My beloved Uncle died on Christmas day in 2002. I was scheduled to host dinner for 30. The call came early from the nursing home, an hour away. I was torn between my host duties and my desire to be with him.

Uncle helped raise me. He lived in a trailer at the bottom of my parents property since before I was born. He was a huge part of our daily lives as he taught me how to keep bees and spin honey. Calm a swarm of bees when the adults were all at work. He was always good for a quarter and he taught me to drive way too early - I was 10 years old. LOL!

I remember sitting on his lap, smearing peanut butter and jelly on bread - making his lunch, helping him get ready for work. My own daughter has the same memories. He'd sing us cowboy songs while we 'made his lunch'. He taught us card games.

I was writing his checks to pay for gas and food by the time I was 6. He'd sign, I'd write them out for the correct amount. Later I learned he barely read. That man had no temper and could outwork anyone I knew.

I was married at 14, a mother at 15 and my parents were busy with their careers. Uncle would drop by my house to check on me and Aimee. Not often but once in awhile he would come by with something for me. Once it was a portable dishwasher. Anther time it was a washer and dryer set. The last thing he gave me was a car.

When Aimee was young, I was proud and never asked for anything. If he asked if I had food, I would always say 'yes', whether or not it was true. I think he must have known that about me because when Aimee was 3, he dropped by my house and asked to take Aimee for a ride. He took her to the grocery store and let her do the grocery shopping. He didn't even question her ability to perform the job and she fulfilled the obligation. She did well, actually. Other than bandaids and peanut butter cereal, she did a great job choosing basic needs. I remember there was at least 6 bags of groceries and Uncle and Aimee were so proud. The thing was, I knew Uncle never once doubted her ability to know just what we needed. He empowered her the same way he empowered me, when I was writing his checks and tallying his totals at a very young age.

I bought my little farm when Aimee was in 6th grade and Uncle fell in love with it. It wasn't unusual to come home from work and notice he had patched the ruts in my long dirt road.

The first time Uncle got lost was going home after having dinner at my house, where I live now. Max was about 5. I knew dementia ran in the male side of his family but even at 78, I was unprepared emotionally.

We decided he should only drive to places he was familiar with - only during the day. For the next five years, it worked. He didn't get lost again and he seemed to do pretty well. Until my mom got too sick to live at home and Uncle couldn't be by himself.

I brought him and his dog here with me, where he helped me pick up kids from school, take them to sports and make their school lunches, while we sang cowboy songs.

As time went on, as his mind faded, his sense of humor and gentle loving nature stayed with him. Once at the Dr., he was to get a blood test. "Which arm?," he asked. "It doesn't matter," the Dr replied. Without missing a beat, Uncle reached down and grabbed my arm and presented it to the Dr. All the while he couldn't remember we had an indoor toilet.

Time passed and mom was growing sicker. We were running a business, raising kids and caring for Uncle. One day, Mom had a heart attack. Maybe chemo related but she was going to need more care. Uncle was starting to drive her crazy.

The hardest job I have ever had was to place Uncle in a nursing home but I felt I had no choice. He was now 94, still strong but urinating on my floors and climbing stairs during the night. I had to admit I could no longer car for him.

That phone call early Christmas pulled me every which way. I was ready for the family but my heart was with Uncle. My DH said, "Go. I will take care of everything." So I did.

I spent Christmas Day 2002 singing cowboy songs (through tears and out of key) to my beloved Uncle as he passed. Dinner happened, I guess. I am forever grateful for my husband taking over without hesitation. I wouldn't trade singing him out of this world for anything. It was my best Christmas gift.

I think of him every Christmas with a very happy heart. He was something.