Strong, faithful friendships. That is what we all desire as human beings. To love and be loved. James and Jerry not only had the history but they also had the bond. As Mom Bean Kay Kingsbury Bean reminded me that bond formed when James moved to Olivet in hopes to make new friends, gain confidence in himself, and leave behind the insecurities and cruelties of other kids. Jerry was that friend. During lunchtime you could find these two on the basketball court with pop and candy. Want to buy them a burger? Make sure it's ketchup only. And so began a lifelong friendship of memories upon memories. Thank you Jerry for loving my James. For being his friend. You have been a strong, faithful man of God. A true example of Christ. I'm so glad that my last words to you were I love you. I love you for your friendship to me, and for being there for my James when he needed someone the most.
This post will be long, but I never post anything on facebook, so hopefully those reading will understand.
Two weeks ago today I was sitting in Cindi Greene's living room, talking with the closest and longest friend I’ve ever had.
We were praising God that one week earlier he was brought through Brain Cancer surgery, with none of the side effects they thought possible.
It was a great night of laughing and sharing memories (and our kids had a great time with Sami and Tori too).
Little did I know that those would be my last moments on earth with him, and that the next day he would be gone.
We were praising God that one week earlier he was brought through Brain Cancer surgery, with none of the side effects they thought possible.
It was a great night of laughing and sharing memories (and our kids had a great time with Sami and Tori too).
Little did I know that those would be my last moments on earth with him, and that the next day he would be gone.
Now I sit, thinking about the loss of my friend.
When I want to call and talk about the game, or latest technology, or walking closer with Christ, he was my first call.
And now he can’t answer.
When I want to play ball, or go to a game, or just hang out, it can’t happen.
It produces an ache inside that I can only forget for a moment, before I remember it again.
When I want to call and talk about the game, or latest technology, or walking closer with Christ, he was my first call.
And now he can’t answer.
When I want to play ball, or go to a game, or just hang out, it can’t happen.
It produces an ache inside that I can only forget for a moment, before I remember it again.
But I have found that God has given us memories as a help to grief. So if you’d allow me to, I’d like to share a few of the many memories I have of Jerry Hamm.
I remember…..
I remember back in the 8th grade when we first met, and how he kind of poked fun at my last name and would say, "James Bean......Jaaaamesss Bean."
Only later would I find out that his last name was Hamm.
I remember going to the double-nickle in Olivet to buy "now and laters" and mountain dew with him
I remember when I picked up Jerry from the dentist office when he got his wisdom teeth pulled, and how blood was dripping down his face, but he still wanted to go straight to the mall
I remember when we would leave our publications class in high school to go develop film (yes this was before digital cameras) and how we always found a way to make that take up the entire class period
I remember when we decided NOT to go out for basketball our Junior year so we could spend time "looking for future wives".
I remember taking our lunch money to go buy mountain dew and starbursts so we could play basketball during lunch
I remember when we would play 2 on 2 basketball, and beat anyone we played.................ok well at least it felt like we could beat anyone we played
I remember that Jerry loved Country Music, and was the first to introduce me to it
I remember him also introducing me to the "night life" at the Eaton County Fair
I remember when we would race our cars down Stein road and surprisingly never got in an accident doing it
I remember when we played 2 on 2 so late into the night that our neighbor called and woke my parents up to complain about it
I remember that people always said Jerry looked like Val Kilmer, but I think he might have been the one who started that
I remember when we worked at Little Caesars together delivering pizza, and how we never got tired of eating it
I remember when 7 of us drove to Florida for an awesome college spring break week
I remember when just the 2 of us road down in my dad's truck to buy a giant arcade game, that's still in my garage to this very day.
I remember when he bought me new shoes while on vacation, and left them at the Florida house without me knowing
I remember that one of Jerry's favorite movies was Good Will Hunting and how he loved the friendship and bond those guys had, much like the bond he had with many of us.
I remember when my truck broke down on the way to see Mel and Lisa, and how we had to spend the night in a mechanics parking lot, waiting to get it fixed.
