Jim W. Grave Marker

In an odd way, it is beautiful. Now I have a place to go and visit, a place to see his name and to decorate each Memorial Day. I miss him so much. It was really hard to see this, but I survived it just like everything else I've survived since that day. I love you, Jim. You'll forever be in my heart. Love, MOM

Answers

Sure would like some.....

Jim is missed

The sun warms the earth and I think of Jim and how much he enjoyed a warm sunny day. I laugh about something funny and I know that he would have, too. I eat a cookie and I think of his passion for sweets. I awake in the night and know that he would have been awake at that time, too. So many memories, so quickly evaporating. I miss him.

The Jim Bowerman Scholarship

Julie and I attended the E. Lansing High School Convocation this evening where we had the wonderful opportunity to award a very special graduate with a check for $1,000 from the Jim Bowerman Memorial Fund. There were four applicants for this award and all were very deserving but this particular young lady was perfect....it was as if Jim had sent her to us. Below are the words spoken this evening:

It is a privilege to be here tonight, to present the Jim Bowerman Scholarship. This scholarship is named for my son, and for Julie's brother. Jim graduated from E. L. H. S. in 1999 – a decade ago, although it does seem like it was just yesterday. Jim passed away a year ago this past April, and that definitely feels like just yesterday. Jim was all about fun and adventure, friends and family, art and life. He was a free spirit with a gigantic heart and a tender soul. His senior quote fit him like a glove: from Mark Twain – “I never let my schooling get in the way of my education.” The criteria for this award was based solely on those attributes. The applicants for the Jim Bowerman Scholarship were very impressive and each of them qualified in their own way, but one individual, a young woman stood out, not only because she fit the criteria to a tee, but because of what she stated in her application letter….. “as a child I was a daydreamer and often wore unmatched clothes"…..that was so Jim. We would like to award this $1,000 Jim Bowerman Scholarship check to Miss Zoe Beaudry.

Today

I spent the day working first in the structure on a desk I am refinishing and then when the sun came out, I headed for the outdoors. I placed all the wonderful pieces given to me for Jim's garden out in the garden today. The reflection bench from friends at work, the metal red roses from Lisa and her mom, the butterfly gazing ball from Mary and Terry, the oversized shells from Laci, the blue plate flower from Theresa, the praying angel from the 50's girls, and all those pieces with precious sayings on them....all of that and more went into the garden.

The garden....it looks really nice. The french white lilac is blooming, the Miss Kim lilacs are budding and the Korean Spice plant from Anna & George smells so great right now. Every plant has survived the winter well and all are on their way to flowering.

Larry and I purchased a forsynthia bush last week and planted it today in memory of Jim....not in the memorial garden this time but up towards the woods, near the driveway.

All of these activities should have made me feel pretty good and for the most part they have, but for some reason I've been sad and weepy since I finished. For me, I hate it that I even have a memorial garden for someone I love so much. I miss you Jim.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day - those very words mean so much more to me then I think they ever did when my kids were little. I miss Jim so much and wish he could send me a card or make a phone call to tell me, "I love you, Mom." Julie and I were together today - spending time with Julie and the Grandkids fills me with joy and soothes my broken heart. I thank all of you who have sent special messages and called, it means alot to me that you think of me and share your love.

Joanne (Jim's MOM)

Weeping Cherry Tree Blooms in Jim's Garden

Friends from where I work gave me this beautiful weeping cherry for Jim's garden last year. The tree bloomed last week, isn't it just lovely!

Joanne (Jim's MOM)