My Uncle
He was a pain in the --- and would give you the shirt off his back. He was a Viet Nam Vet. He could play the guitar and banjo like anything. Sing anything you asked, if he didn't know it and you could start the song, he would pick it up, add to it and make you think he wrote it. When I was 8, he and his new wife rented an apartment from my parents. I got in trouble( don't remember what for, not my fault of course.) Uncle Mike let my "runaway" to the apartment. It was in the back part of the house, mind you. Not a far distance to run! I "lived" there for 3 whole days. In my teens, he put a car on the road for me, lent me a car when mine broke down, bought me things, took me places, and picked on me like a big brother, questioned dates, threatened dates... Later, after DH and I got married, Uncle Mike was the one that told me I was pregnant for DD. Later took both DD's for vacations, bought them things, picked on their dates, cheered DS's racing career, had DS out to Cali this past March for ten days all paid by him, even though he was not feeling all that great. In October his health took a turn for the worse, he ended up in the local hospital for which I am greatful. Unfortunately, there is no more chances to hear him play music, be picked on by him, or get into it with him. Fortunately, my son does have his laugh, it must run in the family. Dawn