A Fond Farewell

Most of my day yesterday was spent in the car. I, along with my brother, my dad, and one of my dad's best friends Blake, rode from Columbia to Litchfield, a beach about two and a half hours away. Just for the afternoon.

My parents lost a great friend, Jim. Jim and my dad and Blake and several other guys that my parents are still friends with today all grew up together. So there isn't a time in my life that I don't remember not knowing Jim. He died suddenly a few weeks ago, and judging from yesterday's events, I'd say he touched the lives of thousands.

The memorial, because it was definitely not your typical funeral, was held at Litchfield By The Sea and the clubhouse overlooked the ocean. It was hands down the greatest service anyone could have ever had. We all gathered on the beach and listened to people tell stories and share memories. Then, there was a "21+ Golf Ball Salute." Jim was not in the military, but was an avid golfer. So golf balls were set up along the beach and anyone who wanted to could come down and hit golf balls into the ocean in memory of Jim. Afterwards, we went back in and enjoyed food, an open bar, and lots and lots of catching up. There were people there that my dad had known since grade school and not seen in ages. And it was absolutely perfect; there was plenty of laughter has everyone told funny stories and looked at a picture slide show as well as plenty of tears as everyone shared their thoughts. A little nontraditional as far as funerals go, but Jim wouldn't have had it any other way.

Of course on the way to and from the memorial, Ben and I got to listen to Dad and Blake do some serious reminiscing - there's the time Dad and another guy walked (yes, walked!) from Pawleys to Georgetown because they couldn't get a ride, or the time my dad drove over the seven mile bridge connecting Key West to the mainland in reverse because his car wouldn't go into drive, and the time they all traveled out West and blew all of their money and had to drive straight the whole way home from Las Vegas because they couldn't get a hotel room. They told stories of being arrested for asking if it was a requirement that cops be pot-bellied and stories of racing down the back roads to the beach at speeds topping 100 mph! It's rare that people have such close friends for such an expanse of time.

As for Jim, and I'm sure the same would be said about the whole group of guys, in the words of the guy at the front gate as my sister pulled up to explain that she was attending the memorial service:

Man, that guy sure had a lot of friends.