Oh Jester. My cousin and my friend. I will never be able to collect a cool rock, drink a 7 Deadly Zins wine, or watch any Marvel Movie without thinking of you. So much of who I am is due to your memory and influence. Sharing sketchbooks, hiding in the hallway closet at Christmas, climbing (and getting stuck in) a number of trees, reaaaaaly late night bonfire chats, boat rides and storm watching at the cabin, building frog sandcastles and catching critters, launching fireworks, comparing agate and quarts finds, leaning how to properly cut a pomegranate, dumping a ton of brownie mix into vanilla ice cream… 

I have this image of your on replay in my head. It will always be the way I remember you. Your cabin hat on, swim trunks, and a zip up sweatshirt, walking up to me on the dock with some kind of mischief written on your face. I can hear the laugh you make when you’re excited for something that Nonnie might not approve of (“the loons are going to have a toot about this”). The one where you wiggle your fingers in the air and stick your tongue out and cackle. Super excited about whatever crazy plan you’re convincing me to be a part of. 

What gets me the most is that my daughter won’t have the joy & privilege of getting to know you. I know you would have been the best teacher and she would have loved your stories. To miss you is an understatement. Our lives will forever be different without you. I will think of you often Jess man. I love you so much and I’ll miss you forever. 

I ended up in the hospital in 2021.Jesse went out of his way to call me when he heard about it.

That call meant a whole lot to me.

My deepest condolences to his family.