QUESTION 19

Personal History Question 19 is, “Write about your uncles.”

My dad did not have any brothers. My uncles on his side of the family consisted of HIS uncles. There was my Uncle Lonnie, Uncle Lee, Uncle Dutch, Uncle Bob, Uncle Johnny, Uncle Al.. These were my Nanny’s brothers. My Uncle Al died from cancer when I was 8. I was not close to my Uncle Johnny or my Uncle Bob, although we saw Bob and his family more often then Johnny. I was very very close to my Uncle Lonnie and my Uncle Dutch. I saw Uncle Lee pretty regularly until his passing when I was 13, but we weren’t particularly close. Losing my Uncle Lonnie just after my dad’s passing gutted me. Uncle Dutch died in 1988, when I was 15. I took it rather hard. I miss them both very much. Then there is my Uncle Rick and my Uncle Buck, my dad’s sister’s husbands. I am not close to Connie and Buck now. They are fine people though, and I have warm memories of them from when I was younger. My Aunt Sandy and Uncle Rick were so bloody toxic for one another. But, they loved each other deeply. He is still around, lives in Maryland somewhere. I haven’t seen him since I was a child.

My mom has two brothers, my Uncle Sonny and my Uncle Richie. Both fine men. Uncle Sonny passed on years ago. He sounded just like my grandpa. When he would call, I honestly couldn’t tell if it was him or Grandpa. They had the same laugh, too. 🙂 He was into woodworking. I loved walking into their house…it always smelled of fresh wood and sawdust lol. My Uncle Richie is still kicking around. He was a businessman and owned several establishments (bars/restaurants) when I was growing up. He always dresses really nice, is always clean shaven, and always smells really nice. He has a warm smile, is very kind, and he gives good hugs. I have a lot of nice memories of him and my aunt from when I was a kid. He and my mom keep in touch often. Then, there is my Uncle Tom. He is my mom’s sister’s hubby. He is another one who always smells SO good! He is a wonderful, kind soul, and my childhood is filled with memories of him. He was “Santa” when I was a kid, always making an appearance on Christmas Eve. He and my aunt live in FL now, keeping busy with current interests. I do not recall ever having any Funcles… lol