Debbie & I moved to Bocage subdivision in Algiers in 1991 with two elementary schoolers and another to come. Across the street lived Jim & Dixie. Halloween came round, and I discovered that Jim liked to serve what I remember as daiquiris. The kids got treats; the parents got daiquiris. A lot of fun and I hardly drank at the time. He served patrons from his front porch. Dixie's role was hostess.
The next morning (Saturday), Jim was out working on his sidewalk with a set of pulleys and ropes tied to trees. I walked over and couldn't believe it. He was able to lift a pretty big chunk of concrete with this contraption. Then he would quickly shave the tree roots with some tool and lower the concrete slab back in place. I asked, "Jim, where did you learn to do this?" And he replied, "Well, I'm an engineer and kind of figured it out." I thought to myself -- hummm, Jim could probably fix a lot of things in my house.
And that's how our friendship started. We played golf a few times. Jim left for work so early and was back about 4:30pm or so. He & Dixie enjoyed life.
My bedside reading lamp had a short and came on about half the time. Jim replaced the cord. A few days later, he asked me about the lamp. I told him it went out again. Not to be deterred, Jim asked for a key to my house. No problem. He took the whole thing apart and fixed it.
The next summer Dixie & Jim traveled with Dixie's brother & sister-in-law to Florida. Dixie asked my wife, Debbie, to feed Coco the dog who was getting up in years and not doing well. So Debbie goes over one morning, and sure enough -- Coco is not moving. Debbie comes back to our house and asks me to check to see if Coco is breathing. I can report Coco had gone to heaven. We hated to disturb Dixie & Jim in Florida, but felt we should tell them. From time to time, I remind my wife that Coco died on her watch.
I remember once my golf bag was falling apart. Jim had an extra brand new golf bag. He sold it to me for $20, probably saving me a hundred bucks. That was Jim.
Years passed and Jim and Dixie moved to the North Shore. I hated to lose my friend. We raised our kids in Algiers for 21 years, making friends with several other families who lived in Jim & Dixie's house.
Later, Debbie and I moved to Mandeville. And one day went to this new church, St. Timothy's. And of course, who was there? Jim & Dixie. Debbie joined the choir so I was free after Sunday School. Some mornings I would wander over to 5th grade Sunday School -- where Jim helped out -- and we would talk for a few minutes before worship.
In retirement, Jim began volunteering for Habitat for Humanity. He could build those houses, helping so many people. I wonder how many houses he helped build -- how many lives he touched. I will miss my friend. Harry Wadsworth
