Sharring the news, my dear friend, Jimmy, has walked on.

As I embark on a journey tomorrow to fight cancer that you folks have generously made possible, I received news this morning that my dear friend, Jimmy, has passed on. His struggle with lung cancer has ended.

Jimmy was, jokingly, Mayor of Matney, a spot in the curvy road on one of our high surrounding Appalachian Mountains. Loved by everyone and possessing a character of good will and fun, he humored us daily at our ski school. He was a seasoned ski instructor, loved the sport and brought the kind of discipline and fun to his work that clients appreciate, especially those big groups of folks he could entertain so well.

He was a member of our 'esteemed' board of directors of pro women and men seniors, serving as vice-president. A little explanation; although being a professional ski instructor may seem from the outside like a glamorous profession, in reality, it's arduous work even on Bluebird days with classes lasting all day or running consecutively--hour-after hour--and dealing with the demands of a general public, and being an amateur psychologist in calming down the inner fear beginners and intermediates bring to the slopes.

When it's 20 below with the winds howling, we often ask, "why are we doing this?"

We have a large school, very large for an East Coast resort and for years we've had a number of senior citizens like Jimmy and I; with Andre being the oldest at 82. Andre is French, he is the BOD's ambassador.

Our board consists of all us old timers who meet almost every late afternoon for Apres-ski. ZT is chairman of the board. We enjoy drinks together, bitch about the mountain management at times, but mostly relive the fresh memories of the day's classes including our triumphs, the breakthroughs we so enjoy seeing our clients make and of course laugh a lot as skis don't like surprises, we see very unusual things.

Usually, big laughs and hugs make the day. It's a rare camaraderie that respects the discipline, appreciates the work and years of teaching experience we luckily share. We are closer than family in many ways.

Spoke with Jimmy by phone on Tuesday. He had been home about two weeks--having endured more than three months of heavy chemo and radiation-his oncologist had told him he was good to go and to return in three months.

Jimmy's voice was strong; he was very happy and planning for the future, so his passing comes as an unexpected shock to us all.

I'll never make heads nor tails of why this life is...

But I feel this, deeply: Jimmy's spirit will live on and I expect it to return and pick up where he left off, leaving the world around him with a daily smile and friendly encouragement as is his custom.

Once at an afternoon board meeting, some non-skiing friends of Jimmy's from out of state paid a visit. They were pulling his leg about old times rehashing shared memories of their youth together.

One of those friends pushed Jimmy about his skills on a pair of skis, asking him while looking around at us, "Jimmy tells us that he can ski really fast, really fast, can he?"

I answered, "yes, I know that to be true because when we are racing, every time I look over my shoulder, I see Jimmy there."

Everyone broke in-half with laughter and Jimmy proudly recalled that moment of a few years ago often. He loved a good joke, even at his expense.

Thanks c99p members for letting me share this sweet memory of my pal and thanks for your ongoing support.

Peace and love to All. s7

Note; Don't think I'll have time to respond to any comments this afternoon, maybe later.

The Board is singing for you, Mr. Mayor.

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smiley7's picture

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Martha Pearce-Smith's picture

Let us not cling to mourning,
Do not stand on the grave and weep.
They are not there. They do not sleep.
They are the winds that blow.
They are the diamond glints on the snow.
They are the sunlight opened grain.
They are the gentle autumn's rain.

When you awaken in the morning's hush
They are the swift uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight.
They are the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand on the grave and cry.
They are not there. They did not die.

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Ciganka's picture

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It gets on my nerves, and you know how I am about my nerves...

Martha Pearce-Smith's picture

I wish I had, I wish I knew who did. It has always been of great comfort to me.

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Ciganka's picture

I believe that I will rewrite it, and perhaps take it on my Monday visit - perhaps even translate it in Serbo-Croatian.

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It gets on my nerves, and you know how I am about my nerves...

triv33's picture

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I shave my legs with Occam's Razor~

Raggedy Ann's picture

That was a beautiful remembrance. You will miss your friend. Condolences.

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"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

So sorry.

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your fellow travelers on this journey.

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joe shikspack's picture

i am sorry to hear of your loss, but happy that you had such a dear friend that brought so much to your life.

good luck with your treatment tomorrow, i hope everything goes incredibly well.

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PastorAgnostic's picture

In my misbegotten yute, I was in Quebec, to ski.

The snow had fallen, and fallen hard. There was no chance for Avalanche control that early.

One ski patrol and I headed east to a XXX slope, and we were stunned.

Think of a deep, steep, and surrounded by pine and maple valley. Across from you was a row of smaller hills, and trees, and well, a deep blue sky. Oh, yes, and the rising sun.

Big, bright, yellow, blinding, and then . . . . The wind blew. An early morning gust, quite possibly because the sun began to warm the air.

Every tree was filled with powdery snow, and the gust began to blow it into the valley. Until then, the deepest part of the valley was totally black. Pitch dark. Unlit.

Just at that moment, the sun was smack, dab in the middle, above the blackest, Deepest, darkest center of the valley, and the snow blowing off the trees filled the valley below. Just then, the sun (a very low sun, just above the ridge in front of us) hit the snow in the black valley, and reflected off of it.

We sat there for a long time, seeing two equally bright Suns, one on top, and one in the center of the valley's black center. It was magical.

Some day, I will sketch or paint that memory. It was . . . . . . . . .

It is a fitting thought about one loved one who skied.

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McGahee220's picture

I am very sorry for your loss. You are in my thoughts.

Best,

Phillip.

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"About every eight decades, coincident and after the most stressful and perilous events in US history - Revolutionary and Civil Wars, Great Depression, and WWII - a new ... group-oriented & civic-minded generation emerges to change America.

my dear old friend, sorry to hear about your good friend Jimmy, he will never leave you. He made your life a joy, that is reflected in your reminiscence of your time with him. Celebrate that time.

Now go, go with your friend's spirit within you, go to Knoxville, let his spirit guide you on and through the journey you now face. And come back well, for Jimmy, for your family, and for your friends here.

Peace to you, my brother.

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seefleur's picture

and so hard to lose them. But again, it's lovely to have friends. You and Jimmy were blessed to be friends. Best of luck to you in the coming days and weeks.

Namaste.

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Think off-center.
George Carlin

shaharazade's picture

a friend, a being, someone you love and connected with. My cat Delila a friend for 17 years died last week and although she was not a human it was as if there was a big dark hole that had swallowed up a vital part of my life,and the world around. I have lost people, people I loved and cared about and some I never knew in person and yet they are all sacred and worthy of our sorrow. I bet Jimmy wherever he is is skiing faster then the speed of light. So sorry for your loss and ours. You take care smiley7. We all need you alive and cranking good energy. God speed.

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And I hope tomorrow and all the tomorrows after that are good for you and I wish you a complete healing.

I listened to most of the videos and was really blown away by Santana's "Soul Sacrifice." What a great piece of music and what a great video as well. Thank you for this.

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Beat in the USA.

Unabashed Liberal's picture

on the loss of your dear friend, Jimmy.

Have a safe trip to Knoxville; and, please keep in touch with us here (if you feel up to it).

Also, please check your PM.

Best wishes,

Mollie

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Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.

janis b's picture

All the best for you smiley ...

[video:https://youtu.be/7fVZ3SnUFmY]

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My condolences.

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