Wednesday, February 14, 2018
Dear Ann-Marie,
I was shocked and deeply-saddened to hear from ‘the girls’ about Jim’s passing. I have been Jim’s and your optometrist for quite a while now. My staff always knew that, when Jim was coming in, we would need more time because they knew we’d get carried away and have a good chat...every time. Over the years, we discovered a common bond in our military service...and our reflections on the roles we ‘old’ Cold Warriors played. He rode me mercilessly for my Infantry service and I tried to convey the security you could enjoy ‘laying low’ in a trench versus being a ‘sitting duck’ on the water...LoL! Jim, an hour with you could make my week or month. Annie, you might have been quiet when he got ‘on a roll’ but you always had a way of bringing him back to earth safely. I know he loved you dearly because of how he helped me with my grief over the loss of my own wife and how that dovetailed with my PTSD (can I even mention such a thing?)—not a thing that would ever have entered a conversation with anyone but a ‘brother’ and a fellow soldier. What I want to express to you, Annie, is that Jim was a rare gem of a person and that I and so many others will be sharing your loss. It is a rare person that can make their eye doctor ‘see’ better after a pleasurable hour of conversation! No more pain, Jim. Miss you, Brother.
