Best Uncles

I thought I was the luckiest girl in the world. I had uncles that were there for me. When I was only 5 or so, I recall my uncles coming to visit. These were my Mothers brothers. My uncle, Junior, was schizophrenic, I didn't know that, I just knew he was quiet and gentle. He would sit down on our couch and I would run for the comb. He had blonde curly hair, He would just sit and let me comb, until My Mom finally made me stop. I combed the other ones hair but I recall him just sitting and smiling.
Uncle Junior would never hurt a fly, He was drafted into the Army during the end of the war, He never should have been taken, but I guess the government did not notice he was not well. He would come to our house in his uniform and looked so nice. The one thing being in the service did do for him. As the years passed and Uncle junior got worse, He was admitted to a VA hospital and they took care of him . My Mom would often bring him home and he would go to his little house and make coffee, Actually he made coffee outside in the yard, The strongest coffee in the world. Really it was horrible but he was one of the nicest people you would want to meet.
Next was Uncle Hugh, He was funny, He always teased me, In fact I lost so many of my baby teeth at once, he nicknamed me 'Grandma". I hated it. When I was in Arkansas a few years ago, he asked me 'Hey did I used to call you Grandma'. I said "Yes you did and I am still mad at you'. We both had a good laugh.
Uncle Hugh always came to the river fishing with us, Every time he was there he would say "Hey, know what I saw?" I always took the bait, "No, What?" He then said
"I saw a head floating down the river singing, I aint got no body". Then he broke into song. LOL he was funny.
One evening Uncle Hugh was at my Moms house, visiting, we were having dinner, Mama asked him if he wanted to eat, he said no, your Dad proceeded to say, "Hugh, don't just stand there hungry, Go on home and get you something to eat". I was so embarrassed. We never talked to people like that but you know your dad, always joking, Uncle Hugh laughed and said no he wasn't hungry. I think every member of my family was dying laughing except Mama and I. O
Uncle James, Now he was an Elvis look alike, Really he was, He had black curly hair, a snarl on his lips, Very handsome. When I saw him at my brothers funeral, I said 'Uncle James did you know I always thought you looked like Elvis?", He told me the was often told that. I have to find a photo of him as a young man, I am sure you all would agree.
My Uncle Richard, was also very funny, I did not see him often, he ran away from home when he was 14 and went to work in the Texas Oil fields. He was really tall, black hair, and gorgeous. I had not seen him in so many years when I did finally see him he had gotten old, lost those huge shoulders, hair got grey, and was wearing glasses. My mom laughed and said "I bet you wish you could have kept the image of him you had.' I laughed and said He was so handsome, now he is so old.
I often told your Dad about him, his sense of humor, his looks, his size, I just wanted David to meet him. Well meet him he did, When my Mom passed away,
Uncle Richard came into her room, he said "Lou its the unrest, best looking brother you have". She had not spoken in days, . Her immediate reaction was "Richard", She knew immediately and called his name.
At the hospital I introduced him to your Dad and then he proceeded to tell your dad a very bad joke (one he laughs about still today) and also that he felt sorry for him if I was like my Mom, again his big booming laugh could be heard.
Anyway your Dad agreed, he was awfully nice and funny. HE really liked my Uncle Richard and all the above mentioned ones,
I had one more, Uncle Glen, He was the baby, and the same age as my brother, He was blonde, thin, and drank too much. He died at a young age of stomach cancer. I knew him only because he played with my brothers and therefore did not seem like and uncle but a cousin. He became heavily involved with the church before he died and even tried his hand at preaching.
OK that is is on my uncles on my Moms side. Enjoy reading? Any questions? Ask and I will tell>