Several years ago my brother and his friend were attending a funeral. As he looked around scanning the group attending he said,"where are the old people, everyone here is our age?" His friend responded,"we are the old people."
With the recent death of my 94 year old, much loved and much admired uncle, I am soberly reminded that his widow is the last of that generation in our family. Fritz's side of the house also has one remaining aunt from her generation. Thus making us pretty much,"the old people".
~~~~~
Uncles, aunts and cousins are to me the most interesting relatives to have. All my life they have been so very special. If they were rascals or if they were heroes, you can make an amusing story out of their misadventures or claim them with pride knowing they really do not reflect directly on you like a parent or a sibling would unless it is for a noble good achievement. It's your choice. Fritz had an uncle who amused him with his stories and his antics, the very same antics he'd look on with shame if it were his father acting like that. As a child and actually all my life I've enjoyed my aunts and uncles and learned much from them. Listening to them talk of the past, and for the most part admiring how they lived their lives it was all good for me.
Friday we bury this last uncle and he was very special, highly respected and much loved by family and friends. I cherish the memories of him. His wife of 70 years is every bit as special and admirable. Indeed they are the best generation who form 'a cloud of witnesses' as to how I want to live my life and to consider what legacy I will leave behind. I appreciate the influence of my aunts and uncles on me and hope I can have some positive influence on my nieces and nephews.
Do you have uncles and aunts you admire? Are you yet among the "old people" in your family?
Comments (29)
Seems we are about in the same age range. The video link I posted about the death of cattle from heat loss is on one of my favorite Uncle’s former farm. His son, my cousin is the one in the video clip.
yes, I figured that out a few years ago too and it's sad that so many of the old people I knew are gone now.
@vexations - Such a loss,I am sure it breaks your heart to see this.@Babyboomerjill - Gone but not forgotten Jill right?
I enjoyed your post today and yes, my Aunts and Uncles are so precious to me and I am like their Godfather in a way. Debbie and I got saved many years ago and then prayed for the salvation of our families and that happened! One Aunt went to a marriage encounter and got saved, came home and her sister in law and sister got saved, brought their husbands and kids to church and they were gloriously saved too and living for the Lord today!
no, not forgotten
I'm not their yet. But my Grant Aunt Rena just passed away last week. She was 97. Grandpa,her brother, just turned 83.
@ThexGodfather - That is wonderful Mike.
My aunt is 89 years and the last surviving member in our family.
@Mal_P - Rather sobering isn't it?
We just moved up in line, didn't we? We will miss dear Uncle Wink.
@Dominie - Do you know where he got his nick name? I think it was from a comic strip character maybe.
All of a sudden my cousins and I are finding ourselves in this situation. I have 2 Aunts left, one 84 and one 80. The 80-year-old just had a small tumor removed from her breast. It was outpatient surgery and she's still going strong. The 84-year-old plays bridge 3x a week, swims every other day and drives a sports car.
I love them with all my heart. Last time I visited, the 84-year-old got me drunk.
I've noticed they talk to me differently, now. They finally see me as an adult. I guess either they've accepted their mortality or my gray hair makes me look familiar.
~smiling
@jamekablue - Thanks for your nice comment.
Eek -- on my mother's side, I am now the oldest but one -- on my dad's side I am the oldest. The next older generation is now memories. Our family is not large, but that's a slightly scary thought!
@slmret - Our family is not large. Mom was the only one of her parent's 5 children to marry and have a family. Dad had 2 brothers and a sister,the sister had 2 children, each brother had one child. Dad had the 5 of us. So our family tree has few branches. Fritz's family is much larger with many off spring but the toll of passing time is showing on all of us. But the family continues on with marriages and babies and a new generation coming along. We realize how old we must look to the grandchildren when we stop to think how old we thought our parents were when at our age. LOL Now at 66 I think maybe 90 is getting to be old LOL
Such a beautiful tribute.
@WildWomanOfTheWest - Thank you for the sweet comment and the nice mini.
When Wil and I both lost the last aunt in the family and became the "older generation" several years ago I was telling that to our daughter. There was total silence then she said "No you aren't!!!". I told her sorry but that is how it is to which she replied, "No you aren't because I am not ready to be middle aged!"
@TheSunnyC - LOL thanks for the comment.
yes, my two sisters and i are becoming the "adults" ... we have our mother, her feisty sister, and a wonderful aunt left to guide us ...
@windupherskirt - Our son Boy Genius is still trying to guide me,telling me how to drive, questioning my need for shopping trips etc....LOL and he is not my elder!
My mother and her two cousins are the last of her generation - but my husband's family is huge so many of the "old guard" are still around (that happens when there are 8 kids in the family). I am fast approaching the oldest generation... and it scares me!
So sorry for your loss. I am the old people now.
@murisopsis - @Tymedancer_is_Grannyinboxers - If you do not want to grow old you have to die young right? I'm too old to die young!
What a beautiful post! My parents are still here and most of my uncles & aunts. I really don't like to think of them leaving us yet.
God bless your uncle's family as they say good-by. God bless you & Fritz too! I am finally scab free from those shingles! The biggest one hung on the longest, almost a month and a half! I hope the mouse found a hole and crawled out too! I know they come in during the winter sometimes so maybe they can find their way out too. I hope!!
@mcbery - Thanks for your sweet comment. Family grows even sweeter as time passes.
We are so sad about Uncle Wink. I remember the last reunion he attended. Even though I hadn't been around him for a few decades he was so familiar with his mannerisms and voice. I felt connected to Grandpa Harold through him. I can vouch that the next generation of aunts and uncles are a very dynamic and special group.
@mrs_magoo414 - Bless your heart, what a sweet comment.When I heard of his death I went to Corydon to see Aunt D. She is very bent over from whatever that is that affects her spine. Otherwise just as she has always been. She hugged me and with tears rolling down her cheeks she said,"Nancy I have lost him, but I had him a good long time". I think that was such a sweet precious thing to say.Matter of fact but nevertheless precious. A friend of mine when her husband died said,"The cancer weakened him, the angels took him away, he couldn't have treated me better and I couldn't have loved him more." Such gracious words from the grieving hearts of ones who have lost their best friends. A couple of years ago Susan and I felt very honored when we arranged to go see Uncle Wink and Aunt D and Wink cancelled his golf date to see us! Knowing how he loved his golf really made us feel important LOL. I am touched that you also feel the loss, he was very special to all ages wasn't he? I appreciate your comment Magoo.
Thanks for posting this about Uncle Wink. You have a way with words and since I am the "oldest" cousin, I realized that we are the oldest generation many years ago. Isn't it funny (and precious) how we remember our Aunts and Uncles as younger people. Remember when Uncle C has an attack in over in the hickory nuts and Dad and Uncle Wendell came flying to the house, jumping the fences with the agility of a deer. Thankfully, Uncle C. was fine. I had witnessed the same attack at his house once while cousin D and I listened through the furnace transom to see what was happening.
Have you ever heard that commercial for Motel 6....his name is Tom Bodet and he always ends with "We'll keep the light on for you"...he sounds just like Uncle Wink and I hadn't heard that voice for so long and just last night, I heard the commercial. It was like Uncle Wink was saying "I'm okay now and with the other "elders" and we're talking our heads off" because he could always keep a conversation going and we loved to hear it!!! So, until we meet again, "I'll keep the light on for you" until we meet again where there is no sorrow, tears or pain. What a day that will be!!! (Miss those old hymns like When we all get to Heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be. When we all see JESUS, we'll sing and shout the victory!!!! Now I am tearing up.
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