A Memorial Day thought: send flowers to Uncle Arthur

Most of us have an Uncle Arthur, an older relative who lives far away to whom you’ve not been as close as the genealogical relationship would suggest.  Your Uncle Arthur may actually be an Aunt Jane or a Cousin George, but the idea is the same.

My Uncle Arthur grew up among a large crowd of Laquedem cousins, but most of them (including my father) moved to other parts of the country and reared their families there, and I saw Uncle Arthur only twice when I was growing up, and thereafter only on the on the rare occasions that I passed near his village.

This March Uncle Arthur turned 75, an age rarely attained by a Laquedem, and it occurred to me to send him flowers and a note, which I had never done for any of his prior birthdays.  The next day his children — my cousins — sent me two thoughtful e-mails, saying that my small gift meant a lot to Uncle Arthur and thanking me for remembering his birthday and thinking of him.

Uncle Arthur died this month.  I’m glad I thought of him while I could send flowers to him instead of to his funeral.

Send something to your Uncle Arthur.  Now is good.