I remember Jerry calling me to say that the dentist told him he needed to stop eating junk food or he would lose all of his teeth.
And I remember him telling me that he had decided to lose all of his teeth
I remember when his first daughter Sami was born, and how unbelievably excited and scared he was to finally be a dad.
I remember when his 2nd daughter Tori was born, and how we joined others who prayed her through her first few months of life.
I remember when Jerry called me just a few months ago to tell me that he graduated from college
I remember when we got the news of his seizures and cancer diagnosis, and how in the face of that, Jerry cared for his family and never seemed to care about himself
I remember 3 weeks ago, when we got to drive and just talk for a while in the car
I remember on that same day meeting up with Nate and Brock so the 4 of us could have dinner and try to encourage Jerry before his brain surgery
I remember when we got the news that God had answered our prayers and brought him through the surgery with none of risks they thought possible
I remember my last conversation with him just hours before he would go to heaven, and how I'm so glad I gave him a second hug before we left.
And I remember how happy it made me, when Cindi shared that Jerry’s highlight for what would be his last night, was laughing together with us.
Only later would I find out that his last name was Hamm.
I remember going to the double-nickle in Olivet to buy "now and laters" and mountain dew with him
I remember when I picked up Jerry from the dentist office when he got his wisdom teeth pulled, and how blood was dripping down his face, but he still wanted to go straight to the mall
I remember when we would leave our publications class in high school to go develop film (yes this was before digital cameras) and how we always found a way to make that take up the entire class period
I remember when we decided NOT to go out for basketball our Junior year so we could spend time "looking for future wives".
I remember taking our lunch money to go buy mountain dew and starbursts so we could play basketball during lunch
I remember when we would play 2 on 2 basketball, and beat anyone we played.................ok well at least it felt like we could beat anyone we played
I remember that Jerry loved Country Music, and was the first to introduce me to it
I remember him also introducing me to the "night life" at the Eaton County Fair
I remember when we would race our cars down Stein road and surprisingly never got in an accident doing it
I remember when we played 2 on 2 so late into the night that our neighbor called and woke my parents up to complain about it
I remember that people always said Jerry looked like Val Kilmer, but I think he might have been the one who started that
I remember when we worked at Little Caesars together delivering pizza, and how we never got tired of eating it
I remember when 7 of us drove to Florida for an awesome college spring break week
I remember when just the 2 of us road down in my dad's truck to buy a giant arcade game, that's still in my garage to this very day.
I remember when he bought me new shoes while on vacation, and left them at the Florida house without me knowing
I remember that one of Jerry's favorite movies was Good Will Hunting and how he loved the friendship and bond those guys had, much like the bond he had with many of us.
I remember when my truck broke down on the way to see Mel and Lisa, and how we had to spend the night in a mechanics parking lot, waiting to get it fixed.
I remember Jerry calling me to say that the dentist told him he needed to stop eating junk food or he would lose all of his teeth.
And I remember him telling me that he had decided to lose all of his teeth
I remember when his first daughter Sami was born, and how unbelievably excited and scared he was to finally be a dad.
I remember when his 2nd daughter Tori was born, and how we joined others who prayed her through her first few months of life.
I remember when Jerry called me just a few months ago to tell me that he graduated from college
I remember when we got the news of his seizures and cancer diagnosis, and how in the face of that, Jerry cared for his family and never seemed to care about himself
I remember 3 weeks ago, when we got to drive and just talk for a while in the car
I remember on that same day meeting up with Nate and Brock so the 4 of us could have dinner and try to encourage Jerry before his brain surgery
I remember when we got the news that God had answered our prayers and brought him through the surgery with none of risks they thought possible
I remember my last conversation with him just hours before he would go to heaven, and how I'm so glad I gave him a second hug before we left.
And I remember how happy it made me, when Cindi shared that Jerry’s highlight for what would be his last night, was laughing together with us.
Jerry, I'm thankful for all of these memories, and I can't wait for the adventures we'll have in heaven for eternity.
But right now I just miss you.
But right now I just miss you.
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