Nicole, it’s funny you liked the last three sentences because I pretty much stole “always had a soft spot for him and defended him” from your text message. Heh! I’m glad you shared your stories. I didn’t know the one about the toilet, but I remember the night of the cut hand. I wasn’t there, but I remember you telling me about it the next day. When I heard the news, I thought of his mom too, and specifically of you talking a lot with her, how she still called him “Jimmy” and sounded, well, just like a mom. And I remember the shots at Murphy’s. They WERE good! I had some with you, if not him too. Maybe we should get together and have one.

Your final three sentences say it best for me. I’m glad we got to know him like we did. I enjoyed sharing a living space with him – he was a good roommate and it enabled me to get to know him. He was hilarious and even kind. There were so many times when people asked “How could you share a house with that dude?” and the answer was always easy: “You don’t know him.” I rarely saw Jay in the past couple years; occasionally, we’d speak at shows and around when he was in town. But, I was proud of him and his talent and always happy to hear his successes. And always pained to hear of his tribulations. I always admired him for his fearlessness and his dynamic personality.

I have been remembering good times but haven’t been able to find quite the right words to put with them to share with others (everyone’s got their own stories – I guess I’d rather keep them to myself). You did it well. But now I think I’m ready.

>> Jay really liked the key lime pie shooters at Murphy’s and I developed quite a taste for them, too. Still don’t know what’s in them but we shared many!
>> One time after a show at Murphy’s (and probably alot of afore-mentioned shooters) Jay had a pretty good gash on his hand from playing guitar like he did (like he was possessed!). I made him go in the bathroom when we got back home where I washed it up and bandaged it for him. It was a bloody mess and he was going to let it stay that way, but I had to be Mother Hen.
>> I will always remember the time that Jay cleaned Chuck’s upstairs toilet. He just couldn’t stand it anymore. I think the water was stagnant. So, while Chuck was out he went up their and took the bleach to it. Brave. It might’ve been the ONE time that toilet was ever cleaned!
>> Mostly I’ve been thinking of his mom and sisters. His mom used to call for him at the house when he was on tour and I’d end up talking to her for a little while. I hope she finds comfort in that she raised a good guy.