Tuesday, November 15, 2011

The Next Great Adventure

I found out yesterday that my uncle died. He was in his early 90s and lived a long full life, but he was also a survivor of not just the bombing of Pearl Harbor but the assault on Iwo Jima. For decades, he wouldn't talk about what he experienced.

He was from a small town in Wyoming, spent twenty years in the Navy, and returned to that same small town in Wyoming where he bought the farm next to his father's.

He was the husband of my beloved aunt, my mother's only sister. In his later years he became rather crotchety, according to his daughter, but I'll never forget how he chased me down after I got my finger embedded in the twines of a music box and was running screaming through his house (we were visiting). My uncle was fond of getting comfortable after work. He'd get down to his skivvies in the summer or his thermals in the winter and was never bothered to greet company however he was dressed.

So many of my childhood memories are tied to these dear people in Wyoming. We spent a couple of summers with them. One was the summer after my mother died. My cousin and I were very close, and my aunt suggested that I stay there for the school year. My father didn't want to split my little sister and I up, so I didn't get to stay. I was brokenhearted at the time, but I can see now my father's wisdom. My poor uncle, though. He liked to put honey in his morning coffee. My little sister thought it was funny to put a bunch of salt in the honey. It only took twice and he was able to convince not to ever do that again.

My sweet cousin, who in so many ways was another sister to me, said it best. He's in a better place now where there's a happy reunion going on with my aunt and their son who went before. She and I are both Harry Potter fans, and I think she'd agree he's gone on to his next, great adventure.

Even so, he leaves a huge hole.

Love you, Uncle Ned.

25 comments:

  1. I'm sorry for your loss. It sounds like he was quite a guy.

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  2. Bless. I'm so sorry for your loss.

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  3. Sorry for the time you will miss him.

    It IS the next great adventure and he's waiting to tell you all about it, along with the rest of your family who will all come to meet you.
    Of this I am sure.

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  4. Oh Donna, I'm so sorry. I'm praying and thinking about you.

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  5. People move us in many ways. I have a feeling you'll always have fond memories of your Uncle, and send along my sympathy.

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  6. So sorry for your loss, my thoughts are with you and your family.

    Yvonne.

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  7. I'm sorry. I hope that everything goes well. ANd yes, he has moved on to his next great adventure!

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  8. Lovey! He sounds amazing. What a life.

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  9. I am sorry to hear about your loss, but this is a beautiful tribute. Sounds like an amazing man, and I love to think of them off on their next great adventures too! Lots of love.

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  10. Donna, I'm sorry about your uncle. I wonder if heaven has a dress code. Hopefully he can get comfy there too. :)

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  11. how wonderful that he was so loved and remembered. i'm sure he's happier now too. thats the way to go, living life on your own terms as long as you can!

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  12. Wonderful tribute to a good man. I know what you mean about leaving a huge hole. Blessings to you and your family.

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  13. I don't really know what to say here other than it's a terrible shame. My sympathy goes out to you. May you find the strength to accept it and move forward.

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  14. I'm sorry to hear about your uncle. Best wishes to you and your family.

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  15. Sorry for your loss. Your uncle sounds like a character.

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  16. I'm very sorry, Donna

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  17. I'm so sorry for your loss, Donna. *hugs*

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  18. What a loving tribute. My condolences, Donna.

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  19. So sorry for your loss, but it sounds like you have a wealth of good memories. You've written a lovely tribute.

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  20. hi there,
    Thank you so much for stopping by. You are so right armistice day is significant in so many ways.
    Sorry to hear of your loss, he sounds like he lived a full life and was quite a guy.x

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  21. My condolences. He sounds like a neat guy.

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  22. I'm so sorry for your loss. It's hard to lose the ones we love, but it's nice to know that they are happy and in a better place. *hugs*

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  23. Sending you my sympathy and I'm so glad you knew enough about him to share with us. Thank you! Tell us more.

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  24. I'm so sorry to hear of your uncle's passing. But 90+ years (and much of that time in skivvies)? We should all be so lucky! It sounds like you have great memories of him, and those will live on...

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  25. I'm glad you have fond memories of him to keep with you.

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