I am reminded of my favorite uncle, Uncle Don. It would have been his 114th birthday today. Although he lived in Brooklyn, he was always determined to start his vacation so he would be in Maine for his birthday.
When I think about my physical impatience, another Uncle Don memory comes up. I recall a family gathering at his and my Aunt Bow’s brownstone in Brooklyn. Lots of cousins, lots of people, lots of food, lots of activity, lots of house to explore. Uncle Don, a sedentary, quiet man, called me aside and told me that he would give me a quarter if I would sit on his lap for ten minutes. I gave it a try, but nope, I didn’t do it. I like to believe that I could have stayed there, but that there was too much fun going on for me to remain put in one place for what seemed like a loooong time to a ten year old.
Be that as it may, why do I recall that incident? Maybe to conjure up Uncle Don’s unconditional love for me—just a little refresher course in knowing that, seventy years later, I am okay being in constant motion.