Some neighbors and I were speculating last weekend about who in the neighborhood might own guns. We laughed and guffawed about the widowed grandmother around the corner having a shotgun under her ironing board and the woman who has taught every child in the neighborhood to swim in her backyard pool concealing a full armory beneath the shed where she stores floaties and goggles and pool toys.

The one neighbor about whom we need not speculate was Angry Neighbor Jimbo, a gruff, tough hunter who has a moose head hanging in his living room and who has, over the years, trotted out rifles and shotguns for us to ogle and touch and frighten our wives with. We all sleep comfortably at night knowing that if our street was ever invaded by aliens from the planet Dickwad, Jimbo would calmly retreat to his gun cabinet, retrieve an elephant gun or a bazooka or a plutonium-powered atomic cannon and blow those little Dickwadians to smithereens. “Get some, you bastard!” he would shout.

Jimbo takes great pride in his arsenal. Knowing this, I was surprised to see Jimbo taking digital photos of his guns out on his front lawn this week. When I asked him what he was doing, he told me he was going to be selling most of them on the Internet. I asked why. He dodged the question. “It’s just time,” he said. I didn’t press him. (You don’t press a man who has an armory larger than Greenland’s laid out in front of him.)

Thursday, Jimbo sent an e-mail saying he has a malignant tumor the size of a baseball in his liver – in an area that makes him a poor candidate for a transplant. He wrote that the doctor “gave me about a 40% chance to make it to the end of the year and a 25% chance to make it to next year. It is terminal, but God only knows when.”

Jimbo is the single father to a 12-year-old son. One shudders when contemplating what it will be like for that poor kid to watch his father deteriorate. I remember being 12. It’s a time when hugs and kisses are gross. Yet all I want to do is hug him and protect him and let him weep.

I’m at a loss. We all are. I can count the number of nights I’ve sat on the curb drinking beer with Jimbo (who thinks anything other than Budweiser is “foof”), the number of sporting events we’ve attended together, or the number of times he let me get away with cheating on a golf course.

I just don’t know what else to say.

Comments

I was 9 when my dad was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and given 6 months to live. He died when I was 15, after withering away to almost nothing.. constantly in and out of the hospital.

It was horrible in the worst way.

I know it sounds sick, but for the sake of his kid, I hope Jimbo goes quickly. I honestly feel it would be better for the kid to remember his father, the hunter.. then to remember years of watching his hero turn into a pencil-thin stick with oxygen tubes stuck to his nose who is barely capable of saying, "I love you, son".

As for how to be with Jimbo.. there aren't words to express the sorrow. Remember that grieving is normal, and something there just is no "reason". Pray with him.

DGM, I'm sorry. So sorry. Poor Jimbo and Son of Jimbo. I will keep them in my prayers. He sounds like a great guy.
Maybe the doctors are wrong.

DGM, sorry doesn't even begin to cut it, but I am sorry for this news. I've been reading your blog for a while now, mostly ROFL. I can't recall how I found you but it had to be via one of the knitblogs I follow. Which is to say, please give me a shout if you find out that Jimbo is going to go for the chemo & radiation. I'd be pleased to whip up a manly chemo cap for him. the chemo & radiation can make the skin of your skull too tender for billed caps and such.
sending love, light and prayers for you all.
Caroline

this has been a rough year for it. We have had a least 3 friends diagnosed this year, and lost one of them Thursday. I am sorry, for you, for him, for his son. May it be quick and relatively painless, but not too soon. if that makes sense.

Jimbo and his son will be in my prayers. I'm so sorry that this had to happen to them.

I hope having good folks he can lean on in the neighborhood helps him a little bit. I'm sure it will.

If I died, my neighbors wouldn't even know it. They'd probably complain about the parking for a few days while my family gathered and then go on about their lives...

(ps: I've moved and reopened shop at justlinda dot net, FYI).

Aw man, that sucks.
I hate cancer!

Our neighbor (and friend) passed away a few months ago from cancer. It's still so hard to grasp sometimes. He was an uber athlete and it was oft commented that is he hadn't been such a perfect physical specimen when he got sick, he would not have lived as long as he did.

Irony sucks.

As does cancer. My thoughts are with you. My prayers are with him.

You said more than enough. Thanks for sharing Jimbo. And thanks for still being funny in doing it. No greater measure of respect.

thats a major bummer.(understatement, i know, just cant think of another way to say how i feel after reading that) i cant imagine what he must be thinking. My best to everyone involved.

That's beyond horrible. Very sorry to hear. I never used to think much of this beofer I had a child but now just the thought of something this makes me weep openly. I hope a miracle happens and he recovers

AD

I think it's time cancer went straight back to the hot place. Seriously. Prayers and thoughts to Jimbo and his son. Please keep us posted. Especially if there is ever anything we here in Internet Land can do to help. Anything at all.

I'll keep Jimbo and his son in my thoughts. It's scary when shit like this happens. My own dad was in a head-on collision on thanksgiving that killed his wife and almost took his own life.
The past 3 months have been like living in a horrible dream.
Amazingly, my dad recovered (at least physically). Perhaps Jimbo will be one of the lucky ones. I hope so.

-Blue

i'm so sorry.

Oh G-d, I'm so sorry. If there is anything we can do to help, you only need to ask.
Keeping Jimbo, his son, and you in my prayers.

DGM

Prayers, Prayers, and more prayers going up for Jimbo and his son. My daughter lost her dad when she was 9. Telling her he passed away was the hardest thing I ever had to do in my life. He sounds like a wonderful character. I'm so sorry. Glad he has good friends in the neighborhood

Oh, Danny. I'm so sorry about your friend. He and his son will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Hey--the doctors gave my dad six months five years ago. Don't give up on Jimbo.

You're not supposed to make me cry!

Such sad news, I'm sorry to hear that! I hope that however long Jimbo has left- and it might be much longer than the doctor's predict, they're not psychics afterall- is purposeful and pleasant and full of joy and laughter. My thoughts and prayers will especially be with his young son, what a sad thing for a teen boy to have to go through.

sorry to hear that DGM... i hope you will be there for jimbo and his son, no matter how much it hurts. At least he will have you to help him laugh...

danny, I can't imagine how sad you must be. I love you.

The only time Jimbo gets angry is when you choose your wife over him or the Angels lose. Otherwise, he is a big teddy bear with a good heart. When I need to borrow an egg, a cup of milk or need assistance with buying a "sports" gift for my husband, I call him. He is always willing to help.

It is heartwarming to know that there are good people out there in the internet world who don't know DGM or Jimbo or his son personally and yet you show support and concern. In this crazy crazy world we live in, that is reassuring. Thank you. I know Jimbo would appreciate it too.

I think it's every parent's worst dream; to leave your kids in this world without you. I am so sorry for your dear friend and for you. Beyond being able to pray for you, it's all I can say. So sad.

Merry, David and Thomas will think of your neighbor and his son tonight. What a shame.

I just buried my grandfather on thursday when he died from cancer that lasted about 5 weeks. He was fine at Christmas and by the middle of February he was gone. It was so fast I'm still in shock. I understand your confusion and hurt. I really do. I'll pray for you all.

Jimbo and his son will be in my prayers. Cancer sucks.

e-hugs! even if they *are* yucky!

My grandmother was given one month to live and that was almost 10 years ago. She is still alive and her cancer is gone completely. There is always hope.

that's so sad, I'm sorry DGM about your neighbor, especially being a single father, he must be going through some tough stuff right now.

Man, that's awful. I have a 13 yo and can't imagine what would happen without DH in his life at this age.

One can hope that doctors aren't always correct.