MOURNING THE LOSS OF A BELOVED FORUM MEMBER

[YesterdayOnceMore]

It is with a very heavy heart tonight that I write.

I just got a phone call from our dear forum friend Jim Hutchinson's partner, Robert.

Jim died of pneumonia three weeks ago.

Robert had been attempting to contact me, as he knew Jim and I corresponded aside from the forum on a regular basis. I had been telling forum regular Dave that I was worried, as I had not heard from Jim in a long while. Also, Rick and I mused why Jim had not made any posts here, because he so loved this site. Now, unfortunately, we have our answer.

My online friends, I cannot express to you the sadness I feel. If I can continue to write through this vail of tears, I will tell you what I know, after being on the phone for an hour with Robert.

Apparently, Jim had been feeling bad for some time. Had a cold or something and couldn't shake it. But, even though Robert urged him to do so, he would not go to a Doctor to get checked out. I guess that he finally got to the point that there was nothing left to do, and Robert took him to the Emergency Room. This, as I understand it, happened three to four weeks ago.

Robert stated that they immediately put Jim on oxygen to help him breathe a bit better. They ran many tests in the ER to determine that Jim was suffering from a very bad case of pneumonia. He was admitted. Robert explains that they got up to his room on the 5th floor, and Jim had the stamina to stand from his wheelchair, and get into bed. Almost immediately after, he said that Jim's eyes rolled up into his head, and Robert called a "Code Blue" which is the code for the need for immediate recessitation. I understood him (through his sobs, God love him) to tell me that they did the code with the paddles, and simultaneously performed an EKG, but there was no heart beat, and they could not get Jim's heart going again. He had died, almost immediately after lying down.

Robert said he was able to stay with Jim for a time after, just to be alone with him. They had been together for many, many years.

Personally, I was afraid something was terribly wrong since I had not heard anything from Jim for a long, long time - and he had not posted for some time. When he would not even answer my emails, I was prompted to write a "snail mail" letter to him. That is how Robert finally was able to find me, and call me to tell me of Jim's untimely death.

I know Jim would wish us to celebrate his passing, rather than mourn it. It's just a bit tough for me to do at this moment. You can bet he's met Karen by now, and I'm sure they have had many, many wonderful conversations already. THAT must make him terribly happy.

Please join me in offering condolences to Jim's mother, and to Robert - the ONLY family he had. I do know how fond he was especially of Rick, and was so proud to have become a moderator on the forum. He and Dave were especially close, as well.

Robert asked me to post this message to you (of course I had planned to anyway) but to especially tell all of you that Jim loved being a part of this community. Robert said that Jim would spend hours at the computer, trying to find something about Karen and Richard to share with us all. He loved each of us very much, Robert told me.

Jim was a prince. Truly a sweet man with a good heart and soul. He was a fun friend, and I know you all join me in mourning this gigantic loss.

".....and when my life is over, remember when we were together.....we were alone and I was singing this song for you."

We're going to miss you, Jim.

Tim

[Rick Henry]

This is truly sad news. Jim was a good internet friend. He and I wrote back and forth (via email) on a regular basis. He really put his heart into being a true and sincere friend.

About a year and a half ago he wrote a Favorites List for the web site. He did such a great job of it. He even went so far as to go to Kinkos to have them scan a photo of himself and send it to my email box. He spent something like $20.00 just so we could see the face of the author behind the list. I wish I still had that picture to share with everyone here unfortunately it was saved on my old compute. What a great guy Jim was. I will miss him much.

My condolences and prayers go out to Robert.

[smoothie2]

Indeed, a real tragedy and loss for all of us on the forum
and especially for those closest to him, Robert, Tim, and Rick, and many others.
I am so sorry that this has happened, and will remember them and us in my prayers.
What a terrible loss...but I'm thankful you kept in touch w/ him
Tim and Rick. I'm glad you let us know.

For some reason, I think of the song by Cat Stephens..."Morning
Has Broken"...
I heard it sung at a funeral by the deceased man's grand-children,
and I think I like that sung at mine some day.

[BethMosior]

I'm soooo very, very sad to hear about Jim, word's can't tell how I feel my thoughts and prayers go out to Robert thanx Tim for sharing this very sad news, how very hard it must have been Tim to write this sad news my heart goes out to you and Robert how very sad, If Robert needs any thing or well just anything please Tim let us know how very sad I am

[Ming]

I am sad to hear this. : ( It is a loss for all of us.

Ming

[ps11932]

Indeed we shall be in prayer for Robert, Jim's mom, and others during this sorrowful time.

[Federico Cruz]

Rest in peace, Jim.
My condolences to Robert.

[enigma]

Funny Beth mentioned this in another post and I thought oh no she is talking about our forums Jim...then I thought no it couldn't be him unfortuneately I now have my answer. I did not know Jim as well as Tim, Robert and Rick did but I am saddened by his passing. From what I have read of his posts here he seemed like a really special person that I wish I knew better. My codolences go out to all of Jims friends and loved ones rest in peace Jim until we meet again on the other side. Time to get a tissue this really is sad news.

