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Jimmy LONG:

A MODEL OF COPING AND INDEPENDENCE

Despite having been poked, prodded and pricked in the halls of medicine as an infant, and left with a paucity of the gifts that some of us squander, my nephew forged his way through life by developing those he did possess.

Although some of his private moments, with those closer to him, at times could be tumultuous and stormy, generally, to the outside world, Jimmy was all smiles, good cheer and consideration. He was always prepared to assist in any way he could. Deprived of the ability (or curse) of pen and letters, Jimmy engaged his prodigious memory and would relate events, sometimes long forgotten by others, with amazing clarity and detail.

I had long abandoned Philadelphia before learning to drive. On one occasion, I returned with a rented car. I knew how to travel only along the public transportation routes. Expressways through the park and such were far beyond my ken. I wanted to visit family members using expeditious routs, so When Jimmy offered to conduct me about I was dubious. After all, if by reading the signs I still was stymied, how was he going to help me? I quickly discovered that it is not all in the signs. Jimmy knew every nook and cranny of Philly’s broad avenues and narrow streets. This was long before the GPS navigator, which could not have been any more precise than he.

Thus, we can be assured that along the golden highways of Jimmy’s current journey, he certainly will be able to find his way – and perhaps be there to help us along ours when the occasion presents itself.