Uncle Jim is such an icon in our family. This is the time of year that always makes me think of him most. I am Jim's niece eldest daughter of his little sister JoAnn. When we were kids, Uncle Jim was the most exotic and sophisticated person we could ever hope to meet. He told stories of dining with famous people, being at parties with Jackie Onassis, and meeting Dukes and Duchesses. He regularly traveled to London and Paris, took side trips all over Europe and visited Russia, Brazil and Peru to name a few. It seemed that he was always planning a trip somewhere.
As a world traveler and New Yorker, we never knew what to expect when the Christmas box from Uncle Jim arrived. We always unwrapped gifts on Christmas day except for the Uncle Jim box which we were allowed to open when we got home from midnight Mass. Invariably the gifts were unusual (some would say strange) and intended to expand our horizons outside of small town Iowa. Certainly we never got Barbi dolls or toy guns from UJ! But thanks to those gifts, we knew the street names in London by playing London monopoly and we learned French playing Mille Bornes. Jim taught us to like gazpacho, took us to our first opera, made us try escargot, and had us wearing Peruvian hats and Maxi dresses long before they were vogue. We were the only kids in Fayette with clothes from Sax Fifth Avenue and Lord & Taylor's. Everyone in the family called me by given name Georgia. But UJ preferred to call me Kate (a family name) and, as he would say, a more fitting and sophisticated name. I'll never forget when my sister Susan and I unwrapped red fuzzy bathrobes. They were warm, beautiful and had been embroidered with our names Susan and Kate. My mom was furious, but I secretly liked it. How I wish I still had that robe.
He returned to Iowa in 2008. I am so thankful my children got to know him and what a special GREAT Uncle they had. I miss talking to you already Uncle Jim. Don't give mom any trouble up there!
