A Tribute to My Uncle Al

Picture courtesy: Tanita Jha - taken on her trip to London, January 2015

My Uncle Al passed away in London, March 20, 2015.  This post is a tribute to him.

Which Uncle Al did you know?

The Uncle Al who loved the sun, but would not let the rain keep him from where he needed to go?

The Uncle Al who was always on the road, or in the air?

The Uncle Al who was always up for a road trip?

Which Uncle Al did you know?

The Uncle Al who could get along and keep up with people of any age?

The Uncle Al who treasured everyone in his family, his daughter, his sisters, his grandchildren, his nieces and nephews, his relatives through marriage?

The Uncle Al who went to different relative’s houses, creating memories made up of his unique charm and quirks.

Which Uncle Al did you know?

Did you know the Uncle Al who was a 50 year old disguised as an 80 year old (ssshhh….don’t tell the Senior Centers where he was a regular)?

The Uncle Al who could beat you at cards, word games, table tennis, Sudoku, and more?

The Uncle Al who liked to sing, and had many favorite songs, including Oh Danny Boy and You Are My Sunshine?

Which Uncle Al did you know?

The Uncle Al who liked to deconstruct everything?  We took him to the Michael Jackson retrospective movie This Is It, and after the movie ended, he deconstructed Michael Jackson’s music for us.

The Uncle Al who gave up driving, long before he fell out of love with being on the road?

The Uncle Al, who though he appreciated some things about America, was clear that America could only be his mistress, England would always be his wife?

Which Uncle Al did you know?

Did you know the Uncle Al who could make a meal out of canned mackerel?

Or whose omelettes became famous from Delhi to Danville?

Or whose curry puffs were so perfect, they would vanish in minutes?

Which Uncle Al did you know?

The Uncle Al who knew where all the good Indian restaurants were wherever he visited?

The Uncle Al who knew the public transport system from London to San Francisco?

The Uncle Al who could have written a memoir about his experiences in different cities and countries?

Which Uncle Al did you know?

The Uncle Al who was great with kids - especially his grandchildren and his grandnieces and grandnephews?

The Uncle Al who went with them on carnival rides, played games with them, entertained them with tricks, took them to parks, pushed them on the swings, and when they grew up, went on road trips with them?

The Uncle Al who looked after kids, like a mother or father would, when they were in his charge. When Tanita visited Uncle Al two months ago, a drunk on the London tube started cussing at Tanita. Uncle Al gave the drunk a piece of his mind, and also gave him a few jabs (yes, you heard right, he put up his fists and boxed the drunk a couple of times - "I'll show you to mess with my grand-niece.")

Which Uncle Al did you know?

The Uncle Al who never forgot a birthday, or Easter, or Christmas, and always sent you a personal greeting?

The Uncle Al who visited you in every home you ever lived in?

The Uncle Al who tried to be there for all your milestone occasions – from births to weddings to funerals.

Which Uncle Al did you know?

The Uncle Al whose love of math and science never diminished, but increased with every year?

The Uncle Al who loved computers - and all things related to computers?

The Uncle Al who was keenly interested in real estate, stocks, interest rates and exchange rates? 

Which Uncle Al did you know?

The Uncle Al who book-ended every trip with a goodbye lunch at a nice Indian restaurant?

The Uncle Al whose visits would be announced with Smarties and Cadburys?

The Uncle Al who hosted you at Felixstowe, Suffolk or at Chingford, London? Uncle Al hosted Tanita at Enterprise House in Chingford, London, - the retirement flats where he lived - in January 2015, and gave her a grand time. 

Which Uncle Al did you know?

The Uncle Al who was a happy participant in all gatherings, lending his voice when everyone sang, and getting up on his feet when everyone danced?

The Uncle Al who was a rescuer and savior, and was ever-willing to go where needed, earning the nick-name of 1-800-Al? Once he summoned up the courage to get behind the driving wheel to pick me and Tanita up from the airport, in the middle of the night, though he had given up driving for several years.

The Uncle Al, who though family could drive him crazy, was first and last, “ a family man”?

Which Uncle Al did you know?

Whichever Uncle Al you knew, he sure showed us how to grow old without losing our sharpness, stamina, or zest for life.

Let’s each raise our glasses (a glass of buttermilk, Uncle Al’s favorite drink, if you will) to the memory of Uncle Al, and in the best British tradition, shout, “Three Cheers for Uncle Al.  Hip Hip Hooray. Three Cheers for Uncle Al. Hip Hip Hooray.  Three Cheers for Uncle Al. Hip Hip Hooray”

Yes, I have no doubt that’s how Uncle Al would have liked it!