"Cold Cuts"

So, Friday I attended the funeral of my Uncle John who passed away earlier this week. He has had been sick for about a year or so. In fact his health in general was on the decline for several years.

A remember as a kid I always remembered him as a chain smoker, and its undeniable that although he lived a reatlivley long life that smoking greatly lowered his quality of life the last 10 years of his life. Really, I think those are options for the smokers, an early grave or nothing but medical problems later in life. But, even still I have many friends who refuse to quit smoking despite every fact in the world about smoking basically states they are a dumbass to suck down cancer sticks.

It's strange sometimes an older relative, you only know him as when you were a kid on. Nothing really about their pass, before they were the person you knew as their uncle. Since my mother married later, most my cousins are older so he was pretty much always a father of adult kids since I could remember.

At the funeral today, I learned more about him than I ever knew. Hell, no one had ever told me he had fought in the Korean War. He was an amateur cartoonist, and over through his work the building of the Casinos in Atlantic City in the early 80's.

If any good came from it, it was a chance to see family I hadn't seen in ages. Including family from Ohio.

Afterwards, we went to a luncheon at the church. Which was nice. They had deli sandwitches and soup out for everyone. It was quite a long day (literally the funeral and the initial service were an hour away from each other) and it gave everyone a chance to talk some more before all parting ways.

I remember the picture of him when he was about 19 or so at the funeral. I just couldn't believe it was him. So, young and so full of hope. His whole life ahead of him. I never saw him that way until I saw that picture.

But not matter what you do in life, what choices you make, what paths you take one day it will be your turn. People will be sitting around eating cold cuts talking about your life. At that point you stay alive on earth only in memories.