Saturday, January 15, 2011

My Uncle Pood

Another Relative Gone Home

My mother's brother died Friday morning.  He had been on hospice care at home since last fall.  My heart aches for his children and their families and his wife of 50 some years.  My heart aches for my mother, who is the last surviving sibling of her family.

My mother came from a very large family.  The oldest children in the family were enough older that they could have been my mother's parents.  My mother and her younger sister Retta and her younger brother Pood were very close.  Raised during the Great Depression they knew what hunger was like and sometimes went days without food or with very little food.  Pood never forgot what it was like to be a hungry child.  I think this is why he always had hard candy or a candy bar stashed away in some pocket ready to give to any child he might run across.

Pood (real name Ralph Allen) had a wonderful sense of humor, something all his children have in common.  He could see any situation in a way that seemed funny but his comments often were thought provoking in addition to being amusing.  He was a veteran of the Korean War - going into the Army just out of high school and leaving it as a sergeant.  He didn't speak of the war often, but I think it was a heavy weight he carried with him all the time. 

Music was a passion for Pood.  He had a wonderful singing voice which his children also inherited.  He has grandchildren that are passionate singers also.  I think Pood knew the words to thousands of songs.  He was especially fond of country music.

Pood had a nickname for everyone.  Snake and Fox and Head (after Edith Head the fashion designer) were his children at home and his wife.  I was Sissaroo and my younger brother was Grinder (as in tougher than a mull grinder). 

Pood was a 5 year survivor of metastasized colorectal cancer before his body said no more.  I hope anyone reading this starts getting screening colonoscopies at the recommended intervals/ages.  Colon cancer is very curable if caught in the earliest stages.  Don't put having a colonoscopy off!

My bosses were fantastic as usual since I will be taking my Mom up "home" to the funeral on Monday, the day I was supposed to be flying to Michigan.  They redid my tickets so I can leave Tuesday instead!  I have the new guy some literature to take with him so hopefully he will be prepared for questions.

I am hoping for a great drive up there (the town is about four hours northwest from here) and a great drive back, then I will be hopping a flight to cold cold Michigan the next day.  I am very sad today; everyone who knew Pood is very sad today.  My mom doesn't travel well, but she is determined to go and I am glad she feels well enough to go!  As for my health problems I am just going to suck it up and go.

17 comments:

  1. Winny, I am so very sorry for your uncle's passing. He sounded like a good man. Praying for strength as you make your trip(s). ((((Winny))))

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  2. JBR: Thanks for the prayers. Yes Pood was a good man, and the world is poorer for his passing.

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  3. What a beautiful tribute Winny. I'm so very sorry for your loss, and the loss of your entire family. Hugs!

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  4. So sorry to hear about your family's loss. It sounds like you were all very blessed to have your uncle in your life.
    I pray that even though traveling will be difficult for you that being together with family will be comforting.
    You know my thoughts are with you.

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  5. Migrainista, Kristin: Thanks for the thoughts! Pood, his wife JoAnn and my cousins Jeff and Cindy lived just down the road from my house out in the country when I was little, so we were very close. He used to come out to our house about once a week and have a cup of coffee with my mom.

    My older brother is going to ride with us so I will have some extra help driving! Whew!

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  6. Thinking about you dear one. ((((Winny))))

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  7. I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope the travel is going well. (((hugs)))

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  8. GW, Diana Lee - thanks for the thoughts. Made it back home so I can get ready to go tomorrow! Not so well with a marathon of driving and standing and several more days yet to go before I can say done. sigh.

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  9. I'm so sorry for your loss. Sounds like Pood was a great man, thoughtful, caring, and funny to boot. (Where'd he get his nickname?)

    I hope the trip goes okay; even during this sad time it's nice to reconnect with family members you might not have seen otherwise.

    Thinking positive thoughts for you!

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  10. Came back by to say I am thinking about you dear Winny at this time.

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  11. Hoping all is OK, Winny. I am so sorry about your loss. I wanted you to know, I am thinking about you!!

    God Bless~
    Debbie Jean

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  12. Thanks Heather, JBR, Debbie Jean. Just got back from Michigan. Boy is it cold there!!! Brrr!

    Caught the creeping crud on the plane flight up to Michigan, I think I must the last person in the state to catch it!

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  13. I am in Ohio, and yes it is cold... Brrrrr. The high was 12 today!! Glad you got back safe and sound.

    God Bless~
    Debbie Jean

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  14. Oh I'm so sorry for you loss. I'm chiming in late, but wishing you peace at this difficult time.

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  15. Thanks Sue - Debbie Jean!

    Heather: When Pood was little there was a neighbor down the road that was quite a rounder who was named Pood. His brothers gave him the nickname and it stuck. His sister my Aunt Min (Lileth) got her nickname the same way!!!

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  16. Emily, thanks so much for posting this. I am the one in the "woodpile" and I want to thank you all for keeping me informed of what was going on. Love you all and thanks for being "my" family.

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  17. Shelah: I'm not "self-taught" but I do try my best. I am most sorry that you did not get to know us growing up and we didn't get to know you! Think of all the more trouble we could've gotten into as a pair! You could've taught me to tap dance.

    I've got to get all these family stories written down. Darn, one more thing to do!!!

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