I don't know how many close friends Jim had, but I'm sure I was one of his closest, and he was one of mine.  He loved playing golf and it really hurt him when he couldn't play as much, and up to his potential.  Most of his RIGC golf friends were only used to seeing him shoot in triple digits over the last few years.  But Jim used to shoot in the 80's and played on the Publinx Tour, many times with his son Mark.  Being that we both owned our own businesses, we could go out together several times during the week and many times battled to the very end.  It was a pattern that he would take the lead in the first 9, then I would battle back to win by a stroke.  But I was there for his hole-in-one that he shot on #2 at Boulder Pointe, over the water with a six iron, two skips and in the hole.

 

Jim and I had two different personalities, which made it interesting that we were so close.  I was loud and extrovertive, he was quiet and meek.  But for some reason we fit.  It was like I was there to bring him out of his shell, and he was there to teach me patience and compassion, especially toward the end.

 

It was hard to watch him deteriorate right before my eyes.  He was a tall, strapping man in great physical shape.  His condition often scared me to think that it could happen to anyone, including me.  It caused me to think how good people are taken from us so early, while bad people continue to exist unscathed.  He was a good one.

 

Over the last several years, anytime Jim would play with his foursome, I would inform them of all the things to look out for to take care of him.  And as frustrating as it became, guiding him around, picking out his clubs, even showing him where the ball was in the fairway when he couldn't see it right in front of him, I never heard our members complain.  And believe me, it was frustrating.  I played with him most of the time the last several years, and there were times I asked the facilitator to put Jim with another group so I could concentrate on my own game.  I would welcome back those times in a minute if he was still here.

 

In the movie Brian' Song, Gale Sayers said, "I love Brian Piccolo and I want you to love him too."  For today, I want you to love Jim too, and remember a man who was taken from us way to early.  I grieve for his family and all who knew him.  The world will not be better with him gone.