[at-l] Thank you

[spiriteagle99@hotmail.com (Jim and/or Ginny Owen)]

A large number of people expressed condolences on the death of my uncle last 
week.  There were so many that I can't possibly write to you individually, 
but I really wanted to say "thank you".

Bill was one of the people who raised me after my father died - and I'll 
miss him.  But I've also let him go because he was ready to go. He was 91 
last June and while his mind was crystal clear, his body was rapidly 
failing.  It finally gave up completely last week.

Bill was one of those rare people who, even though he lived in near poverty 
all his life, at the end said "I had a good life".  He was one of the few 
people who have not thruhiked but still have some understanding of what it 
is and why we do it.  He grew up hiking with the family - and then had his 
own long walk - through North Africa, Sicily, Italy France and Germany, 
ending in Berlin.  There's no one that I know who's had a tougher "long 
walk".

We went from the funeral to the Gathering because he'd have wanted it that 
way.  We honored his death - and then joined a celebration of life.  He'd 
have been pleased by that - he'd have loved the people and the spirit at the 
Gathering.

Again - thank you.

Walk softly,
Jim and Ginny

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