Janaldo Delander "Man" Mims II

April 02, 1980 ~ July o3, 2023

"MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU"

My name is Janaldo Delander Mims II (AKA Man).

You can tell from the title that I'm a Star Wars fan. Yet I'm much more than that.

For example, I'm an army brat. I was born with the snowcapped Rockies as a backdrop at the Ft. Carson Army base in Colorado Springs, CO.

It was a Wednesday in the middle of Spring when everything was new. Flowers were blooming, trees were budding, and I became the greatest joy of my parents, Veronica Mims and Janaldo's Mims. That's right, on the second day of April of 1980, I came into this world, and my parents named me after my father. Later I received the affectionate name of "Man."

I became a world traveler at a young age. I've enjoyed living in different places. I lived in Bremerhaven, Germany, where I learned to speak Dutch fluently. Then I moved to Fredrick Maryland, next to Panama City, Panama, followed by a move to Fayetteville, North Carolina. However, moved back to Colorado, where I attended Hinkley High School and discovered that structural education wasn't my thing; therefore, I obtained my GED.

My preferred method of transportation was my skateboard; when it came to music, I loved all genres and my favorite group was the Wu Tang Clan. Hey at one time I was an inspiring DJ and even loved to break dance. Although this never came to fruition, my love for music never died. Not only did I like music, I enjoyed reading Earth and science books as well. Two other things I like was collecting comic books and Gnomes? They were things that brought me joy.

Moreover, I was an urban artist, and the city's walls, barrels, and fences were my canvas. I would travel with my backpack full of paint to apply my abstract art whenever I saw a canvas.

I'm reminded of what Carla Krueger said, a famous graffiti artist, ...blank walls are shared canvases and we're all are artist".

I love my family. I've been fortunate to have a bonus mom, Cecelia Mims. My siblings are Cheri Winslow, Javay Hamilton (Jason), Bruce Lee (Kee), Celissa Edwards (Dan), Avery Carroll (Faith Gibson) and a gang of Aunts, Uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

If they were to describe me to a stranger, it would sound like this; I'm very kind with a big smile, and always cared more about others than I do myself. I developed this aptitude from the love I received from my family and friends. There's a quote from Star Wars that adequately show who I am… "Compassion, Which I Would Define as Unconditional Love, Is Essential to a Jedi's Life."

The time has come for me to close and complete this story. Realize it's not a full portrayal of 43 years of my life but it is sweet and to the point.

I will conclude this in the same way I began. "May The Force Be with You!