Wha's like us? Damn few, and they're a' deid.
.
Jo and I went through to Uncle Jim's funeral yesterday, it was a relatively small gathering of close family & friends but I am glad I could make it.
Funerals are a funny (odd) thing.
There's a bizarre mix of sadness, tears, happy recollections and funny stories, comforting words, singing hymns, a strange feeling of helplessness, and a feeling of going through this together.
Looking back, I'm not sure Jim and I actually clicked, which is strange considering how much we have in common. He loved his cars, and was an avid tinkerer; he was into photography in a big way; his collection of hand-held games was epic by any standards.
I'm fairly sure it was the smell of cigarette smoke that I just couldn't stand, and which eventually killed him.
To be honest, I don't think he was ever the same after his wife died. 30+ years of marriage, and they were together nearly every day.
Going down the aisle, you never think that one day you'll have to say goodbye for the last time, just hope and pray that it'll be sufficiently far in the future to let you have a good crack at life.
Perhaps that's the best thing I can say about Jim. Indeed, anyone, for that matter.
He shared his life with a loving woman; had a good, long run at life; had fun where he could; and had a good send-off from family and friends.
Jo and I went through to Uncle Jim's funeral yesterday, it was a relatively small gathering of close family & friends but I am glad I could make it.
Funerals are a funny (odd) thing.
There's a bizarre mix of sadness, tears, happy recollections and funny stories, comforting words, singing hymns, a strange feeling of helplessness, and a feeling of going through this together.
Looking back, I'm not sure Jim and I actually clicked, which is strange considering how much we have in common. He loved his cars, and was an avid tinkerer; he was into photography in a big way; his collection of hand-held games was epic by any standards.
I'm fairly sure it was the smell of cigarette smoke that I just couldn't stand, and which eventually killed him.
To be honest, I don't think he was ever the same after his wife died. 30+ years of marriage, and they were together nearly every day.
Going down the aisle, you never think that one day you'll have to say goodbye for the last time, just hope and pray that it'll be sufficiently far in the future to let you have a good crack at life.
Perhaps that's the best thing I can say about Jim. Indeed, anyone, for that matter.
He shared his life with a loving woman; had a good, long run at life; had fun where he could; and had a good send-off from family and friends.