The Caffeine Diaries
This past Wednesday, my Uncle Denny passed away.
It was very sudden, he had a heart attack while at work. To my knowledge, he was fairly healthy and had never had heart problems before. He's a slender enough guy and I think he took pretty good care of himself. He was 59, within a month of my mom's age, as she reported to me when she called to tell me what had happened. The abruptness with which our family lost one of its members only compounds the pain we all are feeling at never having him in our lives again.
My sisters and I did not grow up with Uncle Denny. He met our aunt later in life, so we can all remember meeting him for the first time. My family attended their wedding, not something I can say (that I remember) for very many of my aunts and uncles. When we met Uncle Denny, he fit in with us immediately, as if he was filling a hole in our family that we hadn't realized existed, but felt right when he was there. He was a warm man, he always wanted to know about what was happening in our lives. He was thoughtful and helpful and he was very funny. I missed seeing him at the last family get-together in October, because my husband was running in a marathon in Washington DC. We both were very sorry that his race conflicted with the cabin weekend, as it's one of our favorite fall traditions. I haven't seen Uncle Denny since August, and now I'll see him one last time this weekend, but I'll never hear his voice or see him smile again.
Having just been married this year, I can't help but reflect on how devastating it would be if I were in the same position. Teo could be in an accident at any time and I would never have a chance to say goodbye. As I went to bed on Wednesday night and wrapped my arm around him while trying to fall asleep, I cried thinking of how my aunt would never be in the position to hold her husband again. The difference of a day.
Uncle Denny's death also made me think about my parents. I would be equally devastated to lose either of them, they seem so comparatively young. But I suppose anything can happen at any time. Be it heart failure or a wayward car or what have you. I'd wish for at least a chance to see them one last time and know that I was saying goodbye, but there are no guarantees in life.
Tonight, we're going up to my aunt's house to celebrate Uncle Denny's life. Tomorrow, we'll be at the funeral home for the viewing. Monday, we'll be saying goodbye for one final time. I can't imagine how painful everything is going to be, but I'm very thankful that I have a loving family that will help each other get through this and all future trials.
It was very sudden, he had a heart attack while at work. To my knowledge, he was fairly healthy and had never had heart problems before. He's a slender enough guy and I think he took pretty good care of himself. He was 59, within a month of my mom's age, as she reported to me when she called to tell me what had happened. The abruptness with which our family lost one of its members only compounds the pain we all are feeling at never having him in our lives again.
My sisters and I did not grow up with Uncle Denny. He met our aunt later in life, so we can all remember meeting him for the first time. My family attended their wedding, not something I can say (that I remember) for very many of my aunts and uncles. When we met Uncle Denny, he fit in with us immediately, as if he was filling a hole in our family that we hadn't realized existed, but felt right when he was there. He was a warm man, he always wanted to know about what was happening in our lives. He was thoughtful and helpful and he was very funny. I missed seeing him at the last family get-together in October, because my husband was running in a marathon in Washington DC. We both were very sorry that his race conflicted with the cabin weekend, as it's one of our favorite fall traditions. I haven't seen Uncle Denny since August, and now I'll see him one last time this weekend, but I'll never hear his voice or see him smile again.
Having just been married this year, I can't help but reflect on how devastating it would be if I were in the same position. Teo could be in an accident at any time and I would never have a chance to say goodbye. As I went to bed on Wednesday night and wrapped my arm around him while trying to fall asleep, I cried thinking of how my aunt would never be in the position to hold her husband again. The difference of a day.
Uncle Denny's death also made me think about my parents. I would be equally devastated to lose either of them, they seem so comparatively young. But I suppose anything can happen at any time. Be it heart failure or a wayward car or what have you. I'd wish for at least a chance to see them one last time and know that I was saying goodbye, but there are no guarantees in life.
Tonight, we're going up to my aunt's house to celebrate Uncle Denny's life. Tomorrow, we'll be at the funeral home for the viewing. Monday, we'll be saying goodbye for one final time. I can't imagine how painful everything is going to be, but I'm very thankful that I have a loving family that will help each other get through this and all future trials.