Wednesday, December 08, 2010

uncle don and dad

(uncle don & dad...in that order)

"Enjoy your memories," says the old man. "But don’t forget that memory is like salt: the right amount brings out the flavour in food, too much ruins it. If you live in the past all the time, you’ll find yourself with no present to remember."

from Paulo Coelho's blog

Today would have been my dad's 88th birthday. He left this life in January of this year.

This picture is of the last time Dad and Uncle Don were together. Uncle Don had taken a tumble the night before and had a shiner, as you can see, but he was determined to visit his little brother. Oh, how happy he was to be there!

Yesterday, Uncle Don left this life. He would have been 90 next month. How sad to see him go! He was a good man.

So now, these two brothers are together again.

Good night, you princes of Oregon.


5 comments:

Joan said...

What a wonderful quote and a treasured photo. These two men (and they definitely were real men) will be missed and loved dearly.

Deb Shucka said...

Oh, Wanda, I'm so sorry for your loss, both the newest one with your Uncle Don and the ongoing loss of your father. The Coelho quote is perfect for this post and I hope brings you some comfort.

Carrie Wilson Link said...

My dad would have been 89 in October. Funny how I can't stop counting. Great picture, Wanda!

kario said...

I hope the two of them are off having a ball together wherever they are!

graceonline said...

There it is again--that wonderful smile. How you must miss your dad. And now your uncle. I am sorry for your loss, Wanda.

What a wonderful "coincidence" that Uncle Don passed almost exactly a year after your dad. If I believed we have some say in these things, (I lean that way), I would imagine he chose that day so you all could imagine them enjoying their reunion, laughing about Don's timing, and relieved not to have caused you a second annual period of deep mourning.

This last, because I notice that as anniversaries of death and birthdays approach, we tend to experience the loss more deeply than during other times of the year, when it is easier to distract ourselves from our grief for longer and longer periods of time.

Wishing you and your family all the strength and love you need in the coming weeks.