Monday, May 13, 2019
My Unkie Doodles... You were so much more to me than an Uncle.. you were the closest thing to having a Father I could have ever known. You were my mom's favorite for sure, and mine too. Any place my mom went, you ended up there too: Florida, Fillmore Gardens in Brooklyn. You always were around to celebrate the birthdays, and when she was ill, you were there too,,, the caring brother, checking up on his big sis. There isn't enough room on this website for me to tell all the memories I have of you, or all the love I have in my heart for you. Over the years, we have become so close, so bonded, such special friends, Uncle/Niece, Father/Daughter, and sometimes Patient/Caregiver.
You were a bright light in our family, a larger than life Uncle whom I affectionately called 'The Boss', because as your favorite song is titled, "My Way", that was how you lived your life... and wanted everyone else to live it too... "your way"..lol!!
Of course we know it was all out of love and your wanting the best for us. And you gave us the best of you: your jokes, so we could laugh, especially when you teased us all mercilessly, lol; your music, so we could hear that amazing tenor voice of yours; your advice, so we would know the right way, (well, 'your way'), to do a particular thing; and your great Italian gravy, (or 'sauce', for those who call it that), so we could have the best. You actually became a really good cook! And your strength, Unkie, your incredible strength. You had so much loss in your life, and you always held your head up. I always admired that about you.
And to the very end, you showed strength and courage... always worrying about the rest of us, but humble enough to allow us to help you in such personal ways... I hope you know how honored and graced it made me feel to bathe you, and dress you, and feed you. I loved spending overnights with you... our special times together. I will miss them so much.
I will miss your voice, your smile, our talks, your jokes,, and yes, I even miss you bossing me around : )
You are forever my Unkie Doodles, and I know you will keep praying for me and watching over me with the rest of our family from a place where there is no pain or sadness, and you are whole, and full of joy and peace.
And I am here, missing you with tears of sadness, but gratitude for the end of any suffering you endured.
Love never dies, Doodles... , so in that case, you are alive and well within my heart and my memories for always.
Bless you.
