Happy Birthday James

My late father-in-law James birthday was this past weekend but I knew that he would feel that it was more important for me to write about the anniversary of Sandy Hook.

I told you in an earlier post about the night I met Eric's parents.  I have no idea why his dad kept trying to get us to eat watermelon, it still makes us laugh when we talk about it.  I have many memories of James but I guess what sticks out in my mind were his car mechanic skills.  Eric had a truck that in its later years was referred to as 'Lazarus', since he felt like he kept raising it from the dead.  If something was wrong with the truck, Eric could call his dad, describe the noise or problem and his dad could diagnose it over the phone.  And usually James was right. 

We have 2 sons who had to share a car through high school and college.  This car was referred to as 'old blue' when it started getting older.  Eric's dad could tell him what was wrong with it when it started acting up.  While our kids were in college, if they were with someone whose car didn't start or was making funny noises, they would call Eric to ask what was wrong.  To the best of his ability, Eric would tell them what it sounded like MIGHT be wrong with it.   But there were times that he would just have to say 'I don't know what it could be'.  When he would hang up the phone, he would turn to me and say, 'Why did they call me, I don't know that much about cars'.  And I would say, 'didn't you always call your dad and ask him?'

Happy Belated Birthday James.