A/N: My Uncle Paul died a couple years ago, so I wrote this about him. Please no flames - I'm kind of sensitive about this kind of stuff. R&R, and tell me if you want me to read your stories. Thanks!
My Uncle Paul
'Dead... Dead... Dead' This one word echoed repeatedly in my mind. I saw him laying
there, frozen in time. Icy cold, it hit me. It was true, he was dead. I was mortified!
How could this be? I knew that he had cancer, but I thought he'd get better, be like
his old, jolly self again. Sadly, that wasn't the way it had happened.
This whole thing started a little over a year ago, January 13th, 2004. My Great Uncle
Paul had cancer for almost 2 years. He was a very fun-loving person. He was a music
teacher for Down-Syndrum people. But that wasn't all, he used to be a baseball coach,
PTA member, a boy scout leader, and many other volunteer jobs that we just won't get
into.
At his wake, I could tell everyone else was sadly grieving over the loss of my Uncle
Paul, too. It was such a sad sight. There were people tristfully wandering around the
rooms, most of them teary-eyed or crying. Looking at all of the tear-stained faces, I
couldn't help but cry, too.
After awhile I woefully slumped over to the coffin where Uncle Paul lay, calmly
sleeping. What a sight it was. Him laying there, eyes closed, still as can be. People
came and went to stop and look at him. Some kneeled down and prayed. It made me
weep more to see everyone there, sorrowfully mourning over my great uncle.
Once everyone had seen and done what they wanted to, we went to a nearby Lutheran
church for my Uncle Paul's funeral. The Church was sizable and had many long, wooden
pews. The people there where all gloomy and dispirited by the death of my Uncle Paul.
My Aunt Kathy made a speech about Paul (he was her Uncle). By the time she was
through, everyone was quietly whimpering to themselves. What touched me the most
about her speech was what one of her daughters (my cousin) had said. My Uncle Paul
had died on her birthday, so when she found out, what she said was this; "Well, it's kind
of like it's his birthday, too. He's being born into heaven." It was so moving, I bawled.
I cried so hard my Uncle Jeff (my cousin's Dad) had to ask me if I was okay.
I still couldn't believe he was dead, gone... forever. At least now he's in a place where
he can rest in peace. I miss him so very much.