When irish eyes are smiling...

Laura, my girl over at Are we there yet mummy tagged me to do 

the photo blogstep challenge.

The rules are: go the the 4th folder on your computer where 

you store your pics and pick the 4th photo in it; explain the 

picture and tag 4 others.

Unfortunate arrangement of photos wouldn't you say? As my 

brother R would have said at the time 'what a skag!' I really don't 

know what that EXACTLY meant but it had something to do with 

being unattractive. I have clearly not grown into my teeth yet and 

am long and gangly - I shot up in height very quickly.

This is me at the ripe old age of 9 with my very most favorite uncle 

when I was young - Uncle Tom. He and his wife, my favorite Aunt 

Louise could not have children so they adopted - 2 boys. Aunt Louise 

and my mother are sisters and were very close. They lived a state 

away which seemed very far at the time. We are at a lake 

cabin on vacation in this photo.

Uncle Tom was famous for making us laugh. He would sit you on 

his lap - have you look into his ridiculously mischievous Irish eyes 

and dare you not to laugh before his finger touched your nose. 

Nobody could ever do it.

He and Aunt Louise were so in love - they were my role models 

for marriage and for life. 

They delighted in each others company. 

They would hold hands when they walked. 

They both had a joie de vivre.

Uncle Tom had a stroke at 42 that he survived long before this 

photo was taken. His face was just a little bit lopsided and he 

couldn't play the piano anymore but he really made a miraculous 

recovery. And he lived life as though each day was his last.

He made me feel beautiful.

When he died years later I wrote Aunt Louise of my admiration of 

their marriage. She told my mom I wrote her a beautiful letter. 

When my mother asked her what it said she wouldn't tell her. 

I love her even more for that.

She thought every day with Uncle Tom was a gift. And she thanked God that she had him as long as she did.

Here is to the amazing people who shape our lives - in a good way.

Now go out and enjoy the day.

I tag:

Jax over at Student_Kiwi_Nurse - she just did her first post -

go visit her and say hi

Su at Travels with Charlie

My cous over at Undercover Caterer

and The Yew Nork Babe.