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Country Homeschool in the City
Jun. 24, 2009
Bachelor Uncle
This morning my Great Uncle Patrick died. He had a long battle with cancer and other things, quite the amazing man. In these last 5 years, my mom has become quite close to him. Although they say she wasn't named Patricia after him . . .well, I have to wonder!
I hadn't seen Uncle Pat in a great many years, even though he lived close by. He had always been the closest to my Grandma and I know it was hard for her to see him deteriorating. I wonder about his character and who he really was. I mean, he grew up backwoods with his 6 other siblings (including my Grandma), he worked hard, I imagine drank and smoked hard and married the love of his life in the '50s even though he knew she was dying. I thought that was sweet enough but heard from my mom and Grandma today that he had hired an English nurse to live with them and when his wife died, mom told me, he stayed with her that night until they came to take the body away.
Apparently he was meticulous. I wonder if that was a bit of that generation. I mean, my Grandma is, my Grandpa is . . . and even some older people we know here are. The nurses told my mom he'd be up at 5am to shave and wash up. They were quite surprised by his standards. Mom says his apartment is clutter free and tidy.
Uncle Pat would send me coins and paper money (collectible) for Christmas. He did the same for my mom (and I imagine her siblings) when she was growing up. Writing this, I feel sad that I don't think I told him I've enjoyed showing my kids, especially DS, the coins. But maybe I did. I know I wrote to him a while back, hoping for some info on his childhood. I didn't hear back but I didn't blame him.
So I talked to my mom today. There's something special to being that close to an aunt or uncle, I think. I know she cherishes the time they've had these last few years. And I know she feels some comfort in knowing that like Uncle Pat did with Joyce, staying with her in her last moments and beyond; so she did with him.
I also talked with my Grandma. She is sad, I know. Out of 7 children, only 2 remain. The eldest girl and the youngest boy.
It seems slightly odd that I had this experience a year and a half ago with DH's great aunt Mabel and that was my first experience with death and here's my mom experiencing it for the first time as well. It puts it all in perspective.
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