Too good to be just a comment...

I just read this comment from an earlier post.

This deserves its own spot on the main page -- maybe its because it brought a simile to my face while reading it. I know others will enjoy it too.

Thank you Jay,

Stephen.

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From Jay Mahoney (an old friend of Jim's):


James Ehrl,

That's what I've always called you- that and Jimmy...but hardly ever Jim. Steve quoted me correctly- you always seem to bring people together.

Jim, we had our most intense aspect of our friendship through swimming with the Barracudas. I remember brother Steve (as an aside, you always referred to your brothers and sisters with the "brother" or "sister" in front of the name-- don't know why, interesting quirk!) telling me about you after one practice at Brandeis. I always looked up to brother Steve, he was always so tall--insert your deadpan face here, ha ha-...but he spoke of you as being an excellent swimmer and someone I would probably like to get to know.

He was right and soon after that small conversation about 34 years ago (which I still remember vividly) I met you. Steve was right, you were a gifted athlete. I loved going to afternoon practices mostly because of you and Steve and everyone else in "the lane". Jim, you put up with so much of my selfishness. You saw through to me as a better person than I saw in myself. We were attached to each other during a time when nothing mattered but ourselves and I was, in your own words, your "party friend". It was a very crazy time and we did some crazy things- all memorable-- OK, that one time up in Concord, NH in that bar we used to go to. Top Gun wasn't so far off as a new movie and we did that "You've lost that loving feeling" scene from the movie?

Remember that?

The entire place was singing with us as we belted out the entire tune- there must have been about 100 people slapping our backs and asking us where we were going to be the next night. We had more than a few invitations to parties that night! And the time we danced on top of a bar to the tune of "Tequila"? Oh boy, they asked us to leave after that...

You always thought I was fairly reckless and footloose. A bit nuts, perhaps? Probably was at the time. But we did have fun and no one got hurt (much) and nothing terrible ever really happened, right?

But then things changed. I found the love of my life and you did too. As the Best Man in my wedding, you gave a wonderful toast and helped organize and sing in a scrappy quartet of singers that lead us out to “Good Night My Love”. We both moved into good lives that have much more meaning and depth in them. You once said you admired me for leaving "the TV industry" and following my passion for educating elementary and middle school students. I told you how much I admired your work and your family. We both came out OK, I think. Jimmy, I now admire your call to heaven and embrace of God. You continue to shine a light in my life and others around you.

I spoke with you last January and although our conversations happened on a very infrequent basis over the last 15 years, we picked up as we left off. Just as true friends do.

It is so nice to see that both of us have grown up and found that which is most important in life and living. With faith and hope and the Golden Rule all in hand, I hope to see you again someday.

I love you, Jimmy. Always have, always will.

Love,
Jay Mahoney