Thursday, June 22, 2006
My Uncle Al
What a great man to have had in my life and to have known.
He was there when I had my first cigarette Sue ,Pat , Edie and Al where sitting on the side porch of the Washington Ave. Maryland house throwing their unfinished butts over the rail. Being a four year old boy I was able to make it to the wondrous smoking thing,sit down and enjoy my first smoke, until the smoke kept rising up from the grass causing the adults to have a look to see what was going on.
Then there was a time when we were visiting and my sister Sue Cousin Ed, Billy and my self got into some fiber glass insulation and thought that it felt real soft, so we rubbed it all over ourselves. When the itching started Uncle Al and aunt Edie, Sue, and Pat put us all in the tub and tried to scrub the fiberglass out of us. Uncle Al was not happy.
On a few of our visits my dad Pat would wake us up early pack us up and leave before Uncle Al could talk him staying another day.
I Remember being out in the fields in the dark catching lightning bugs with Uncle Al and my cousins. And then taking them to the college for what I don?t know.
One time me and Billy were in the shed outback of the Washington Ave. house and we thought it was neat the way the dust rose when we threw the boards on the dirt floor. So we threw all the boards. It was quit a racket I?ll never forget Uncle Al?s face as he opened the door or the hyde tanning we got all the way back to the house.
I remember Uncle Al had a nine-passenger oldsmobils wagon that always fit about 13.
Uncle Al had a big beautiful house built on school lane with a chandelier real close to the balcony walkway. I thought it would be a good thing to try to swing on it so I started pushing it to see how far I would go. Next I heard? what the hells going on?! It was Uncle Al. When he saw who it was I think he expected it.
I remember a couple of thanksgivings at Uncle Al?s. I had a hard time with the concept of lasagna for thanksgiving dinner.
All the many wonderful New Years Eve parties. My Uncle Al sure knew how to entertain. but he wouldn?t sleep till after me and Billy were sleeping. Unfortunately for him we liked to stay up all night and listen to the Dead concerts. In the morning my sister Kathryn would blow that damn horn. In my later years I was lucky to make it to 12:05.
You may not know this but I?m Al?s honorary 5th son. He told me so one New Years Eve he was a great storyteller and a jokester.
I remember Uncle Al sitting in the wreck room always with a fly swatter near by. He hated flies.
He always had good advice too. On my wedding day he sternly advised me not to push the wedding cake in my wife?s face and he meant it. So I heeded his advise.
He was an agile man ask anyone who played slappsy with him.
He was a man with class and dignity who raised his children as gentlemen and ladies.
I have thought of him and these good times most of my life and I will think of him often. As I always have.
My thoughts and love are with you Aunt Edie and my wonderful cousins.
Michael
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