My grandmother would always take me with her to the weekend sleepovers at my uncle's house. I knew him as uncle Lee. For a brief moment I experienced with my uncle a friendship, a bond, that I'm sure came few. I'm told that my temper and stubbornness comes from him, but the time he spent with me when I was little resulted in nothing but the best memories of him and my grandmother. Memories that I'm sure no one else has and that I'm proud to own. I would trump around in his huge cowboy boots out to feed the horses. He aloud me to play bad pool in his trophy room. Scratching the felt, which I knew he hated. I would hold his hand as he led me over too see birds nests to high for my height. Cherry picking, eating fresh meat from his freezer that he was proud to bring to the table as a direct result from his skills. I'm told he took down some sort of mountains big cat with his bare hands. I wouldn't doubt it. I remember his huge coin jar. And his reclining chairs. There in the one furthest to the south he gave me the first and only lecture I would receive from him. That same lecture dictated all future choices I made. I wish I would have been stronger so that I could have shown him some of the choices I made directly influenced by that talk. I never was. After my grandma moved away I had no one to take me to visit him. Then it just became a memory. Another family member mentioned but never seen. I treasure every minute I spent with him. More so I am privileged to say that such a strong man, one who defended and protected my country, one who was injured in doing so, is of my blood. You can't change that. If you loved Lee, if you didn't, he still did things most of us can't grasp. I'm proud of my uncle. I love my uncle. Lee I'm sorry I never came out to see you, or that I didn't suck it up and bring my son to meet you. He could have had some of the same memories I have. I can't change the time missed, nor can I change the experiences you didn't need to give me but did. I love you and I have always missed you. Love your niece, Ashley (ley) as you always called me right back :-)
