When I think of my uncle Jimmy, I think of consistency and resilience. He presented as the same person in each situation in which I encountered him. He never waivered in his values and outlook. He always had a smile and a joke to share. I know he experienced difficulties, but he always seemed to have a positive attitude. I felt assured that things would be okay when I was around him. He shared his wisdom, encouragement and support with me on many occasions. When I needed a summer job, he made sure I had one, even though one of them was digging footings :) He really was there for me through so many of my life experiences. I was too young to be in the hospital room, but Jimmy was in the room when my mom passed away, and I will never forget what he shared with me that he saw in that room. She had been paralyzed on one side of her body for a week with cancer ravaging her spine. Jimmy said, the moment she passed away, she looked up, placed both hands, even the paralyzed one, over her heart, and smiled. Sharing that memory with me exemplifies Jimmy's encouraging, supportive manner. I can only imagine his smile seeing his wife, my mom, and all the rest of the family smiling at him!
