James Anthony Baker (Passed away 5 Oct 2016)

!James you were an inspiration , you made everyone so proud , your smile lit any room and you touched the hearts of everyone you met, I am so glad you were part of our life for many years, we will never forget you and we will love you forever, we will cherish all our precious memories of you and all the great times we shared with you, rest peacefully I hope you are now of on another adventure somewhere, love always and forever Rachel , Keith and family xxx ( you will always be our bonobo you know ) Xxxxx

James, there is a lovely poem called "The Dash" which explains that the date you were born and the date you died, aren’t what really matters. It’s “the dash”—those years in between and what you do with them—that people will always remember and love you for.  The photos and loving words of your friends over recent weeks make it clear you could be very very proud of how you spent your "dash"  xx

The Dash

I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on his casket from beginning to the end. He noted that first came the date of his birth and spoke of the following date with tears, but he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years. For that dash represents all the time that he spent alive on earth and now only those who loved him know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own, the cars, the house, the cash
what matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard; Are there things you would like to change? 
For you never know how much time is left that can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough to consider what is true and real
and always try to understand the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger and show appreciation more,
and love the people in our lives like we have never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile, 
Remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy is being read with your life’s actions to rehash… Would you be proud of the things they say about how you spent your dash?