Uncle

Uncle is a funny word if you look at it sitting there all by itself.  I’m not sure of the source of the word. But uncles are often big parts of our lives. An uncle is either the male sibling of a parent or the husband of a female sibling of a parent. But, sometimes it is an honorary title given to unrelated males close to the family.

Why am I thinking about uncles?  I just got back from the memorial service for my last remaining uncle, Uncle Vincent.  He was 96 when he died. I had five uncles growing up. I loved them all and have fond memories of lives shared with them. Interestingly, four of the five worked for Bethlehem Steel!

I’ve been an uncle since I was six years old.  I remember telling my parents that when my sister had her baby I hoped it would be a monkey because then I could be a monkey’s uncle! A monkey’s uncle! That’s an interesting phrase. Or how about “Cry Uncle”?  Getting “a letter from Uncle Sam!” “Bob’s your uncle”, more famous in Great Britain and on Fawlty Towers. Being scolded like a “Dutch uncle” is another.

I enjoy being an uncle, though I don’t see my nieces and nephews as often as I used to.  But, like Willie Nelson sang, they are always on my mind.  I hope I have been a good uncle. My family is large and growing. I am a great uncle many times and a great, great uncle a few times too.  Feel free to consider those greats as adjectives as well as part of the title!

I am closing this post with a tribute to famous uncles we all know and love. Uncle Joe (he’s moving kind of slow) from Petticoat Junction. Uncle Bill from Family Affair. Uncle Jesse from Full House (have mercy!).  Uncle Fester from The Addams Family! Uncle Leo (Jerry!) from Seinfeld.  And last but not least, The Man From U.N.C.L.E.! Wait, I guess that one doesn’t fit.

Uncles! That really is a funny word. If this post made you think about your own uncles, maybe it is time to check in with them.  After all, life goes really fast and before you know it they are gone.

I am looking out my window and I see Florence has arrived, fortunately in a much diminished form.  Remember, some people walk in the rain and others just get wet!