Loss

The honest, honorable, funny, intelligent and able seaman, a retired Navy Captain who married us, is gone.

My antannae were off because of the layoff, but something told me I had to call his wife, now his widow. We talked for a while and she’s OK, bolstered by three sons, their wives and a cadre of grandkids.

These folks were like parents to me, so when Jim and I decided to marry, we asked him to officiate, and her to sign the certificate. Capt. J said he would write the vows himself and I typed it up for him and made it easy to read.

All I can say is that the day we asked them was a humbling one. But the marriage has stuck and we’ll celebrate nine years in a couple of weeks. Last time we talked, J was in the hospital and I told him who I was and he said, “Oh, yes, I wore a nice suit.” And that he did.

I will do everything I can to get to the burial on hallowed grounds where he will be at home and later joined by his love, a story that may deserve a hallowed status and even storybook rights, not mine. Now my thoughts are with his wife and family and all those who serve and have served our country. Respectfully, Dee