This is the beginning of what I hope will be a frequent, lively conversation among those who remember Jim Long of Victorville, Calif. He left this plane of existence earlier this fall, but remains in the hearts and minds of those whose lives he touched, regularly or even just occasionally.
He was my soul mate for 20 years (and legally wedded spouse for the final 17), my life partner, the other half -- the better half -- of my soul. For the rest of you, he was a son, grandson, brother, uncle, teacher, colleague, student and devoted friend.
On a regular basis, I plan to post material, including selected information from the celebration of life held a month ago, and other wonderful thoughts that many of you already shared with me. I won't identify the sources by full names unless I am given permission ahead of time.
The Hebrew word "tahm" best describes my Jim. It's usually taken to mean "simple" or "innocent" or even "slow," but my own personal translation is "incorruptible soul." The Earth now has his earthly existence, but the best part of him, the essence, could never be touched.
I hope to hear from as many of you as possible, for as long as possible, with questions, conversation, and many fond and detailed memories. If you wish to communicate with me directly in a way that does not immediately appear on this blog (although I really hope you will post whatever comments here that you wish), I regularly check JimsWife17@yahoo.com
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I had the privilege of meeting Jim early this year, when the two of you came to my creative writing class. At the time, of course, I had no idea how short a time he'd still be with us. I'm grateful for the chance I had to know him and sorry that time was so short.
ReplyDeleteAfter the class was over, he and I swapped some e-mails. I learned more about his experiences in journalism -- and his wonderful, self-deprecating sense of humor. He shared a couple of great anecdotes I'd like to share here later on, as this blog progresses.
I've also enjoyed the chance recently to read some more of his work. There's a lovely spirit to his writing. It's realistic and uplifting at the same time -- and that's a hard trick to pull off.
I'm a former student of Judith, from her days as an adviser for The Cypress Chronicle (college newspaper in Orange County).
ReplyDeleteI only met Jim a few times. Once it was when a few of us toured the Daily Press newsroom, and another time when two of us visited for a presentation to the VVC Rampage. I did, however, get to somewhat know Jim via Judith.
It was during Judith's time at The Chronicle that Jim had his first stroke in fall 2007. From then until 2009 we would hear about Jim's progress via in-person conversations, emails, and phone calls with Judith.
From Judith I learned of Jim's sicknesses. It seemed like he would get better and then another hurdle would come, and I remember during those times on the phone how Judith would put me on hold to say something to Jim (like "You can't eat that right now honey" or something like that).
Judith was always there for Jim. She told us that it's very easy to love somebody when they're healthy and all, but when you really love someone you take care of them when they're not.
Judith did that and by that showed her love for Jim. Her actions were a testimony to Jim's persona. He must've been a good guy to have someone love him like Judith did.
Jim was a special person. He has inspired me to keep up with my writing. In homage to his memory, I'm weaving a part of one stories "Conductor Joe" into my screenplay. I very much hope to produce this movie as soon as the money becomes available. Jim's Conductor Joe will again be able to lighten the heatrs of those who come in contact with him, just as Jim did.
ReplyDeleteI first met Jim back in the early nineties when I met Judith. They were both still at the Daily press Newspaper in Victorville. Jim was absorbed in his sports-writing, but there was a special aura between he and Judith. Judith and me would attend Herb clubs from Riverside to Upland selling herbal concoctions, jim never complained. as a matter of fact when i started the High Desert Herb Society, Jim volunteered to produce a newsletter for me which was quite a relief for me. As was his style the publication was flawless, it definitely gave status to a young organization. I was a guest in their home on many occasions, sharing some special herbal dish judith had prepared. I prayed with him, encouraged him through the storm and would deliver the eulogy at his earth departure.
ReplyDeleteThere are people that fertilize the earth atmosphere with their presence Jim Long was one of those individuals. he left an array of earth dust scattered across the skies, they will continue to rain down on us for many years. In the midst of a rain shower we will sense Jim Long; when the snow begins to fall there will be specks of the particles that made up the essence of who he was. the bottom line is: He is not gone, just not seen with the physical eyes.
