When my mom went off to college, her brother Jim told her to watch out for guys at parties who would ask her out, warning her that they would set the date then stand her up.  Understanding that this was good advice, mom went to college watching out for guys like that.  Early in her Freshman year, she encountered a guy just as her brother had described.  The guy asked her out.  She said no, telling him about the warning from her brother.  The guy persisted, deciding then that he WOULD go on this date, despite his original intentions of standing her up.  Four years later, here is my Uncle Jim walking my mom down the aisle as she prepared to marry that guy who had planned to stand her up.


A generous and funny guy, my Uncle Jim, standing up for my mom as she was married, her own father having passed away a few years earlier.


It was with sadness on Friday that I learned my Uncle Jim had passed away.  Describing his diagnosis as "an unfortunate surprise", he handled his illness positively and with a sense of humor.  It's the same way of thinking and sense of humor that I can find in my cousins - Jenine, Julia, Michelle - my mom, and my aunts.  All peas in that Niles pod.

My Uncle Jim will be missed by his family, friends, fellow travelers, and by me - especially on the dance floor.  He was one smooth dancer, telling me each time I saw him that my two-step was better than the last time we'd danced.  Even though I know it couldn't be true since he was the only person with whom I'd ever two-stepped, and he had to re-teach me every time, I still felt like the Queen of the Two-Step when he was my partner.

Long live the two-step, and may he rest in peace.