Sad News...

Well it's been a bit since my last update.

Some sad news these past few days with the passing of my Uncle Bob (affectionately known as "Uncle") on 3/7. He was a lot of things to a lot of people. Good. Complex. Loving. Charitable. Stubborn. Righteous. Resolute.

He was my Dad's older brother and of course with his passing I start to wonder (and worry) about my Dad. He's 6 years his junior but frankly my Dad looks and acts older than Uncle did. Uncle was always into something. Golf. Painting. Running. Church. Gardening (man could he garden). I wish my Dad had the same pallet of interest because I think it would keep him young.

I stood at the funeral and watched my three cousins sob. And while it made me sad to see them so upset, it also made me happy because it told me that Uncle was important to them.

He made a big difference in their lives.

He made an impact.He mattered.

You don't cry like that over someone that doesn't matter.

I realized then that that's what I want when I die. I want the room to be wall-to-wall wailing and then I want everyone to go to a really good pub (like O'Connors or Federal Jack's or The Up Country Saloon) and I want them to stand around arm-in-arm drinking Newcastle's and laughing. I want them to start every sentence with "Do you remember the time...." or "Boy he really loved...." and I want their to be more laughter. I want the hostess to have to come over and ask everyone to quiet down.

And when the ale runs dry, and the laughter stops and everyone is spilling onto the street and saying their goodbyes I want folks to smile and remember me as someone that mattered.

I think that's all I can really ask for out of my life.

God Bless You Uncle. You were a complicated man that mattered. You weren't always easy to figure out or agree with, but you were someone that mattered. Good on ya'.