Uncle Jim
So we just found out that my great uncle, Jim Swail, died this morning of a
heart attack. He was old, don't worry.
I didn't get along with him in his later years because he had a habit of
picking apart everything I said and insulting me. But when I was younger we
had a lot of fun.
This man was an engineer who specialized in radio waves. He would fix his own
radio tower, and was instrumental in the renovations of my family's cottage in
Quebec. He was a Companion of the Order of Canada and a well-respected
inventor.
And the coolest thing is that he did all these things while being BLIND. He
was the dude who invented that folding white cane that blind people use to get
around on their own.
He always had this weird ability to recognize people by their steps and their
breathing. He even recognized mine when I hadn't seen him in ten years and
had probably grown a foot or two. Amazing.
In any case, that's my story for today. The general annoyances of school and
work don't quite match up to the permanent loss of a great mind, so that's all
I'll say. Don't be surprised if you see some big article in the paper on the
weekend. He really was quite a famous scientist.
Rest in peace.
Posted by Ally at September 13, 2005 09:01 AM