Months ago — Thursday, June 7, 2007 to be exact — my dear Uncle Philip passed away after a long battle with emphysema and other lung related complications.
I took me a while to write anything because I didn’t want to post anything quick just for the sake of posting it. I wanted to take the time to reflect on what happened, on what I remember from his life — what I experienced, not what others told me about him. Still, I found it really hard to pinpoint specific instances or examples to properly capture my overall memory of him. I know that he was a good person. I know that he was a wonderful father. I know he was well liked. I know that was truly loved. I know that he will be truly missed. Unfortunately, in all the times we'd been around each other, I am realizing that we had exchanged only very few words.
The one clear thing I do remember about my uncle is that he always gave me the impression that he thought I could do or be anything I wanted. It was in his smile. It was in his handshake. It was in his words, as few as they may have been. Maybe he meant for me to pick up on this. Maybe he was this way with everyone. Maybe I just read into things too much. Regardless, I’d like to think he meant it because it’s a great memory/feeing to carry with me. It’s like having this little piece of motivation, this reminder to do or be the best I can at anything and everything — no matter how seemingly insignificant.
Uncle Philip, you will be missed.
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steelie