, all to toast ten years of victory over that diagnosis that most people consider a death sentence. Coffee and tea too, of course.

And now we can get serious about some dessert. Banana splits made only with bananas, berries, almonds, vegan whipped topping, a sprinkling of dark chocolate chips:

View attachment 226243

Our dinner music play list:

For a moment of reflection on where you've been and how you navigated to where you are now, ten years after a devastating diagnosis, gloopdegurp recommended "Bridge over Troubled Waters" by Simon & Garfunkel.

Give me love, give me peace on earth - George Harrison. We know you love it, Jimi.

Counting my blessings, Seph Schlueter

Now let's have what we all dig: "I dig rock & roll music" from Peter, Paul & Mary:

To conclude this long day of celebration, after dinner, dessert, coffee and brandy, Goph offers this, remembered by those who attended the legendary music festival Woodstock, as one of the best performances there. Again this is Ten Years After, the group name that resonates with what we have celebrated today. Song "Going Home to my Baby":

We thank Snap for a beautiful place to gather and celebrate this joyous occasion.

Jimi, keep going. Keep doing what you love, stay in victory, hold onto your faith, because this world is a better place with you in it. Your friendship is treasured, your research is valued, your humor is priceless. Your friends wish you another 30 years, by which time we will have discovered an elixir or some forgotten science that will let us live to those biblical ages, 150 years, 200 years.

View attachment 226244

Awe thank you all for the wonderful party and wishes, you made my day so happy.
Honestly I owe my success to the support I have gotten from my wife and everyone here, thank you all.

 

[Bliss Doubt]

Delivery for @SnapDragon NY: Breakfast, to make day 2 of Jimi's 10 year celebration a little easier for the hostess with the mostest:

 

[Bliss Doubt]

Well, nobody ever accused me of thinking about food all the time (lying through my hungry teeth).

It is almost noon in the time zone where this party is taking place, so time to set up lunch and music while everybody teleports in. How about some food inspired songs?

Jambalaya on the bayou
-Hank Williams

Savoy truffle
-Ella Fitzgerald

Saturday night fish fry
-Louis Jordan

Chocolate
-Kylie Minogue

Watermelon man
-Poncho Sanchez

Day 2 lunch is Mexican themed. We have a special drink for Jimi to try, the Pomegranate Paloma, made with tequila, lime juice, pomegranate juice (the most delicious juice in the world), grapefruit sparkling water, salt for the glass rim, rosemary for garnish. We'll give Jimi a virgin one, no tequila:



Then, a DIY taco bar. The taco filling is made of a mixture of mashed potatoes and falafel mix, seasoned with garlic, cumin, salt and chili powder, spread out on a sheet, baked to tender but not crispy, then chopped, topped with a few grilled peppers & onions. Help yourself to all the toppings and salsa. And we have a DIY nacho bar, using vegan cheese. Don't worry Jimi, we've got u.



For dessert, assorted empanadas, filled with pineapple, guava or Boston creme, all vegan. Those who want can dust theirs with powdered sugar.



But like mom & dad always said, swim first, eat afterwards, so everybody in the pool!



Who is that mermaid? Maybe Snap knows. I guess creatures sneak in from the lake sometimes.

 

[misswish]

What a wonderful party for you, Jimi! Great friends to help you celebrate, you are so loved.

 

[Jimi]

What a wonderful party for you, Jimi! Great friends to help you celebrate, you are so loved.

Thank you my friend

 

[Jimi]

That pomegranate tequila drink sounds fantastic and tequila is one of my favorites, wait..... who am I tryin to kid I love all drinks

 

[Jimi]

Ya know, when this first happened, I never thought I would see this day but the more I learned about eatin healthy and the use of herbs/spices has shown me a way, but what has really helped me is the support I get from my friends and family, thank you and bless you all.

 

[Lady Sarah]

Congratulations @Jimi

 

[Freyja]

 

[Bliss Doubt]

That pomegranate tequila drink sounds fantastic and tequila is one of my favorites, wait..... who am I tryin to kid I love all drinks

Okay, we'll make you one with tequila, but we don't want you to get drunk like yesterday.

Just kidding!

 

[Jimi]

Congratulations @Jimi

Thank you my Friend

 

[Jimi]

View attachment 226270

Thank you my Friend

 

[Bliss Doubt]

With regret, I have to teleport out before dinner, but everything is prepped already, waiting in the kitchen for the final touches, for whenever Snap thinks it's time to ring the dinner bell.

Artichoke salad, and peppers stuffed with walnut and brown rice filling:



Buffalo sauced cauliflower "wings", and pasta with truffle sauce and fresh basil.



Nothing needs to be said about these time honored symbols of a gathering, other than "a loaf of bread, a cup of wine, and you my love beside me".



For dessert, a flourless vegan chocolate cake with whipped coconut cream and summer berries:



This time has been precious. We hope this occasion returns again and again as the years fly.

Here is a small play list for gentle egress and a safe journey home. Anybody can feel free to stroll up and post more music you believe is appropriate for dinner, or for the happy but sad farewell.

Red red wine
-UB40

Spiritual
-Charlie Haden, Hank Jones

@SnapDragon NY, thank you again for the generous hospitality. I believe we will never forget the time we have shared at your beautiful home.

 

[Jimi]

Thank You All for the encouragement and support

 

[Bliss Doubt]

Special delivery for @SnapDragon NY from all the music game family, with thanks for her unparalleled, gracious hospitality.

 

[Bliss Doubt]

@Jimi

It's a new dawn, it's a new day...

 

[Bliss Doubt]

.