Remembering Uncle Doug

My Uncle Doug died today.....he was 82.

it is a sad day for our family......

Uncle Doug was my mom's oldest brother.

I have 3 uncles....
My dad is an only child so all my uncles are on mom's side.....

I was close with all three uncles but my Uncle Doug and I had a special bond....

I'm not sure if it was his appreciation for the Montreal Expos.... or his prowess at Ping Pong.... or just the fact that he made me laugh... All I do know is that there is a sadness in my heart and in the heart of my family tonight....

I have many many fond memories of visiting at Uncle Doug's house in Huntingdon and spending time at their cottage...

We lived about 3 hours from Uncle Doug, growing up, and when we moved to Ontario, we were still about 3 hours.....

I recall many times when they would come to visit for a weekend.....either in Randboro or in Belleville.....

Nearly every time they would visit, we would usually end up shopping somewhere.... well the ladies would be shopping.....Uncle Doug would sit on a bench in the mall and do a cross word!!!

Here's a blog post from last May when they came to visit....

and this is a link to the facebook album with more pictures



Uncle Doug and mom have always had a very special bond.....
There is a special bond with an older brother and his little sister....

I know....

In the last while, Uncle Doug would call often to check up on Mom...
When mom got sick last year, Uncle Doug started calling nearly every day, to keep in touch with mom.... it was sweet to see ....

For all of his tough outer shell, Uncle Doug was a great big softie.....

a sentimental tender side that I have loved and will miss!

For all of the laughs and shopping trips and wonderful memories, Uncle Doug.... we thank you...

You are loved.... and will be sorely missed.....

Happy Birthday Carol

A special day in history
This 25th of June
I’d rather write a poem
Than to sing a birthday tune!

A favourite verse of Scripture
Cause I’m SPURTUAL, don’tcha know…
Is in the book of Proverbs….
Just which verse I do not know

I guess I’d better look it up
I dare not be obscure
It’s found in Proverbs seventeen.
Which verse, I’m STILL not sure

But here’s the verse, in NIV
King James is not as clear
You’ll realize just why I love
This verse and hold it dear.

Proverbs 17:17 (New International Version)
17 A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity.

I took this verse to heart, you know
A “Calling” it became
I just would be a BLESSING
Is my true and honest aim!!!

But lest you think me shallow
Now the truth I must admit
I’m only really teasing you
And now I’d better quit!

And tell you why I wrote this rhyme
On this your special day
To tell you that I love you
In a loving brother way!

I rarely take the time to say
Just what you mean to me!
So here in blue and white are words
For all the world to see….

I love you…. And I’ve forgiven mom for not bringing home the brother that I’d asked for….

She made up for that 5 years later anyway!!!!

You truly are a wonderful sister… you have come to my rescue many many times, and I will never forget that….

I have such incredible memories of travelling and singing together ( you’re right… the 80’s was our time!! )

And I miss those days!!!

I hope you have a wonderful birthday……

I love you lots!!!!!!!!!!!

Paul

Dad

The busier life gets, the fewer times I tell you how much you mean to me.....

I mean, we're men... we're supposed to be macho... and hugging and saying I love you isn't what some people call macho.

But the fact is... we do hug... every time I leave, you hug me....

and you DO say I love you.... I'm glad that you don't hide behind macho!

Thank you for being my dad....

Thank you for raising me in the nurture and admonition of the Lord... and for your consistent example...

Thank you for coming to every band concert that I ever played in as a kid.... some of those were PAINFUL .... but thank you!

Thank you for helping deliver all those boxes of oranges and grapefruit that the "band" sold....

Thank you for letting me bring my friends over to visit at our house.... Thank you for making your home a haven for me... and my family and our friends....

Thank you for being faithful .... in business, in life, and in your relationship with God.

Thank you for the integrity you show....

Thank you for never smoking.... Mom's lungs thank you for that too!!

Thank you for being faithful at going to church... you amaze me that way!

Thank you for coming to watch me play hockey as a kid.... and for picking me up after school when I missed the bus... or stayed late to skate out behind Bailey's meat market.....

Thank you for picking me up after school every Friday at Galt and taking us to McDonalds.... those are such fun memories!!

Thank you for picking me up every Friday at Centennial so I could bring the tuba home... and for taking me back Monday.... thank you for never complaining with that "blaattting" going on downstairs.....

Thank you for moving us to Ontario... not that it is better here than anywhere else, but when you gave up your home and your comfort zone to seek out a better future when your job was being threatened, it showed how much your family was a priority. Thank you for not being afraid to pack us all up and move to a very unknown future....

Thank you for encouraging me to sing... and to play the tuba... thank you for helping to pay for that tuba.... thank you for letting me store it in your basement!!!

Thank you for the many times you've filled my car with gas.....

Thank you for the countless hours you spent helping at the farm ... way back when. Thank you for helping me move all those times....

Thank you for letting me store all that stuff in your garage in Shannonville....

Thank you for coming to my rescue so many times when I needed a shoulder to cry on...

Thank you for loving my kids as if they were your own....

Thank you for not judging me when my life turned out different than we all hoped it would.....

Thank you for encouraging me to work hard... and for doing so by example....

Thank you for loving mom the way you do.... I admire you so much!!

Happy Father's Day Dad !!!

I love you !