Passing of our time

I come from a very large family with a plethora of aunts, and uncles. As a child I could count them in the thirty-some range. I guess I never really took a full count. It seemed pointless at the time, there were so many. With that came all the cousins that large families like ours had. To this day, we are a far-flung group covering many areas of the country. Sadly, we will pull together one more time in mourning. The last of the Thomas uncles has passed. Of the dozens that I looked up to with love, only Aunt Loretta's voice remains.

When you are a child, the hesitant thoughts of passing into adulthood was lessened by the guidance of a clan of men and women who looked out not only after their own but of all those who belonged to the family. Each one was our mother and father whether we were their own or not. The challenge of adulthood was never frightening to me because of the examples of those who came before us, those who made it look easy to a child whether we knew of their burdens or not. To us, it was a smile, a glance, a hug, a kiss on the cheek or a swat on the butt. They were guiding hands that prepared us to one day take the lead.

With the passing of my Uncle Jim, that day has arrived. There are no longer uncle stories to hear, no longer witticisms offered, no longer a memory of times we knew nothing of. We are now the leaders of the clan without exception. It is our voice that gives the sage words of advice and humorous stories to those who follow in our footsteps, to those that shall one day make their passage into the adult world or have already walked into that forest.

Herbert, Charles, Girard, Anthony, Stuart, Raymond, Madeline, David and James. Some passed too early yet they shall be ever in our hearts and we shall be forever in their debt.

Good night, Uncle Jim.