A Tribute

This morning when I drove into the parking ramp at a bright an cheery 6:50AM, Lorraine, the morning parking lot attendant waved for me to stop. Which I did. Then she asked if I received a notice from yesterday. I had not of course and just thought that it was another notice about the driving speed in the ramp, like the last one I received. However, this was not the case, it was a notice regarding the afternoon parking ramp attendant.

The notice reads:
"To All Parking Ramp Customers:

It is with regret and sadness that we inform you that James "Jim", the afternoon parking ramp attendant, passed away on Saturday, May 10, 2008. Services will be held on Thursday, May 15, 2008. Anyone is welcome to attend. For those that would like to give a card or memorial, please leave it with Lorraine at the parking booth and she will make sure the family gets it.

Jim was a very charismatic man whom always had a smile and a wave for everyone. He will be greatly missed by all."

And this is how I started my morning. Yesterday, one of my co-workers had mentioned that he had died recently and that his obituary was in the paper. Jim had been absent from the parking ramp last week and I just assumed that he was on vacation. I didn't know him on a personal level, but he was always friendly and during this past winter he would put the exiting arm up when it was really cold, so that I wouldn't have to roll down my window to use my parking card. My co-worker also mentioned that Jim died from natural causes and was scheduled to take his retirement in early June. This is a sad day. This morning is bright, with no clouds in the sky and it will be a good day to have a service for a man who always seemed happy and cheery.