I’ve lost another friend. This one shocked me almost unbearably. I always, always had a big soft spot for Jim Dennison and my heart aches for all that love him, but of course mostly for his family, Kirsten, James and Isabel.
His obituary is here and hopefully Kirsten won’t mind if I share a bit of what I wrote her.
I always had a major soft spot for Jim. It made me so happy if he sat next to me at a party or a show. He had a way of smiling at you that made you feel truly seen. And I always adore people who try to be a bit curmudgeonly but are truly sweet and soft hearted.
I remember him showing up at our house for potlucks with things like a giant bowl of homemade potato chips or stuffed squash blossoms or something equally wonderful. I remember, way back, Jim naming Leo's Pinewood Derby car (which he had modeled after a railroad spike) the Inscrutamobile.
For some reason I have a vivid image of a long ago party at our house. We were sitting outside. It was late and the kids were all getting tired. Owen was sound asleep on my lap. I remember Jim going to give me a hug just as Owen peed all over me in his sleep. I started laughing and told Jim he could hug me but only if he didn't mind that I was covered in pee. I remember him laughing and hugging me anyway. It's funny how your memory saves random moments but I have always loved that one.
The sadness left a bit of a hazy veil over me yesterday. I ended up having to do a bit of work unexpectedly but it was just as well. Today we’re going to cook up a batch of food to send over to Owen and Trinity later as it’s moving weekend for them. I wish we could help more, financially or physically or both, but we can cook! So cook we will. Well, mostly Ernie will cook, but I will be directing and try to do a bit myself.
I remember, sometime last year, Owen was over. I can’t remember if he was working on the Bug, or doing something else, but I remember he was hungry. I told him I didn’t have much on hand but I’d make him a sandwich. I made him a grilled cheese, taking it nice and slow so the bread would get nicely browned and the cheese completely melty. I think I added cut up strawberries and chips on the side. I called out the kitchen window and he came in. I remember being happier and prouder of that simple little plate of food than anything else I’d cooked all year. Cooking for someone you love so deeply is something completely apart from any other kind of cooking.
So, cook we will.
Hold your loved ones close, as they say.
Ernie’s latest: Browned butter white chocolate chip pecan cake
Ready to make a tomatillo sauce.
Members of the family hanging out and watching tv. Esther, Joe, and Eggward.
Onward.
Love,
Cynthia
Your posts always make me so hungry. Smoothies for lunch (with avocado and banana and yogurt) and pork meatloaf for dinner tonight. Sorry we always eat too fast to take pictures. More sorry for the loss of your friend Jim.
Oh, Cynthia! I remember the Dennisons from the Coop. They weren't in my kid's year, but like you and Ernie, folks I would see at the back and forth and then at a cleanup or something. I'm so sorry for all the Dennisons and their loved ones such as yourself.