Those were the days my friend...

"Those were the days my friend. We thought they'd never end. We'd sing and dance for ever and a day."
Did Peggy Lee sing that song? It describes my Uncle Dan perfectly. He was a man who enjoyed his Italian family heritage. Cooking, eating and singing were a big part of his life. Today I went to his funeral. No cooking, no eating and no singing. Today his family laid him to his eternal resting place. 

However, we acknowledged the man. My uncle had a great sense of humor; he knew how to make people laugh. And that is a fine legacy. He would always greet me with a big "Kathleeeeeeeeen!" I will always remember his voice and the way he called my name.

When we had a funeral service for my Father years ago, My Uncle Dan looked around the room and said "It is a short walk from there (where the casket was) to here" (where people were sitting.) It is indeed a short walk, a brief ride or however you wish to think or say it. I believe each of us has our own path in life. My Uncle's path was to "live it up." And he did...and I am glad. 
To make people smile, to welcome them into our homes, to feed them silly; it is what we are about as a family. It is how we live our lives. When it was my turn to say my final goodbyes to my Uncle, I quietly thanked him for his life gifts and also to tell my Father "hi" for me.