I know I don't post around here much anymore, but I did post about my father in law a few times back in the day..he has been fighting stage 4 lung cancer for over 5 years. This morning his fight came to an end.
Jim really stepped into a "Dad" role for me when my own parents douched out and disappeared. I talked to him on the phone for hours when I was buying our house. We planned a family vacation to Italy/greece together by sending each other about a million emails (me and him did most of the actual planning) and he gave me lots of career advice when I was on the job market.
I don't think I'll be asked to speak at his funeral, but if I was I would tell this story: In 2009 we took a trip to europe. On our stop in ancient olympia Jim wanted to come and see the ruins, but he was on an oxygen machine and we had to leave him to rest at the entrace while we did the tour. When we came back he had a new BFF- a friend he had made who also couldn't handle the walk. Jim already knew his whole life story. That was typical Jim.
The whole time I knew him he was dying, he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer about 3 months before I ever met him, but instead of sitting around moping about the things he couldn't do, he went out and traveled the world (literally he's been on like 15 cruises at least in the last 5 years) and was always chatting up strangers and making friends with everyone. He was my role model of what a happy person and loving parent is like. I am so disappointed and sad that my children will not get to know him.
Much love to you, B, his mom and Jim's friends and family.
