Well, all these years ago I bought this really great game called IL-2 and installed it. I had trouble figuring out where to play it, so I checked the Ubi forums. I was excited to find this thread inviting all comers to join in on weekly Coop missions. Thus did I meet BG and a whole host of amazing people he called friends. For a couple years after that I just had a ton of fun playing mission after mission with a great bunch of guy. As good as I could see everyone was, you really stood out BG. Time after time some one would forget to lock their tail wheel and run into some one else, or they'd stall taking off from the carrier, or who know's what. BG would call "10 seconds!" and the free for all would ensue. What really impressed the hell out of me is how you never seem to get mad. I know you had to be gritting your teeth when start after start, some one would do something silly to hose it up. Plenty of times it was the same person a few times in a row. I could almost sense you grinding your teeth, but you never let it show in your voice or in how you handled it. You'd call the 10-seconds and everyone would laugh and carry on as they engaged each other. I always thought that was such a brilliant way to handle it because no one gets mad, they just have a lot of fast fun out of it. To me, that really said a lot about my friend. It said that you're a guy who doesn't get upset about little things, that you're an intelligent guy who knows how to ensure his friends are having fun, and more than anything, it says that you're a guy who truly cares for his friends and puts them first.
It's said that a man should be judged by the quality of friends he keeps. I'm not sure it says much about you, old buddy... =) But thanks to a friend like you, I sure look like a complete stud!
I'm sorry now that I had to take a bit of a break, but it's only served to remind me of how extordinary the community is here. Most if not all of us are here because Jim took the time to reach out to us and bring us into the fold. I think the topic speaks for itself. Look at all the friends and look at how much they love you and how completely awesome they think you are. My sister once asked me what I thought success was. This is it, man. You are a complete success in every sense of the word.
I'm very proud to have you as a friend, Jim. God bless you. We all love you.