Uncle Gary

My Uncle Gary died earlier this week and it's killing my family. He was my mom's younger brother. He lived in the house right next to ours with his daughter and wife. No matter where you look down by our house where he lived, all you see is him. He was the hardest worker you could ever meet and the greatest uncle ever even though me and him really weren't that close. 1

It's amazing how even in a time like this his daughter will snub me and my dad and how they refuse to let our family do anything. I understand our family and his really weren't all that close and everything, but my mom was still his oldest sister.2

It's only been a couple days and his viewing hasn't even started yet. But it's still rough. I still catch myself thinking 'he's coming home from work soon.' and such. I keep thinking about how there was always a picture on a camera of him holding out the camera in front of him and taking a picture of himself. About how he would pass out the gifts at Christmas down Grandma's and always say that Heather was caught in traffic when all of us knew they weren't coming. They never came. I remember talking to him after school during fall and spring my junior year about how I couldn't find my coat. And him coming in Grandma's when I was helping her around the house. Now I'm thinking about who's gonna pass out the gifts at Christmas? And who's gonna take care of Grandma?3

45 is way too young to die of a massive heart attack. People always say that life is short and that you never know when you're going to die and you just blow it off as if that'll never happen to you. But Uncle Gary made me realize this through a very hard time and I will never forget him. I love you, Uncle Gary!