Jimbo, we are lucky men!

“Jimbo, we are lucky men.”

How often did I hear my friend Shawn Somerville say those words – on the golf course; in the backyard on a starlit summer night with our wives; in one of our houses on a freezing afternoon, watching football as the kids ran and played around us. “How awesome is this? Jimbo, we are lucky men.” Shawn said it enough to where it was practically his motto. And it wasn’t just words. Shawn was the most grateful person I have ever known. He appreciated everything that he had,and everyone around him, and it wasn’t just once in a while. It wasn’t some of the time. It was ALL the time. Constant gratitude and appreciation were the essence of Shawn Somerville.

Shawn loved the outdoors, whether up north at the cabin or in his backyard down here, the backyard that he and Joanie set up so well to bring a little of the North Woods to Wheaton. Shawn loved our neighborhood, and he loved his friends. But while he appreciated all of these things and more, it was but a drop of water to the ocean of his love for his family: his beautiful wife Joanie and his wonderful children, Parker and Carly. Shawn knew how incredible they are, and how lucky he was, and the flame of his love and gratitude never dimmed for a second.

It never could. It never will.

As we remember Shawn, we honor him by appreciating how precious are our loved ones, how precious life is. Not for a moment, but all the time. Shawn, we are so lucky to have known you. We are all so very lucky.