Eliz D
This is one of my favorites of the stories Jim told me:
ReplyDelete"... It's like that night during my newspaper days when I errantly, foolishly sent out a boys' high school basketball boxscore for printing. I sent it out with the name Tucker completely misspelled. (The T and F keys are too damn close!) It got printed for a bulldog run of one night's edition beofre the Real McCoys went out for delivery!
They told me the shift boss that night screamd 'STOP THE PRESSES!' at the top of his lungs when he saw Tucker's name beginning with an F. It seems funny now, but he wasn't laughing. The editor kept a copy of the error in his files.
From then on, I was always told, 'Jimbo, watch out for them Tuckers.'"
I had the opportunity to meet and spend time with Jim Long while enrolled in Judith's journalism class.
ReplyDeleteJim helped us with problems we were having on our computers and we enjoyed conversations.
I feel honored to have met this talented man and wish I could have had more association before his illness.
Thank you Judith for giving me this privilege.
Judy and Jim were incredibly helpful to me years ago when I was overwhelmed with difficulties. They opened their home to me for a short while when I was in crisis. A few years later, my husband died suddenly. I remember the sympathy card they sent me. Jim's words of comfort reflected wisdom that came true many years later. I kept the card for years, periodically taking it out and rereading his words of hope and comfort. Wishing Judy hope, comfort and peace....
ReplyDeleteAs I write this blog for jimmy I have so many memories and don't know where to start . One memory is when Jimmy's grandfather took us both to the cabin in Lake Arrowhead. One of the conditions for us to have a great time was that we had to do a favor for his grandpa; we were only around 10 years of age. We were to demolish a wooden shed in the back of this cabin. We were so excited to be able to go that we didn't care what we had to do, and off to the mountains we went.
ReplyDeleteWe were working so diligently and had almost completely demolished and cleaned up this wooden shed when all of a sudden Jimmy said, "look out" and "don't move." Well, at this point all this fun we were having came crashing down upon us .
Under one of the last pieces of wood we had to pick up, and that I was already, holding was a scorpion ready to sting me had I moved. That day, Jimmy saved me from what surely would have been a lot of pain. This is just one of many stories from our childhood that I have the fond memories of my friend Jimmy Long ... Bill Stacy
Jim was and always will be the greatest son a man could want. From the beginning of life he fought with all he had never complaining but yet inspiring everone around him. Jim was as his sister Fallon always said the best brother ever. She looked up to Jim and his wife Judith and would question herself how did she get so lucky. She always bragged to others about her brother letting everyone know how great he was and always having to show them Fallon's Flyer that he wrote took pitures and created for her.
ReplyDeleteWe will always feel blessed to have what time we had with Jim. To have known Jim is to Loved Jim. Sometimes even when we are lonely and sad Jim comes to our minds and by this his memery and his life carries on comforting us with the sweet memeries of a great man, son, brother, and husband he was and always will be.
The great man he became in life did not come without a fight but with a love for life and wanting to live life to the fullest. He loved to write to teach to laugh and to bring many joy. Yet his greatest love in life was and is his wife Judy. For we may not often exspress but besides a great man is a great woman and wife and that Judy is. Thank you Judy for being you and the wife you have been to Jim. God must of needed another angel to have joined Jim with his sister at such an early age and we will never know why but we can keep his memery and love alive through us who have bee blessed enough to have had him in our lives.
This Is in honor of a great great man
Jim Long Jr.
I only met Jim a handful of times but I knew of him for many years through my friend, his wife, Judy.
ReplyDeleteJim always impressed me as very smart and very self-contained. He was one of those people in whom you sense that there is a lot more than what appears on the surface. He was kind and unpretentious. He was someone who had known suffering, and it made him a better person, not a meaner one. He was creative and multitalented with his short stories and photography, not to mention his newspaper writing.
I will miss Jim and the light he brought into our lives.
Thanks so much to everyone who has written in so far, once or many times. Remember that you can always comment on any post at any time, every days/weeks/months after it was originally created, as you can see here. I really appreciate everything from everybody, regardless of length or when it is posted ... you will never know how much it means to me.
ReplyDelete