68f / 20C, hazy with a pink waning moon at 6am. So pretty. Rain in the afternoon, clearing in the evening.
Our community lost a good man last week. John McGinley, brother of my friend Suzy, succumbed to pancreatic cancer after a long battle. He remained the same kind, loving man right through all the trauma of the disease, joking about his hair loss and amazed that so many people cared about him. John was a volunteer firefighter right up until he could no longer do the job as it needed to be done, and he also continued to work at his full time job as long as he could.
A 2011 photo of John and Suzy
For many years John and his wife co-chaired our county seat's 4th of July celebration, which earned the distinction as being the largest small town celebration in the country. The planning was a yearlong process, and John poured his heart into it, and usually acted as MC too. He was on the town council for a long time, following the footsteps of his parents--His Dad was city clerk, and his mother was mayor until her health forced her to retire. Both were beloved, just like John.
I know there are men and women like John all across our country, doing the everyday work that makes life easier for so many of us, and often doing it behind the scenes with little recognition or thanks. They just do it because it's the right thing to do, and they enjoy knowing they make a difference, however small. These are the real patriots, the real people who have always made our country great. I know our community will feel the loss of John McGinley for a long time.
I was sad that I could not attend the funeral, or even the wake, because I didn't want to spread around my nasty cold. I told Suzy I wasn't coming because I knew there would be old people there and I didn't want to make them sick. To which she responded, with typical McGinley humor, "You mean old people like us?"
Um, yeah. I forget that I fall into that category these days.
LOL. That last line. Yeah. My sister and I were discussing someone's age...she guessed 'in their 70s, maybe?' and I said, "Remember when we thought people in their 70s were old? I miss that..."
ReplyDeleteI am thankful it wasn’t a post about the pope.
ReplyDeleteI made a checkout guy laugh the other day. I was fumbling in my wallet to pull out the cash card. I was having some trouble, and I said I am getting to be like those old people.
Rest in peace, John! Awesome that Suzy didn't lose her sense of humour even at this difficult time.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry about your friend John. He sounds like a pretty amazing guy. Sorry too, that you had to miss his funeral. I hope you feel 100% again soon.
ReplyDelete...I'm sorry to hear of your loss.
ReplyDeleteSo sad to see the good ones go. Why does it seem like the bad and angry ones always hang on to make our lives miserable? At what point does one become an "old person"? 50? 60? 70? 80? Am I an old person yet?
ReplyDeleteI know people like the fine man you describe and you are entirely right. They are the ligaments that move our communities and it is always a blow to lose one.
ReplyDeleteGet well!!! You sound down with the cold.
This is a nice remembrance for him. I lost a sweet friend last week and will miss her laughter and funny stories. We will celebrate her life at a pizza place tomorrow night. Enjoy life while we can!
ReplyDeleteCondolences (not exactly sure what they are) to you for the loss of a friend and quite a civic leader. If I were to figure out what my condolences might mean, I think it's that I empathize with your sadness, don't feel it exactly, but do know how one person can miss the life of another who has been important to them personally, as well as to many others. Hope your cold heals up soon!
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your loss. And a big loss for the community. Is there someone else who will take over the 4th celebrations?
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear about the loss of another salt-of-the-earth person. He will leave a gap in your community but also leaves a legacy and example.
ReplyDeleteI'm so very sorry for the loss of your friend. He sounds like quite a wonderful man.
ReplyDeleteToo bad the community lost such a good man. And I don't think of you as being old. Not with the young spirit you display. 'Course I don't think of myself as old (most of the time) either, even though I'm staring my 85th birthday in the face!
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your friend. Pancreatic cancer is very unforgiving.
ReplyDeleteI have known several people who have perished from that cancer. Sorry that your community has lost a good man.
ReplyDeleteIt's clear that John McGinley was a remarkable man, one who lived with strength and grace even through the hardest of times. His kindness and commitment to others, even while facing his own battle, is truly inspiring. Your tribute captures the essence of his character beautifully. My condolences to his family and friends.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry for the loss of your friend. It sounds like he had a full and meaningful life. Hope you are feeling better now.
ReplyDeleteWhat a heartfelt tribute. John sounds like the kind of person every community is lucky to have—steadfast, generous, and quietly devoted. His legacy will surely live on in the people and traditions he helped nurture. And Suzy's humor is a lovely reminder that even in grief, shared laughter is part of the healing.
ReplyDeleteSorry for your loss, he sounds like a nice person to know.
ReplyDelete