Falling in Pieces - The Troublemaker!

Everyone should have an Uncle Tom. You know the guy I mean... the one that wants to hang out with you... that looks after you like you're his own... even from far away. He's an awesome uncle, a great brother to my mom, and a devoted husband to his wife, my Aunt Margaret.

With time on his hands he can be dangerous. I've called him a troublemaker at least a thousand times... mostly to his face. He's a great story teller. I figure he's gotta be making most of it up as he goes along but... I don't care. He's highly entertaining and very smart. He knows stuff about stuff not everybody knows... like long haul trucking and unions and the mob life. He knows people. (wink and smile) He can spot insincerity from a mile away and won't hesitate to walk away from it. He knows about family and hard work, politics and God.

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When he was younger...

When I think of how folks might have described Uncle Tom when he was younger... "hell on wheels" comes to mind. My mom tells stories of being scared to death... with Grandma on one side of the door encouraging her to go outside and play... while Uncles Tom, Ray and Jim were on the porch with snakes just waiting for her to muster up the courage. Growing up... Uncle Tom had to go to the Catholic school. I'm guessing because he needed a little more watching.

Actually he's a lot like my son...

My son, Alex, does some pretty ridiculous things that remind me of Uncle Tom... like dressing up in an awful shirt, Jeans and dress shoes for a court appearance. (and by the way... that thing about traffic fines doubling in construction zones is true.) Well, apparently the judge couldn't stop smiling at Alex that day and Alex just kept smiling back. The caption on his Facebook photo read; "Went to court today... This baddass shirt cut the ticket in half!" I admit when he left the house I was a little scared for him... but truth is, I couldn't stop laughing. I think Uncle Tom would have been proud. He says, "If you've got to do the time... at least find a way to enjoy yourself while you're doing it.

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As Uncle Tom gets older and Alex does too... I find myself thankful. I'm thankful for the guys in my life that keep me thinking and laughing and on my toes. They make me smile a lot and I know they would do anything for me. Therefore... I'm really quite safe... I think.

P.S. I love you, Uncle Tom.



Scripturally Speaking:

Job 27:4-6
4 my lips will not speak what is not true, and my tongue will not lie. 5 Far be it from me to say that you are right. Until I die I will not put away my honor. 6 I hold on to what is right and good and will not let it go. My heart does not put me to shame for any of my days.
New Life Version

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