James,
From my heart,
and from the heart of everyone that knew you,
You are one of the few best friends I’ve ever known.
Ever.
Today, I learned you left this Earth.
…
It is inconceivable that you are no longer here to share life experience, humor and insight with the people around you.
You were wise beyond your years and with sound character.
The world is at a loss.
Everyone you’ve ever known will miss you for the rest of our lives.
Tell Victor that He is loved and missed more than he knew was possible.
As you were.
James was nine years younger than me, but I always looked up to him.
Both metaphorically in his sage demeanor,
and physically in his stature.
I'm six feet tall, but he could see over my head.
And he always had my back.
In conflict, he demonstrated Warrior Zen without claiming the knowledge thereof.
It’s just who he was.
There are countless times when he showed the way of the Zen Master without identifying or subscribing to the title.
The last time I saw him, he was about to move out of Juneau.
He was about to sell his prized possession, his red Mazda Miata.
(Convertible of course.)
I never knew why he drove that thing until that day.
He drove us up N Douglas highway
with both of our heads poking out above the windshield.
Like two grown men in a toy car.
He had a genuine gift at humor in life,
but we were laughing from the moment we climbed into that grown-up go-kart.
From the moment of takeoff,
the absurdity of the physical dynamics was combined with childlike joy
as he brought the power of that engine to those tiny wheels.
It brought a remembrance of younger years
that now, looking back,
strikes such a great pain
at his loss and at his age.
I never knew why he drove that thing until that day.
Though he did drive fast, he wasn’t reckless.
His calculation was trusted and flawless.
It was the last time he would make that drive
and in that car,
and I’m here to tell you,
…it was glorious.
He was so happy, and we laughed till no end.
As a good friend,
he gave great insight and advice, but only when solicited,
which is such a wise characteristic, rarely exhibited.
They say wisdom comes with age,
but James had a way of making sense of senseless situations.
He was an unpublished philosopher.
In his chosen career path of Safety and Security, primarily in the field of healthcare,
he always demonstrated a cool and calm approach.
Countless times, he exhibited a serenity and acceptance of the incomprehensible
in order to achieve the best desirable outcome for everyone involved.
Most of the scenarios he faced are unimaginable to the general public.
(Many stories, Brother, Many stories.)
We still tell them to this day.
Your memory lives on.
James had a natural temperament that made him great at his job,
which he worked far too much,
for so many years,
but rarely for himself,
and always for his kids.
Sleep was a luxury he could rarely afford.
and indulgence was something he tried to avoid.
After leaving Alaska, he found a home in Wisconsin with actual weather seasons and proximity to his family.
After 10 years of friendship, he was the happiest that I’ve ever known him to be.
He always encouraged me to visit.
Now I’m wishing so badly we had.
James,
You are one of the few best friends I’ve ever known.
Ever.
Everyone you’ve ever known will miss you for the rest of our lives.
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