Gone But Not Forgotten

When it comes to In-Laws I totally hit the jackpot!  I love Jim's family and enjoy the time I get to spend with them.  My mother-in-law and step father-in-law are the BEST!  I can't tell you how many times we've asked them for something and they have both been right there to help.  Jim's step dad is super handy so he helped us build our fence, deck, as well as a few other things.  They have also helped us move a couple times.  Jim's mom watches Baby J every week and is nothing like the stereo typical mother-in-law.  Anne and David, you rule!!

On the other side of Jim's family you have the Young's.  These are some of the coolest people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.  I absolutely ADORE going down to the Bay Area to visit.  Jim's Uncle Rick is a huge Giants, Warriors, and 49ers fan just like Jim.  I never knew how much fun one could have just hanging out in a garage watching a game until I met them.  Those Young's just crack me up.  I cannot wait until Baby J is old enough to really hang out with them and watch the games and play catch in the front yard.  I feel so fortunate to have the Young's in Baby J's life; however, one person is missing and that loss makes me sad.

Tomorrow will mark the 5 year anniversary of the passing of Jim's dad.  It was a sudden, unexpected loss and I still think about it a lot, especially now that I have a child.  I loved Jim's dad from the moment I first met him.  He was an amazing cook and made the best fried chicken.  Each time we would go down to his house he would make it for me since he knew it was my favorite.  He was the nicest man you'll ever meet and a big ole' teddy bear.

I will never forget the last time Jim and I saw him alive.  We had all gone up to Reno for the weekend.  It was Jim's dad, his Uncle Rick, and his Aunt Doris.  We stayed at the Fitzgerald Casino right on the strip.   Home of the World's slowest elevators!  I'm not sure where Jim went off too but Jim's dad and I were hanging out in the casino playing 1 cent Caveman Keno for hours.  We talked and laughed and had a great time.  At one point he and I went over to the players club to redeem a prize and the man behind the counter asked if I was his daughter.  He said "she's my daugher-in-law and she is pretty special."  I'll never forget that.  He passed away a month and a half later.

It makes me sad Baby J will never get to meet this wonderful man because I know how much Jim's dad would have adored Baby J.  I think I am extra sensitive to this because I never got to meet my dad's father either.  Everyone tells me how much he would of liked me and how we would have gotten along so well. I've always felt like there was a piece of my life missing and it pains me to think Baby J is going to have the same feeling.

Of course we will tell Baby J all about his grandfather when he gets older and he is extremely lucky to have two other amazing grandfathers who love him to pieces.  I just wish he would have gotten to meet all the Young's.  The one thing I can say is that Baby J has his grandfather's blue eyes and that makes me happy knowing a little piece of him lives on!