My pal Jay Mills

We lost Jay on Wednesday, April 14th, 2010.  He was only 56 years old.  Jay knew how to get along with everyone he met.  He loved people and made friends easily.  I have fond memories of Jay bar tending at Belden back in the 1990's, at ease with bikers, little old ladies, and weirdos.  He was such fun!  I remember going out to eat at a restaurant in Reno once, and before we'd even been served, he'd manage to befriend everyone there and had everyone laughing, even the waitress!  He was like that.  Very personable, but he was also a private man who valued his solitude and his garden and his animals.

He came every year for Christmas to be with our family (he was Uncle Jay to our kids).  We always went to the Plumas-Sierra County Fair together, too, 3 times in the Fair Parade, as well.  Jay had several collections of the wackiest things.  People were always sending him gag gifts and I'm glad to say that we have his corn cob salt & pepper set and his gyrating Statue of Liberty rubber statue.

Over 10 years ago, Jay sent me a dollar bill in my birthday card, because, he said, it's fun to get a card with money in it.  I signed it and mailed it back to him in his birthday card, and we continued the practice until this last year.  The bill is "defaced" but I hope to frame it for posterity...it is totally covered with our messages and stickers over the years.  As soon as we find it, I'll scan it and post it here.

I will miss you Jay!  I love you with all my heart!  For those of you who would like to see the blog that we are building in honor of Jay, check out http://www.ourfriendjay.blogspot.com  Feel free to send me stuff if you have any memorabilia, too!