Back in February, my
Uncle Mike’s long fight with a blood cancer called
Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia came to a bittersweet and peaceful end. Mike battled his cancer with perseverance and dignity. Fortunately, he was able to spend his last days with his beloved wife Linda and his immediate family in the privacy of his own home.
I was not able to travel back to Minnesota for the memorial service, but did contribute to the remembrances from my cousins distributed across the country and read at the service by my brother.
Here's my remembrance:
Growing up, I was blessed with the opportunity to see Uncle Mike regularly and came to know his gentle spirit and kind, caring way.
When I have though of Mike over these last few weeks, one memory comes repeatedly comes to mind.
We were on a Boundary Waters canoe trip and my dad had become very frustrated carrying a canoe over a long, miserable, mosquito-ridden portage. In frustration, my dad tossed the canoe he was carrying off in the woods along the portage. Uncle Mike soon came along and willingly -- without a word of complaint or chagrin -- snatched up the canoe and carried it the rest of the way to the end of the portage. (Actually, I don’t remember if I was on this canoe trip or if this is just a story told to me.)
To me, this story is how I will always remember Mike. Strong, committed, helping, and willing to bear the burdens of others with love and kindness and without ever a word of complaint. These were the traits that he taught to all of us nephews and all those who he met. These were the traits that he shared with Linda in their wonderfully loving and committed marriage. These were the traits that he held true to even in his most trying days.
I cherish and will greatly miss Uncle Mike, but know that his spirit and his example are carried on with those who knew and love him.
It turns out that I didn’t actually witness the canoe story, but instead it was one of my dad’s favorite stories about Uncle Mike and I internalized it as a memory (as I suspected).
This upcoming weekend I am travelling back to Minnesota (and leaving Elissa and Ansel in Palo Alto with her visiting parents) for my Grandpa Felix’s 90th birthday celebration and a family remembrance of Uncle Mike. It will be great to see all the family, but be sad that Mike won’t be with us. Hopefully, he is somewhere enjoying a peaceful bike ride and knowing that we love and miss him dearly.
Ansel with my Aunt Linda and Uncle Mike, November 2008
