Rememering the Timms

One of the first family portraits that included Timm, 1963.

A grey, changeful afternoon here in Central Florida, news of the stock market bad again, a rueful blues to my mood.

Last night there was a news segment about companies which go into foreclosed houses and clean them out -- everything goes into a dumpster; what was so sad was how full the houses still were, the inhabitants fleeing into bankruptcy leaving almost everything behind, as if it were all owned by the bank, clothes, furniture, toys, photos, memories. All that stuff and not a trace of their owners -- where do they go? Ghosts of our present malaise, lost in the news of the presidential election and the stock market collapse, somewhere in this grey, wet day ...

I'm missing Timm. I remember seeing him at the wake, big guy on that table almost completely covered (all of his organs had already been harvested), his face so still and serene, done roaming at last ... Christie stood next to him stroking his close-cropped grey hair, unwilling to let him go, the big grief at bay for that short while, just spending time with him, saying goodbye ... Mom and Will and Molly and I talked in quiet voices in that chill hush, still too stunned to believe that Timm was gone, though he was so obviously so. So sorry you had to go, bro ...

Anyway ... posting here some of the Timm pix I still have which haven't gone onto the site yet, a motley of years, hardly summing his life but we remember what we can ...

Timm in the sunroom window of the Evanston house, 1965. Eager, I'm sure, to get out and resume sledding in that red saucer.

Timm with Molly and Mom in Jacksonville, Florida, visiting grandmother Dearie. Timm's eyes are obviously just over the horizon.

From trike to horse: Timm aboard a filly at the dude ranch in Colorodo we vacationed at in '66 or so. Timm's gaze remains afar.

Timm (below right) begs entrance with his buddy Paul Roth.

Wake up, will ya? Timm was notorious for oversleeping for Christmas and other celebrations.

A scene from the back yard of our Fullerton Ave., house in Chicago (c. 1974): Timm (far left, with his dog Tippy), Albert (who lived with us), me, Dad, Mom, Molly with Monty.

Timm mows the grass at the Lakeview Presbyterian Church in Chicago where Dad was pastor.

Celebrating Mom's birthday in Chicago: Ritchie (who also lived with us), Molly, Mom, and Timm.

A family portrait, c. 1975: Timm (with Tippy), Molly (with Monte), and Mom.

Timm celebrates Mom's birthday again, c. 1976.

Timm with cousin Mark Hellinger.

A high school picture.

On the road again! Timm at one of the ranches he worked at in the 1980's.

Timm on a visit to Florida in the '80's.

Ditto. Note the t-shirt. Just the sort of sport for Timm.

Timm as best man at his friend Darwin's wedding. Kunkle, OH, 1986.

Will and Timm at Dearie's funeral, early 1990s.

Timm graduates from college. Fort Collins, Colorado.

Timm on his last visit to Florida in 2007.