db: A fishing trip not taken

I need there to be water in heaven because I owe my cousin, Jim Long, a fishing trip, a fishing trip we now will never be able to take here on earth.

“When I find myself in times of trouble…”

I hope heaven has water.

Hope there are streams up there, hope there are crystal blue lakes, miles of oceans filled with fish.

Jesus, I know, fished, I hope he brought it up there with him.

I need there to be water in heaven because I owe my cousin, Jim Long, a fishing trip, a fishing trip we now will never be able to take here on earth.

A few days ago Jim was caught in a fire, burned up pretty bad, I have spent these past days praying for a miracle, today, Jim will be taken off life-support, his funeral plans are already in the works.

The miracle I pray for now, is to one day to get to heaven.

The miracle I pray for now, is to one day fish with my cousin, Jim in heaven.

Please God, let there be water in heaven.

“…Mother Mary comes to me…”

As children we spent many summers together up at the family farm in Canada, me, Mike & Tim, Jimmy and Johnny Long.

Tim, left us a few years back, at his funeral, I saw these cousins, childhood friends, for the first time in many decades, and we just picked up instantly where we left off, although no one put any frogs down anyone else’s tee-shirts.

That I know of.

In a course of a few hours we were once again just kids, time apart made no difference, I knew then of real friendship, of real family, of how once someone gains entrance into your heart, how they will always be with you, no matter the miles, no matter the months, no matter the years, apart.

The very last words my cousin Jim ever said to me was, “We all need to go fishing, lets plan a family fishing trip back up to Canada.”

Throughout the next couple of years via Facebook and email we wrote to each other of that trip.  This summer was mentioned, in truth it was the only reason I went out and got a passport.

I got an expedited passport, when asked why I wrote, “For fishing trip to Canada with cousins.”

“…speaking words of wisdom…”

In Jim’s memory, please do this, move those fishing trips planned to the front burner.

A fishing trip not taken doesn’t get a 2nd chance.

Go now, spend time with your loved ones, connect back up with family you haven’t seen in awhile.

Stay connected.

Pray for understanding, pray that all fishing trips will be taken.

“…and in my hour of darkness…”

To my cousins, forgive me for letting you down.  Forgive me for this fishing trip not taken.

I promise you I will honor Jim’s wish, promise you that we will all one day go on the fishing trip not taken, and we will do so in your father’s, your brother’s, my cousin Jim’s memory.

For those of you who did not know Jim, he was a kind and decent, loving husband, father, brother and cousin.

He chased me once around the farm with a snake in his hand.

I once chased him around the farm with chicken poop in my hand.

40 years later he told me he would do it again to me if he had the chance, I told him just to let me know, “…give me time to buy a chicken.”

He was a good cousin to have.

“…she is standing right it front of me…”

Please God, let there be room in heaven for two cousins to chase each other.

Please God, let the burns be gone, and the smile come back.

Please God, grant us the fishing trip not taken.

Please God…

Please…

…let there be water in Heaven.

“…speaking words of wisdom.”

Let it be

The Beatles

Love ya, cuz.

db