Friday, November 13, 2009

But Break My Heart, for I Must Hold My Tongue...



"Cool breeze" or "cruel bees," you decide...

Greetings y'all. Another quickie tonight.

Sad news today, as we found out about midday that my Unlce Jim (mother's brother) died on Thursday. He'd lived a hard life, but still, 61 isn't exactly old... he certainly had his own way of looking at the world, and wrestled his demons like the rest of us. The thing I'll remember most about him was how big a Stephen King fan he was.



Here they were as kids. Mom is (obviously) in the middle, with her older brother Jim standing behind her. Her other brother Ron is the boy immediately to her left (our right), and the youngest is a cousin. Look how cute my  mom was!



I'm in this shot! That's my Grandpa Harry (whom I posted pics of a few weeks back) holding me (white shirt w/blue sleeves) my sister in the middle and my brother Bryan in the yellow/white. My Uncle Jim is kneeling in front, holding his son. Dangit, half the people in the picture are now "deceased". What's up with that.

I didn't interact much with him the last few years, but he called my mother regularly. She's going to head out to Phoenix to take care of his effects and bring his ashes back, to bury next to their mother (Grandma Hazel, who died a few years back) out here in Ramona. I offered to go with her, but she said she wants to go alone. Offer still stands, mom.

In any case, I guess that's the real world. Always a complex, multifaceted affair, eh?

Making steady progress on the book - past the 20K mark last night. Hope to be half way there by the time the weekend is done. Plus, I finished sorting, cropping and cleaning the camp pics, so that should be done this weekend as well.

Until tomorrow, thank you for your support and virtual friendship. Mellow post tonight. More goofiness on tap, when the time is right.

9 comments:

Joseph said...

I'm sorry for the loss. Our prayers will be with your Mother, that she can make a quick and safe trip.

havah said...

I'm sorry to hear about your uncle, Dave. Regards to your family.

Your sister looks a lot like your mom! We don't have any pics of my parents' childhoods...it's sad.

Good going with the book! You are now 20K ahead of me. *hangs head in shame*

Anonymous said...

So sorry for your family. Always hardest on those left behind.

Crystal said...

Sorry to hear about your Uncle. 61 is too young.

Congrats on your Novel! Don't worry, Havah, I only have 892 words.

Anonymous said...

thanks for the photos and kind words..opening line fits....what wonderful people gather here..thanks again..mom

Abbie said...

I'm sorry to hear that Dave. I really like that picture though, with you in it, that is a very cool memory to have. I clicked on the picture to make it big and I can see maggie in that squinty look you have :)

David Wagner said...

Appreciate the condolences. I was working out the math... I think I must be 4 in that bottom pic, which puts the pic taken 35 years ago (1974), which means my Uncle Jim is 26 in that picture... dang...

Paula Titus said...

My condolences to your family, he was indeed young by today's standards.

I just adore old black and white photos of people, I don't know - it's as if they were living in a whole other world.

havah said...

Thanks, Crystal. I scrapped the few I'd done and am now back to zero. :-/