Day 19

Death Comes Calling


This morning my Uncle Morty died. My Father's brother lived here in Southern California, not too far away from where I live. He wasn't in great health the past few years, but his passing was quite unexpected, and again, hit me closer to the mark then many other things that have transpired in the past year or so.

It wasn't his death, per se, that hit me hardest, though it has made me quite sad. It was my OWN continued lack of action in many areas of my life that made me stop and take pause.

You see, I had last seen Uncle Morty and his wife at my 40th Birthday party. They lived nearby but I never made time to visit them, or the Cousins, etc. Oh, you can say (and I have) that "the phone works both ways" etc.. but in the end the blame is mine for not seeing them more often, and now, I only get one more chance to see my Uncle, and he doesn't get to see me. So yes, it makes me think.

When my Mom and Dad come into town from Florida to visit, as they do a few times a year, they always find time to visit - because family is IMPORTANT. I know that of course, but as you've been reading elsewhere, I get in my own way a lot.. on many different levels - and it's something I'm trying to better in myself.

So as it works out, my son Sam, in the end spent more time with my Uncle near the end than I did.. and while I am selfishly sad for my loss, I am happy that he got to know him better. When I told Sam what had happened, he sat on the couch quietly next to me, laid his head on my shoulder, and very quietly reflected on the situation. When I told him Poppy (my Dad) was coming in from Florida for the funeral, along with my Aunt Joanie from New York, he said - "I want to go to the funeral too, and say Good Bye"... huh? He just volunteered to go to a funeral instead of camp? He's 7 and a half.. but apparently has a very old soul (as I've thought many times before)

So Tricia and I discussed it, and told him of course he could go and pay his respects.. and so he will - on Friday morning. I'm very proud of him for making a grown-up decision on his own.

Friday morning is also my scheduled annual check-up (MRI and Cat Scan) for my cancer follow-up. So I'm bringing my suit to the Imaging center then getting all dolled up and am going to head out to the funeral and catch up with Sam and Tricia and the rest of our family there.

Once again, brings me back to that article from my very first post - about the 5 things most people regret on their death-beds... morbid perhaps, but it continues to make me think.

More to come. Rest In Peace, Uncle Mort - you will be missed.

-Pittle out.