The day went off without a hitch. (The spaghetti was of course perfect, pats self on the back haha). No but Uncle Dick took one bite and said, "Hey that sausage is good!" which is my trademark, made my day! Anyway, we ate and he talked and talked. What a collection of wonderful stories he is. What a memory he has. I watched as my father, mother, and older brother Eddie engaged in the good old day’s talk. It’s a joy to observe the smiles that come across people’s faces when that topic is brought up. The names that bring smiles the places…

He spoke of his wife Pearl; you could still see how mad he still is for her. I noticed his wedding band and thought about how his loss must still be a struggle for him everyday.

I imagine it must have been like that of Ethel’s. Losing someone you love so much and being without him or her for 60 years creates the same effect as that of being with someone 60 odd years and losing them.

I thought a lot about the realization I made of having this opportunity to visit with Uncle Dick; it’s a gift you see. We have these individuals right next door to us that we need to waste no time in speaking with. I wasted too much time already, with too many people to let this gem slip by. In just the short time of our visit, I learned things about Dave I never knew, things about Ethel I didn’t know. I realized how grateful Uncle Dick was to be around family and be able to share his stories and hear ours.

After dinner I brought him to my room and showed him this website. His eyes aren’t so good but he recognized Dave, "He and I used to play pool," and he laughed, " We never played each other for money, but we did when we played together!" Dave and Dick; Pool-sharks!? haha. He talked about how Dave would tell him stories about his time in China. He told me that Dave was a "fireman" (F2C), and that meant he used to work below deck basically shoveling coal or whatever they used to fuel the engines. He explained how the stripes on his uniform were on his left arm indicating Dave worked BELOW deck. In just the manner in which he spoke of Dave made me realize that he respected Dave, and thought him a good man.

He saw Ethel’s picture, and smiled. In stories I have heard he seemed to see her as a mother figure. When he spoke of her, it was very evident as his eyes sparkled. He saw the photo of Ethel working at the candy factory and a smile of a child appeared on his face and he said, " I used to run down the alley and look into the window of the factory where Ethel worked. She would look at me and mouth the words (HOW MANY DO YOU WANT?) I would hold up my fingers three or four… I’d then run under the window of the bathroom, and suddenly the window would pop up, and all these candy bars would start falling down on me!"

That story was so Ethel and it may be just a small story but it is one more memory I now have of her because of Uncle Dick.

He went on to talk about fishing, something we both have in common. He talked about his buddy and how once his two friends had caught fish, one bigger than the other. However, one of the men insisted his (the smaller) was the winner. "NO! That fish couldn’t be bigger, but when they weighed it, IT WAS! Uncle Dick laughed and laughed as he told me how the man had shoved sinkers down the fish’s mouth to make it weigh more. What a great story teller.

As the evening went on his wit was evident…talking of the "big widows" down the street, and how he loves naps and that sometimes he takes them while he’s eating.

All in all the art of conversation had been reborn in our house, no TV just good old fashion talkin’. No one wanted the day to end. Nevertheless, as we know all good things do come to an end. I walked him out to the car and gave him a big hug and he thanked us for everything and mostly for the conversation. But the pleasure was all ours. I think I’ll give him a call soon for another Sunday dinner, you might want to do the same. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.