Last night, September 1, 2016, some of us in the Bay Area gathered at a restaurant in Sausalito called Salito that, according to Sha Sha, had been a favorite of Jim's. Sha Sha, Albert, Patrick, Marilyn, Doug and I said good bye to this lovely man. Marilyn brought the champagne for toasting. Sha Sha brought photos and put on a small Indonesian 'cord cutting' ceremony to release his spirit from earthbound ties to the universe. We all shared memories.
I offered this little ode.
I miss dear old Jim, kinda family, kinda cousin
Never knew quite exactly what relation to call him.
He was caring, he was smart
Sometimes sweet, sometimes tart
He played many parts, did my relative Jim.
He loved beer, but ‘twas fattening, so he usually drank wine
No matter who with, he liked having a good time.
He was handsome, he was dapper
He liked telling old tales
Would not suffer fools, liked to flirt with the girls
He took great care of ShaSha, she so needed his love
Something her family was a little shy of
They were good pals, you know
He taught her to sew
Now that’s a stepfather a girl can be proud of
I’m sorry he’s gone, that he bonked his poor noggin.
The Panama Hotel’s not the same now he’s gonnin.
Sitting there in the patio
I’d ask what I wanted to know
Were it not up to me, he’d still be there talkin’.
Good bye dear old Jim. Say hello to them all
To Jules, my old Maggie, hope you’re having a ball.
We toast you down here.
Can you hear us all cheer.
You had fun. You were loved. What else counts after all?
With all my love, Mary