Goodbye Uncle Chuck

I got the very sad news today that my Uncle lost his battle with cancer. I learned a very important lesson from this that I wanted to share in hopes I can save even one person from making the same mistake. Probably about two months ago my Mom forwarded me an e-mail from my aunt telling me that his cancer had returned and they were trying a different kind of chemo but he wasn’t responding very well. Tony and I talked about making a trip to Chicago so that we could see him. But, first it was Thanksgiving and then Christmas and we were so busy and wrapped up in our own holidays that we decided to wait until after the first of the year. I would mean to call, but then I would get busy with work and home and forget and when I would remember, it would be late and I would think, “okay, I have to get to that this weekend”. On Christmas Eve, I was thinking of him and decided I would call on Christmas Day to say hi and see how things were. I felt like I needed a reason, instead of just “oh, heard you’re dying so I thought I would call”. But by the time we got through with the presents and dinner and everything else, it was late again, so I thought, “okay, I have to call this weekend”. Then my Mom called me today to tell me he took a turn for the worse on Christmas night and he died this morning. Now it’s too late. I’m so bothered with myself that I am so wrapped up in my own life I couldn’t make 30 minutes to call my Uncle and talk when I knew he was so sick. Please forgive me, Uncle Chuck, and know that I have been thinking of you even though you didn’t know it. I will miss you. Love, Julie
Uncle Chuck and Me – 1968
Uncle Chuck and Me at the Lake – 1968
May 2001

10 comments December 28th, 2007