"What we have once enjoyed, we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes part of us." -Helen Keller

  

I first met Jim years ago and immediately felt his strength of character. He spoke at the November conferences, and proudly presented his first book. He needed a website, so I invited him to my house to work on one. I was so nervous that I began walking up the stairs to my office without explaining where it was. Jim, behind me, asked, "Debra, just where are we going?" Quite red-faced, I quickly explained I had overhauled an upstairs bedroom for JFK Lancer. I laughed, but gentleman Jim blushed.

Jim was very proud of his latest book and labored mightily on it. In the beginning we were supposed to be co-authors, but I had to turn him down because of my poor health. I read many chapters that we discussed, with me assuring him he didn't need a co-author, that his book was great. I wonder if God gave him grace to complete that task before taking him. 

 

Jim was a man of courage. Anyone that met him felt that. All the years after President Kennedy's death, he was steadfast in his testimony. He was shaken by the events that day, but his determination was to be strong in the truth. At times we would talk about him being the third victim in the assassination events that day. It gave me shivers contemplating what that meant in all its heaviness. 

 

He would shake his head at those that would ignore the truth. He was there. He saw. He was wounded both in his body and mind. But beyond all that, he was a loving husband and father. Standing so close to death, he lived a good life.

 

 I conclude with an old saying that comes to mind as I think of Jim -