The night before Jim married me, he Brought me a gift. It was a kitten, our Rass. During courtship couples share their past with one another, and I had shared that my heart was broken twice by having to give up rescued cats.  One (Alley), that my mother took to a farm because she didn't want a cat in her house, and a second (Tigger), that  I found a home for after my landlord told me I couldn't keep him.  Yes, Jim presented me with the absolute perfect wedding gift. Nineteen years later when Rass died, someone gave us a book by Judith Viorst called the, Tenth GOOD THING ABOUT BARNEY.  It helped our family grieve as we read it together. As I enter this new year alone, I've been thinking about that book, and how just thinking about ten good things,  helped the grief.  So, in that vein, I offer my, The Tenth Good Thing About Jim.  Here's my list.

1. He gave me a kitten as a wedding present. 

2. He brought me wildflowers from the woods.

3. He cooked for me.

4. He taught me to love fly fishing and showed me the beauty of trout and salmon streams.

5. He cross country skied with me.

6. He supported and encouraged all my passions.

7. He could always make me laugh.

8. He felt my heartaches and cried with me.

9. He loved our children, fiercely.

10. He told me every day that he loved me, and he  kissed me each night before bed.

He was a good husband.