Friday, November 18, 2022
People don't realize how much the adults around you influence who you are and what you become as you grow up. I'm so fortunate to have had somebody like my Uncle Lenny to influence my life over the years. He was always setting such a good example to emulate. Right up to the end he showed strength and courage heading to his passing.
Some of my best childhood memories came by way of him:
He took me to my first baseball game, trips to Suntan Lake, tossing us all up in air like a human diving board for hours until he was exhausted, teaching us to not be afraid of the deep water as he led us across the lake, all of us clinging to him the whole way, sitting in the front seat of the car in the middle and him letting me think I was driving the car when I was 10. All of the celebrations at the Ben-Ma Cree boat club - dancing and laughing till your socks came off. The Holidays and laughter at Grandma's on 16th Street. The Barbeques at Grandma Dimino's house with great food – boy did she knew how to cook! Lots of fun filled summers hanging out in the pool in the backyard at East 17th street.
All in all over the years the underlying lessons were: don't be afraid! ... get up and walk it off! .... and even if you don't care for the situation you're in, ... take the high road and be the better person!
To my Uncle Len, I say, thank you! I'm so lucky to have had you be a part of my life!
Love, Brian
