Friday, November 6, 2020
“Uncle Sam” and “Auntie Gwen” were my Dad’s cousins, but they were more like Grandparents to my brother, sister, and me growing up. They spoiled us rotten in the summers in Kimberley, with a full day of rides on the Alpine Slide accompanied by chips and frozen treats, mini golf and endless quarters into ‘Happy Hans’ to hear him yodel, dinners out at restaurants where the two were small town royalty, followed by more limitless frozen treats and pie before bed. They were our biggest fans - rewatching our dance and singing recitals on beta tape, and I remember at least once they were here for a visit to catch me sing a solo at a high school concert and they were so very proud.
Following Sam’s death, I will mostly remember him as the most loving and loyal husband I have ever known existed. He loved Gwen absolutely selflessly. He dressed her, did her makeup, fed her, and spoke for her after a massive stroke that she suffered long before I was born. “Tell ‘em, Sam!”, she would say, because she couldn’t get her words out. He cared for her for all those days of her life until her death, and I hope they are prancing around like teenagers in love up in that better place.
He also taught me that you don’t need to eat any green vegetables, EVER, and you can still live until you’re 96!