[palmapascale]

I have experienced the joy of your internet community, the smile your posts can bring even though I have never met you all in person. And tonight I feel some of the sadness you all must be feeling for this wonderful, gentle man named Jim, and his beloved Robert as well as his mom. Please allow me to join you,too, in expressing the pang in my heart for all of you. I can see what Jim's enthusiasm and thoughts meant to all of you on this site. There will be "one empty chair" as the old song says, and in this case, "an empty box "where his words would have chimed in through the wonders of this electronic media. I pray God brings His hand of peace to all those who mourn this lovely man, as I am sure Jim is safe in the palm of His hand. I stand with you all tonight. Love, Palma

[Dave]

It hurts to lose anyone. I've read about people losing friends they've met over the Internet, but until now I've never experienced it.
Jim was a free thinker, a man who wasn't afraid of anything the universe had to show him. We would converse about subjects metaphysical for hours. Quantum physics fascinated him. Even now, I can imagine him conversing with Niels Bohr and Albert Einstein. He was always wanting to learn, and I used to wonder why he never got into science. It was probably boring to him. His imagination was bounded by the limits of the universe itself.
And now he is one with that universe, and is probably laughing because he knows that out of all of the forces in the universe, love is the strongest.
Tonight, as he gets together with his father and friends, he'll wonder why he feels raindrops falling upon him. A steady shower. Karen will smile at him, and say "Those aren't raindrops, they're teardrops shed by those who loved you. There are more than you ever knew."
Jim, I know that you can read these words, and the words of all of us. I also know that you can feel our sorrow. We will miss you, and in some respects, we envy you.
You have all of the answers now. You understand why everything happened the way it did. You know what your life meant, and that it wasn't what you thought it was.
We understood, and we loved you. And now, your keyboard "voice" is silent.
But what you have given us, how you touched our lives, has changed us all.
Thank you for sharing with us.
Save a little time for me someday, when it's my turn.

James Hutchinson...sleeping in the arms of the cosmos.

[Dave]

Here's Jim's last message to me.

Hi Dave;
glad to see your still searching for the answer to the mystery of your experience. This is just one article I picked out because it kinda of touches on that subject. Do a search on bio entanglement and hold on to your cranium! There are some articles that go into how are minds are connected to many levels and dimensions that are beginning to prove that our minds are intertwined with the past present and future that are astounding!

Jim

Unfortunately, the links he sent me no longer work. But here is a glimpse of what he thought about in his spare time.

[GoodOldDreams]

My deepest condolences to Robert and all those who were close to Jim and knew him well.

Jim has been with this forum for two years, and his 523 postings reflected a profound love of music, metaphysics, good friends, quirky dry humor, in-depth research and debating the merits of scientific theories and folk wisdom. His stream-of-consciousness posting in "Re: Singles Box Set due in March 2006" is one of my favorites:

jgh said:

These are the days I wish my hair would turn grey or just fall out entirely. I know there is no scientific basis in the dumb blonde claims as they have woven there way in and out of cultural folk lore but the correlation in my case seems to fall in the favor of Einstein's spooky action at a distance theories to close for comfort.LOL! Hey I am a really nice guy if your a really fast runner.

Hey it's always exciting news discover we have a new Carpenters product to look forward to and a testement to there legacy as two of the most phenomanally talented musicians in rock and roll history. Cleveland!! Lake Erie was at one time considered biolologically dead and that is a documented fact. The RRHOF is right on the lake.

I have a feeling that Richard is planning on some big, well kept surprises for us and so far it looks this project looks wayyyyyyyyyyy coool!!!! My friend Tim says there's nothing better than a mystery!

Don't touch that dial either cause if I know Rick the day is coming when he announces a basement party with Sir Richard Carpenter himself!!!

Thanks for all of your hard work this year Rick!! Your dedication is deeply appreciated.

Jim

[yellow]Good night, Jim. You are missed but not forgotten here.[/yellow]

[Dave]

I spoke with his dear mother today, and hopefully she'll stop by and lend us her thoughts. Jim died on January 23, was cremated, and brought home to Morgantown, WV.
I feel so empty, that I live only two hours away, but wasn't there...

[YesterdayOnceMore]

AFD, thanks for posting this message, and for the email. Yes friends, the connection I had with Robert when we spoke last week (two cell phones with lousy connections) made me think he told me Jim died 3 weeks, not months ago. No wonder no one had heard from him in so long. No wonder.....

I am personally having a very difficult time with this whole thing. I, like Dave, have never lost someone I only knew online. Jim and I spoke on the phone, and had a wonderful conversation, just last summer. We'd hoped to meet if I got to Florida, or he to Missouri, but of course, that never happened. One day, when I go to visit Dave, we'll go together to Jim's home town and pay him a visit.

I want you all to know that GoodOldDreams did me a big favor and not only did he search for all of Jim's posts (all 523 of them), he also put them all on a PDF file for me, so I could send them to Robert and to Jim's mother. Thanks again, Ed. I appreciate very much that you did that. He did the same with this thread, as well. Robert, I know, will be quite touched to receive this.

"...takin' my time, trying to find time to unwind.....nothin's gonna hurry me....nothin's gonna worry me....."

Tim

[Mary]

This is Jim's mom. Dave called me today and told me how much you Carpenter's fans enjoyed Jim's correspondence and how much he will be missed. I was touched. I appreciate knowing
there are friends out there that I was not aware of who cared so much about him. He was a wonderful, caring young man. Like Karen, he too died much too young. Robert and I miss
him so much. We cherish our memories of him. I will be reminded of Jim and all of you whenever I hear a Carpenters song.

[BethMosior]

Thanx ever sooooooo much Mary for your post, so sorry for your loss Jim is very much missed, now when I hear Karen I will think and praying for you and Robert thanx again for your post

[Rick Henry]

Hi Mary... Thank you so very much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts with us. Jim was a really good guy. He emailed me several times over the past few years. We conversed about many subject. About the good times and the tough times. He was always considerate of the other person's feelings - never selfish. I miss him so very much.

My prayers are with you Mary and Robert.

[smoothie2]

hi Mary, I'm Kathy (or smoothie)...I really didn't know Jim ..but from what I read here,
is that he was very special . I cannot imagine how hard this must be for you.
I'm sorry you are facing this terrible loss. Just hang in there and I know God
is caring for you and Jim and Robert.ss