My deepest sympathy to all of James' family. He was truly one of my heroes.
I followed him here from the Benchmade forum and made it a point to really read, and not just skim, anything he posted.
James was a man who likely forgot more - and in innumerable and diverse subjects - than most of us can ever hope to know. Yet... he never, ever made you feel inferior. If he corrected your misconception, rather than feeling like you'd been lectured to, you felt like he'd let you in on the joke.
While he was a man who believed in the rightness of arms, he was the epitome of the "gentle-man". Without acting the buffoon, he could find the humor in any situation and diffuse the most rabid flame war by making everyone laugh at themselves.
I hope that the next time I start to lose patience with someone less experienced than I, or feel my hackles rise in response to a heated comment; I will remember his example.
This forum is a better place for his having been a part of it, and I know I am a better person for having glimpsed his kind and gentle soul.
Toni, you can consider these forumites your family. If there is anything at all we can do for you, let us know. We will "move heaven and earth" to make it happen.
Joe Allen
"Shared pain is lessened. Shared joy is increased. Thus do we refute entropy."
Spider Robinson
