Passing of an Uncle
I wrote about this on Facebook, but this is where I keep my journal of things going on in my life, just so I can remember.
On August 4th, 2009, my uncle passed away. I don't have many of the details, but I do know, from what it sounds like, he went in his sleep. He was my father's younger brother, and the only member of his own immediate family, out of his parents and siblings and not counting his children, that he had left from when he grew up. So, in that respect, he's alone now.
My uncle did not really take good care of himself. He had a lot of health issues; some self inflicted, and some not. He'd had a heart attack, a few stints, and an angioplasties (forgive the spelling - whatever procedure they do for the heart.) He also had some respiratory problems. Yet, he still smoked quite a lot. He was at home, and he went in his sleep, as far as I've been told. I don't think there's a better way to go; certainly never in a hospital.
I did not know him well, nor his son, Brian, who died in an automobile accident years and years before him, nor his living daughter, Kim - though that can easily be changed. But, I do remember, when I was younger, spending one summer swimming off of his pier, while my parents visited at his home. We went there to visit quite a few times that year. That's what I remember most.
When I found out on Tuesday that my uncle passed away, I was calm and distant. It didn't really affect me because I hadn't known him so well. Yesterday, I was unexpectedly all over the map emotionally. I suppose, in part, it's because I can't imagine losing one of my sisters. And, in part, I'm sad for my dad.
I will admit, it perhaps strikes a bit of fear into my heart. My uncle was only a few years younger than my father, and next year my father will be 70. Ever since my mother passed away, I have always fretted after him; more so after I moved away from the house - but it was a move I had to make for myself. That doesn't mean I stopped fretting over him, I haven't.
These next two days should be interesting, as my uncle's old family and new family come together for the funeral services. I only hope that the new family remains courteous because if they don't - well, I don't know what I might do. They didn't even want to tell Kim that her father had passed, and those of you that know me well, know this strikes a hard cord with me, as one of my half-sisters did not tell the other about her father passing for 6 months. It's not only wrong, it's cruel. I just hope none of them are cruel to Kim. From what I know of her, she's a wonderful, caring person.
On August 4th, 2009, my uncle passed away. I don't have many of the details, but I do know, from what it sounds like, he went in his sleep. He was my father's younger brother, and the only member of his own immediate family, out of his parents and siblings and not counting his children, that he had left from when he grew up. So, in that respect, he's alone now.
My uncle did not really take good care of himself. He had a lot of health issues; some self inflicted, and some not. He'd had a heart attack, a few stints, and an angioplasties (forgive the spelling - whatever procedure they do for the heart.) He also had some respiratory problems. Yet, he still smoked quite a lot. He was at home, and he went in his sleep, as far as I've been told. I don't think there's a better way to go; certainly never in a hospital.
I did not know him well, nor his son, Brian, who died in an automobile accident years and years before him, nor his living daughter, Kim - though that can easily be changed. But, I do remember, when I was younger, spending one summer swimming off of his pier, while my parents visited at his home. We went there to visit quite a few times that year. That's what I remember most.
When I found out on Tuesday that my uncle passed away, I was calm and distant. It didn't really affect me because I hadn't known him so well. Yesterday, I was unexpectedly all over the map emotionally. I suppose, in part, it's because I can't imagine losing one of my sisters. And, in part, I'm sad for my dad.
I will admit, it perhaps strikes a bit of fear into my heart. My uncle was only a few years younger than my father, and next year my father will be 70. Ever since my mother passed away, I have always fretted after him; more so after I moved away from the house - but it was a move I had to make for myself. That doesn't mean I stopped fretting over him, I haven't.
These next two days should be interesting, as my uncle's old family and new family come together for the funeral services. I only hope that the new family remains courteous because if they don't - well, I don't know what I might do. They didn't even want to tell Kim that her father had passed, and those of you that know me well, know this strikes a hard cord with me, as one of my half-sisters did not tell the other about her father passing for 6 months. It's not only wrong, it's cruel. I just hope none of them are cruel to Kim. From what I know of her, she's a wonderful, caring person.