tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post5633724528637990779..comments2023-12-20T02:16:15.132-08:00Comments on The Fifty Factor: I Found Uncle CharlieJoanna Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10836376588710862173noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-1121769414748080822011-10-15T11:04:22.378-07:002011-10-15T11:04:22.378-07:00As a childless single uncle myself, and one who is...As a childless single uncle myself, and one who is not all that great with kids under the age of - oh, say - 16, I'd like to say that I read this with particular interest. I had an aunt who was tough on kids and later in life we became very good friends. I used to tell her she was an acquired taste. I think the fact that your Mom had good things to say - and my goodness, he gave her a rocker! - probably is significant. Some people are wonderful friends for grown-ups; I bet you'd have liked Charlie better later in life. As a child, I thought I was an endlessly fascinating subject for all adults, and as an adult, I realize that such could not have been the case. Bless all those relatives (I had 12 blood aunts and 4 blood uncles) who did not disabuse me of my misconception in any lastingly damaging way. I love that Charlie wouldn't chip into the 'what he was thankful for' routine. I find many 'sweetness and light and all's for the best' commentary to be like nails on a chalkboard - such thoughts are worse than useless when one really has a crisis, yet that is so often all that one gets (see the excellent new film "50/50" for a great take one this). But, alas, I rarely have Uncle Charlie's guts to refuse to partake.DavidShaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02378015294494222646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-90183765134139442932011-10-14T07:16:50.797-07:002011-10-14T07:16:50.797-07:00Kinda gives "my uncle stays in my mom's g...Kinda gives "my uncle stays in my mom's garage" a whole new meaning. I'm actually misting up over here, that is one h*ll of a story.dianehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16084010090761068139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-6169115635827573712011-10-05T05:21:00.716-07:002011-10-05T05:21:00.716-07:00Such a classic Joanna story... =)Such a classic Joanna story... =)Izzyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14129979013427994643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-17050988112442642212011-10-03T03:30:08.742-07:002011-10-03T03:30:08.742-07:00this made me laugh so hard...at least he wasn'...this made me laugh so hard...at least he wasn't IN the tupperware! :-) actually, i'll bet uncle charlie didn't mind being in that lively garage all those years...it was probably right where he belonged.julochkahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10884096685015570257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-79467076584515908482011-09-29T15:38:03.788-07:002011-09-29T15:38:03.788-07:00Funny story.. so great in the telling. I suspect t...Funny story.. so great in the telling. I suspect that Uncle Charlie might have grumbled a bit no matter what was decided. But you set him free. He can't have a bug up his ash about that. ;)Hilaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12787493532006658679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-26622858086486578612011-09-26T17:22:19.825-07:002011-09-26T17:22:19.825-07:00I'm pretty sure I would have been one who bust...I'm pretty sure I would have been one who busted out in laughter over the fact too. I can't believe he was left in the garage all those years!Liz Mayshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13960276167677132860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-82467289053130049502011-09-26T08:04:32.560-07:002011-09-26T08:04:32.560-07:00What a very interesting story, making me feel a bi...What a very interesting story, making me feel a bit sad for your uncle. To be forgotten when alive is terrible, but it must be as sad to be forgotten in death...<br />So glad you found him, I am sure he is smiling at you, wherever he might be.;)<br />xoxoZuzanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02137958790178864561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-70379608144326242612011-09-26T07:15:41.857-07:002011-09-26T07:15:41.857-07:00What IS the protocol for finding someone's ash...What IS the protocol for finding someone's ashes?! So many things are an unknown until faced...<br /><br />PearlPearlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05261369905176088917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-40901953419356371832011-09-25T19:51:00.599-07:002011-09-25T19:51:00.599-07:00Oh Joanna - if it were a sitcom folks would think ...Oh Joanna - if it were a sitcom folks would think 'things like that never happen'. Lighthearted approach to a difficult time. Great post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-7823841730784524232011-09-25T19:08:10.591-07:002011-09-25T19:08:10.591-07:00Oh my...I don't mean to be disrespectful, but ...Oh my...I don't mean to be disrespectful, but I am really still laughing...don't we all have those uncle charlies? <br />I am thankful that he wasn't sold at the garage sale, and I'm thankful that he was finally laid to rest. So glad I stopped by and read this post...<br />Blessings,<br />shugShughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12287830519297050445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-11674143032820592892011-09-25T06:59:22.253-07:002011-09-25T06:59:22.253-07:00As the others have said, you did the right thing J...As the others have said, you did the right thing JJ. Great post as always.Mike Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04720759712556479993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-22642650792345446872011-09-24T22:00:22.098-07:002011-09-24T22:00:22.098-07:00You did right by Uncle Charlie. Good on ya.
