goodbye uncle jim

it was with sadness yesterday that i read the email from nicole, informing that her grandfather had died and letting all of us know the funeral arrangements. gisel had emailed earlier in the week to say that he was very ill and in the hospital in sioux falls and so he was already in our thoughts and nicole's mail wasn't entirely a surprise.

but, our sadness isn't really for uncle jim, it's for ourselves, isn't it? those of us who are left behind--especially aunt mary and his children and grandchildren. it's difficult to imagine being sad for him, because it's difficult to imagine a life better lived than his. he surely went knowing he had given his all and satisfied with the mark he had left behind on the world.

his success in farming, the successful children he raised, the huge flock of grandchildren and in turn great grandchildren they have produced. the beautiful home he and mary built and lived in, enjoying the beautiful view of the south dakota prairies stretching out on every side. the stories that make up a rich and long life. there was little else he could have asked for.

he will be missed. i can hear him telling stories of US senators coming to hunt in his drawl. i can hear him laughing. i can picture him dealing out another hand of tell, tho' i'll admit i'm not sure he ever really understood the game. i still laugh remembering some of the answers he came up with in games of balderdash--they almost always involved wildlife or crops or ancient farm implements. 

we were all privileged to have him in our lives and he will be sorely missed, but his life is one that should be celebrated and aspired to.

i hope someone will record the stories that will inevitably be told at his prayer service, funeral and at the family reunion next week. that's the best way to celebrate his life...through laughter and remembering. and passing the stories on.