My Uncle David passed away  Saturday, November 30, 2013 in the early morning.

My Uncle David was without a doubt my favorite uncle, no offense to my second favorite uncle.  My dad commented at the hospital that all the nieces loved him.  And it’s true, we did.  But so did the nephews.  And so did my children.

And so a few words to try and honor my uncle.

He was first and foremost a husband.  A great husband, someone who honored his wife and stood with her always.  Lance and I had spoken of this many times over the years.  It was obvious, they had each other’s back.  And at the hospital my dad made it clear, that he had my aunt’s back because his brother always had her back.  They were a team.

A team that endured the loss of a daughter 15 years ago, almost to the day, and yet stood together.  It was probably the hardest thing they ever dealt with, but they were together, a team that showed us you can make it through unbearable grief.  It wasn’t easy for them, and the pain never left, but they were together.

And so he was a father, a father who adored his only daughter.  A dad who would do anything to make her happy.

He was a great brother, maybe closest to my father, someone who would call just to say two words and hang up, several times throughout the day.  Someone who would tease my dad about the Cowboys.  He was also extremely close to my brother.  My aunt commented that with Hector, David could just be.  They were true friends.

But to me he was just an uncle, an uncle who opened his home to not only me, but my friends during college.  His house held many BBQ’s over the years and many card games.  It was always a place for fun.

I remember playing cards and going nil or blind nil, watching all of my uncles just have fun being together.  I have a really amazing extended family, they are far from perfect, but when they are on, they are on.  I’ve yet to meet a family as fun as mine and my uncle was a huge part of it.

My uncle was the first person I wanted Lance to meet once I knew he was “the one”.  I warned Lance that he would tease him to no end and immediately he did.  He and my aunt were the Padrinos of the lasso at my wedding.  I swore I wouldn’t get married until they would join in my celebration, and I didn’t.

I think the main thing I want to remember is how my kids knew my uncle.  They visited him, and knew who he was.  They prayed nonstop for him once they learned he was sick.  And today, Sunshine prays for his soul.  It’s not me, it’s all her.  They sensed the importance of him.

When we traveled to Austin we always had breakfast with them.  And each time, I always took a picture of the kids with him and my aunt.  I’m sad that the last time we were together I didn’t get a picture of the kids with my aunt and uncle.  I have to be okay with that, the memory is in my heart.

I loved my uncle for many reasons, we gossiped about stuff, he gave me my Snoopy phone, let me and my friends come over during college, walked with me and my dad during Halloween on 6th street wearing a huge sombrero, loved the Longhorns, and was a killer BBQ’er.  He would ask my kids questions, tease Squirt about girls and telling him to always remember “Uncle David is always right”.  (Random, but Squirt signed every card to them with that quote.)

Uncle David went to TX/OU with my dad, brother and another uncle.  While I was slightly jealous that I decided not to attend that game, I love thinking of them all together for that last game.

My dad came home and told me that my uncle was sick.  He even requested that I send him a text to check on him and encourage him to get to a doctor.  Uncle David did go, but the diagnosis was hard.  He was willing to fight though.

His fight was short, and while I miss him terribly, I am grateful for minimal suffering.  Yet at the same time, I can’t believe I won’t get a call from him this year on my birthday.

Birthdays were huge for him.  And he was not unlike me.  He was very aware of who called him on his birthday.  Even this year on November 7th, he joked that he was crossing my name off the list since I had called early.  He still could joke a little.  Even on that last Friday, hours before his passing, he communicated well when he was awake.  I asked him if he wanted me to bring the kids into the ICU and his eyes got huge and he shook his head NO.  I am sure he was thinking those kids are going to kill me not this cancer.

Bless you, Uncle David.  You have a crew of kids over here praying for you, especially one sweet, little girl who also remembers to pray for Aunt Diana.  We love you and miss you so very much.  I’m proud to call you my uncle, I wish you were still here, but I am happy knowing you are watching over all of us.   We’ll be gossiping soon enough.  I love you, Uncle David.