And y...You did right by Uncle Charlie. Good on ya.<br /><br />And you've reminded me that a certain someone I know still has her mother's ashes (from 15 years ago) in a storage shed.....time to do something about THAT.Taradharmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17665801586196931603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-30388738578185053492011-09-24T12:21:45.887-07:002011-09-24T12:21:45.887-07:00I believe things don't just happen. I'm gl...I believe things don't just happen. I'm glad Uncle Charlie was found. I also bet there was a tenderness about him, but he was too afraid to show it. I hope you can find out more about him and share.<br /><br />BTW I hope you sold that silver tree for a good penny. I believe last year they were a commodity. xoJoycehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05809643560097517895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-39676655508084229862011-09-24T11:14:45.533-07:002011-09-24T11:14:45.533-07:00Have you ever found out what Uncle Charlie's s...Have you ever found out what Uncle Charlie's story was? It sounds like he was always "odd man out". Long after my mom died, I found out from a cousin that Mom had a bachelor uncle called Crazy Joe. He resided in a State Hospital but always came to help with the threshing at harvest time. I've never even seen a picture of Joe and I wish my mom had told me about him.Ms Sparrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03417670251423549014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-19380248862753134562011-09-24T08:01:57.182-07:002011-09-24T08:01:57.182-07:00OH, I can almost laugh out loud at this one! It s...OH, I can almost laugh out loud at this one! It sounds like a sit com!! Sorry, but it does!! What a good daughter you are (and I'm sure the sisters are too!).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-41874548814795602512011-09-24T07:54:26.876-07:002011-09-24T07:54:26.876-07:00You've given Uncle Charlie a very fine final g...You've given Uncle Charlie a very fine final goodbye. Thanks for sharing him with us.Jeaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04810126999695733332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-49883469058505063912011-09-24T07:12:16.668-07:002011-09-24T07:12:16.668-07:00I really enjoyed this post! Thank you!I really enjoyed this post! Thank you!maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12915948349223137648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-64578347110571438832011-09-24T06:33:11.144-07:002011-09-24T06:33:11.144-07:00What a delightful story, JJ! I love the way you te...What a delightful story, JJ! I love the way you tell a story, and love the compassion you have for your whole family. Uncle Charlie is smiling down on you!Cindy La Ferlehttp://www.laferle.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-40609295560829539132011-09-24T06:21:24.723-07:002011-09-24T06:21:24.723-07:00This goes on the "ethical dilemmas you could ...This goes on the "ethical dilemmas you could never imagine until you have to pack up 20 years of crap in someone's garage" list.Ann Imighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01383249597505013239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-75191606318343249542011-09-24T06:00:57.478-07:002011-09-24T06:00:57.478-07:00I remember once when I helped my mom move to a hou...I remember once when I helped my mom move to a house in the country. My dad's ashes, along with my Uncle Jack's, were in the truck of the car, and Mom told me, with a smile, to go get Daddy and Uncle Jack and bring them in the house. Those ashes can be problematic, this was a very good resolution to them, and you did it all! Not to mention writing a very good post about it. Thank you.DJanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07152183871573797791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-65656691416302621822011-09-24T05:32:59.356-07:002011-09-24T05:32:59.356-07:00Did you find out if Uncle Charlie was a blood rela...Did you find out if Uncle Charlie was a blood relative? This is a strange tale. Your mom must have tons of stuff in the garage. Tons.CiCihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08615265608675467505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-33904746702601093132011-09-24T05:12:18.346-07:002011-09-24T05:12:18.346-07:00Doesn't everyone have an "Uncle Charlie&q...Doesn't everyone have an "Uncle Charlie" in the family -- we had Uncle Pauly, the odd man out, the guy who never quite got his life together, the one who never quite fit in, never enjoyed the approval of the rest of the family. Too bad, b/c those people are just not "understood." We should all reach out and have more empathy.<br /><br />Your story had plenty of empathy. You did your Uncle Charlie proud.Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08611148987085476580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-66095006931078484432011-09-24T04:13:45.993-07:002011-09-24T04:13:45.993-07:00Oh my, thank heavens Uncle Charie wasn't sold ...Oh my, thank heavens Uncle Charie wasn't sold off in the yard sale.. i mean someone might have taken a fancy to the container.. imagine their surprise upon opening it at home (sorry, I'm not REALLY laughing)..!Shrinkyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18401403773851253351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-78281314195534232402011-09-24T04:07:50.094-07:002011-09-24T04:07:50.094-07:00That was a great post, really good. I could defin...That was a great post, really good. I could definitely relate to the clearing out of the contents from the past. And a meaningful ceremony for Uncle Charlie too.Midwest to Midlandshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05251533810918077310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-10742028917156775672011-09-24T03:46:23.523-07:002011-09-24T03:46:23.523-07:00Wow, JJ! THAT'S a tale for future generations...Wow, JJ! THAT'S a tale for future generations. If there's a written genealogy for your family, this should be added to it.<br /><br />Amazing discoveries...isn't that a show on cable? Wouldn't this qualify??!!People Who Know Me Would Say:https://www.blogger.com/profile/04621641188403948733noreply@blogger.com