Uncle Bill
My Uncle Bill was my mother's older brother. He passed away last Monday at 87 years old. Since my mother left this earth 23 years ago at 61, I'm not sure what conclusions to draw regarding the gene pool. Even their parents, Roy and Ilene Burke, had vastly different longevities.

Uncle Bill was a straight shooter, a stalwart of consistency, a church-going man, a veteran, a retiree with a pension and 37 years under his belt. He was on the planning board in Farmington, Michigan for as long as they've anyone remembers planning. They don't make guys like this anymore.

My uncle was 6 -foot-2 and blessed with a radio voice which was in constant use. He came to Michigan when his father, a tunnel engineer, got a job with a new project near Detroit. Bill married Rita Marnon in 1943. They had four kids over the next 14 years. When he died, he was still living in that house where the family grew up.

When I got the news I knew I wanted to drive to Detroit rather than fly. I don't get a lot of quiet time these days and I thought this event required a good deal reflection. This was not a logical decision - if I flew the door-to-door time would be 6 hours. It takes 14 hours to drive the 800 miles from my house. But my instincts were right. I particularly enjoyed the drive out which I split over 2 days. I listened to a lot of music, worked on a few mental projects, and reveled in the exoctica of Buffalo, Cleveland, and Toledo. Not much to look at out there. Among the few memorable moments was the billboard with America's favorite slut offering this.

I'm glad I went despite being struck on the head with spiritual angst. The people around me seem so confident about their beliefs. Bill was a giving and loving man who served his church for many years. He is now taking his rightful place in heaven. That's it. There is no doubt about it. I can't possibly accept this view but I'm jealous of those who can.