Autobiography 10- My Uncle John!

Our relatives did not come to visit often because they did not live near us. It used to be a long journey for them in the sixties and seventies in the last century. Our relatives on my mother's side lived in Dublin, and our relatives on my father's side lived on the Mullet peninsula in County Mayo. There was no motorway in the country at that time, and the roads were of poor quality.

But from time to time, close intrepid relatives came to visit. They used to have to stay with us for a while, especially when they were coming from the Mullet peninsula, because that journey took one day coming to us and another day going home. When we (my brother, my sister and I) heard that relatives would be coming to visit us, we used to get excited in the days before. Sinful desserts would be available, biscuits of all kinds and delicious meals every day, because my Mum tried to do her best in the kitchen. Also, the visitors always gave us gifts, including sweets. We ate the sweets in an instant, and we were out and about and full of sugar. We were naughty then, running here and there, laughing, shouting and the like. It wasn't long before we were thrown out of the house, so that the adults could talk and chat together. After that, we were not able to spend much time with our relatives, because as soon as my mother saw us coming, she kicked us out without delay. The visitors made no effort to spend extra time with us either – with one exception!

Our Uncle John

When we heard that our uncle John and his wife Evelyn would be coming to visit us, we could hardly sleep. They themselves were childless and I think they treated us as if we were their own children. They brought gifts for everyone in the family, and they had not only sweets but toys and comics for us, the children. We weren't thrown out, either, because John and Evelyn gave us their attention, asking us questions, listening to what we were saying, and spending time with us. We liked them both very much, because we felt that they were interested in us. With most other relatives, we felt that they were not the least bit interested in us, but that we were a pain in the ass.

There is no doubt that Uncle John was the favorite relative for the three of us - my brother, my sister and myself. Although he was a big man - more than 6 feet tall and built accordingly - he was a gentle, bright, deep-voiced man who never had a bad word to say about anyone. He was my father's eldest brother, and my father had a lot of respect for John, no doubt.

The Walk!

Uncle John used to take us (the kids) for a walk to the city center once every visit. But it was not a boring walk, so we were excited about the same walk as soon as they came to visit us. Uncle John didn't lay down for us which route to take through the city, but he gave us that option. I tell you, we always had a great plan. We visited every toy shop and every book shop in the center of Kilkenny, looking into every shop window we could. When one of us would see an interesting toy or book, we would point a finger at it, and say something like: "Uncle John, isn't that a nice toy/book?" There was no need to say anything else and a few minutes later, Uncle John would come out of the shop, with the toy/book in hand.

When Uncle John asked us to wait outside the pub or bookie shop, we had no problem with that. It used to be a secret agreement, and we had the smarts to say nothing about it at home. Uncle John was on his holidays, and who would refuse him having a bit of fun too? As the old saying goes: Let he who is free cast the first stone! By the end of that wonderful walk, the three (four? ) of us would have nice presents, and everyone of us, including Uncle John, would sport a big smile.

We will never forget our wonderful uncle Uncle John, whose generosity touched our hearts. He is a good example for us, this great man who never ignored us as children, but always the opposite. Although I try my best to emulate him, it is not easy, because Uncle John achieved the highest standard, not only as an uncle but as a human being. We miss you very much, our Uncle John!

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