Tribute to Tio Bobby

My uncle is with Jesus today.

I have a great family. However, the circumstances of my life have dictated that I rarely saw my extended family growing up. New York and Puerto Rico, after all, are not close to the Heart of Dixie.  However, the advantage to this reality I appreciate especially on days like today. You see, my mind has stored these precious few memories like a vault. Wonderful details of visits to Puerto Rico… details normally one might forget… I value as one might a rare keepsake. Another benefit (if you could call it that) is that the drama associated with mundane life… interpersonal conflicts… were literally thousands of mile away. Only good memories. Only happiness, wonderful smiles and bellowing laughter.

What I remember about my Tio Bobby is his wonderful smile and contagious laughter. I hear his unforgettable laugh in my ear as I write. It was not just a regular laughter and sense of humor… it was special. Of course, I remember musical talent and passion. In one memory, I remember a trip in which he took us to his home and we walked outside with him simply to watch the stars… and sing. All this added up to something so basic in my brain… My Tio was “cool”. He was an uncle I was proud of… “he is my uncle, how cool is that!”, my mind pondered. I loved my uncle and thought he was the most “hip” uncle a boy could have.

In my adult years I did not know my uncle well at all. In fact, I feel certain that my feelings for him, and my view of him, certainly would have changed from my simple, childish memory. This both makes me sad and, at the same time, glad. However, this I know for absolute certain: the things that I admired about him when I was a child are things that surely never changed. In this way my uncle will always be one I am proud of. Today I am filled with such blessed pride that he was my uncle and I am so thankful for the memories. You see, a man who smiled so fantastically… and from who’s smile such beautiful laughter came… a man like that was deep, deep down a good man. It is that simple! He lived a full life, from the inside out. A good man I could be proud of!

To my wonderful uncle… go in peace and laugh on glory’s side… and dance to Jesus… and live!

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