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Gustav over at Nine Worlds brought up a memory that I hadn't given myself the pleasure of remembering in quite some time.
When I was a little girl, my teenaged uncle had the lousy chore of having to take care of me when he got home from school. I say lousy chore only because I know now that a boy of his age was not really interested in being saddled with his sister's kid when he wanted to go hang out with his buddies or make out with his girlfriend.
If he ever felt that way, I never knew.
I always felt so special when I held his hand as we walked to the park. He used to swing me and buy me "paletas" when the ice cream cart came ringing down the street. My earliest recollection is of one of those easy afternoons. We were sitting on a little mound of grass just up hill from the sandbox. It was a quiet day. We sat for a while as he patiently waited for a finch to come closer and closer to him. I can't imagine how it was that I sat so quietly, but I guess I must have. We sat there together as the finch gained some strange trust in this human man/boy. Eventually, the bird was perched on my uncle's hand. He held her feet between two fingers so that I could pet her. When I had my fill of touching the feathers, he released her.
I was so upset at him for letting her go!
He gave me his big goofy smile and throaty laugh, the one that still comforts me today. He told me something that I just remembered. "Birds aren't supposed to be in cages. They're supposed to fly."
My uncle eventually married the girl he used to make out with. That was a sad day for me. I remember being very upset while the wedding plans were under way. My uncle used to spend so much time with me and now he would be with this girl all the time. Sure she was nice, but was she going to let him play with me at the park? Um... no. Darn. Well, thirty some years later, they are still married and in love. I am still thankful for his throaty laugh and big goofy grin.
And for the memory of a day in the park.
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Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Early Memories
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7 comments:
Thank you for sharing this wonderful memory of your uncle and you in the park. Like your uncle, I've always felt that birds were meant to fly, not to be in cages. The fact that he had that sort of sensitivity at that age says a lot of him as a person. I was able to picture the whole thing in my mind's eye. I think you should know that I have been reading your blog and I've placed in my list of favorites in my blog. I hope that you keep sharing more. I don't post very often, but I do read almost daily.
Kia ora Sugar,
That is a lovely memory, and a story of growth as well. I have really enjoyed perusing your writings here, and your journey. I love your description, You may sit by my fire, but you may no longer take my wood.Beautiful. Change is something I have been grappling with as well, and it is inspirational to read it is a path I am not alone upon. There is strength in that. I will share another Maori phrase with you: Kia kaha - Remain Strong. Have a wonderful day.
Ka kite ano,
Robb
Sugar, this is really a sweet, sweet memory. Your uncle must be a special man.
Thank you for sharing it. :-)
A note about my uncle:
He was and still is a very sweet man. He was almost too sweet for this world and for a while there, we thought we would lose him. He's an inspiration to me by just living. I think I'm going to have to write more about him...
I love these seemingly simple things that defined our lives then and still now. I love that just showing love to someone, just spending time with them, just holding their hand and walking to the park, just sitting quietly and looking at one of God's creatures can have so much to do with who we become. It has so much to do with the paths we choose and how we walk them. It has so much to do with humanity and our connections with one another. That's the absolute key to good living, and you have captured it here. Thank you. Give that uncle a big hug!
I love (and miss) Sergio so much. :]
Jazz:
How did you know it was him? Hahaha... just kidding... who else would it be...
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