Happy Retirement, Uncle Ed.

So I've got this Uncle and for years he worked at our local college in Clarion. I suppose if you were to chalk up hard work over ones lifetime, he'd be cemented in the annals as one those guys. I always knew he was one of those guys, yet he was and is a bit more special to me than work ethic alone.

When I approached the often times trying years of teenage zits and pubic hair unaccompanied by the wisdom that should grow with it, I felt awkward and often times alone. While fine with the latter, every family get together made me smile because I got to look into my Uncle Ed's eyes.

In those eyes, I saw a man, an imperfect one, like myself, who probably used too many commas in his sentences as well. And in those eyes, I took comfort. His sense of humor was one of the few that actually made me LOL, before LOL was the proverbial catchphrase in the forum you may now be reading. I'm not sure about you, but I don't "LOL" nearly much as I may lead on. But Uncle Ed affected me in that way.

It's difficult to try to write anything about a man you would just rather hug, cause I probably didn't do it the last time I was there. At least, not enough. Don't get me wrong, I shouldn't be humping his leg or anything ... but mad props go out to a guy I'm pretty fond of. I think part of my fondness for Uncle Ed is our similarities ... I've never saw him cry but am damn sure he does it as passionately as he laughs. And he legitimately cares about people ... which I would dare say is more common than not with most, but I experienced first-hand that type of care when my cousin helped give birth to his first grandchild. I walked into the room seeing my Uncle Ed cupping that young buck in his arms as they fell into dreams.

Sometimes, you just know ...

My Uncle Ed retired from Clarion College and the work-force as we know it just recently. When I heard the news, I automatically traced my synapses to ensure what I was feeling was genuine ... and it was ... and is. The guy is a legend in my mind. And while that may not mean squat to some, Uncle Ed means the world to me.

Happy Retirement, Sir. And remind Sue that if she flies, I dance. However we can get together, let's freaking do it!