Let me introduce you to someone very special to me, my great uncle, Chester.
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| Uncle Chester was amazed with the I-Phone camera. He loved seeing pictures from the national championship game on my phone. |
In 1993, Pa, my maternal grandfather passed away. Uncle Chester was married to Pa's sister, Mary Evelyn, who we all called Al, short for Malene. When Pa was little, that's how he said Mary Evelyn's name and the nickname just stuck.
In 2006, grandaddy passed away. But just a few year later, I had the great fortune of moving to Lexington, just a few blocks from Uncle Chester.
Up until that time, my memories of my uncle are pretty limited. I saw him at the Leitch family reunion every year. I would hear stories about him owning the A&P where my mom worked and later owning convenient stores.
The most distinct memory I have of him is from Amy's wedding, his granddaughter. Chester beamed around Aunt Al. He had just bought her a new necklace, and she was showing it off to everyone. At the reception, they had a dance where they invited all married couples to take the floor. The deejay called out different years: 5, 10, 15, 20 and the couples who had been married less than that had to leave the floor. I'm not sure how long they had been married, but I know Chester and Al would have been the last ones left on the floor, if they could have made it out. I remember Uncle Chester going up to her chair and asking her to dance. Unfortunately, Aunt Al's health wasn't all that great, but I will always remember that gesture and the love Chester had for her.
When I moved to Lexington, I would walk to Uncle Chester's house every now and then, and I've found out so much more about him. He is the most jovial person I've ever met. On every visit I'm greeted with, "Hey hon, come on in. It's so good to see ya." He always offers a drink or a little something to eat. He makes a great pimento cheese (and I didn't even think I liked pimento cheese) and good-tasting sweet tea. We've shared bowls of strawberry ice cream and talked all things UK football and basketball. We both love a BBQ sammich from Billy's in Lexington.
I've learned more about his life. He is truly part of the greatest generation. Uncle Chester served as a tank machine gunner in Patton's army. Once, when Josh asked him if he had ever been to France, Chester calmly replied, "Well, I liberated France. It's a nice place." He was present at the Battle of Bastogne. He saved lives of some of his fellow soldiers who were about to cross a bridge rigged with explosives. When he returned from the war, he made a living with farming and business. He owned an A&P store and convenient stores around central Kentucky. When a thief tried to rob one of his stores, he went to the safe and got one of his guns. Needless to say, the robber was unsuccessful. He and Aunt Al raised two girls and have a number of grandkids and even great grandkids.
He's really filled the role of grandfather in my life. When Josh and I got engaged, we made sure to stop by his house to share the news. He gave us a wonderful gift of a rocking chair, passed from my great grandmother to Aunt Al. Uncle Chester himself re-did the chair. I hope to one day put it in our nursery and later hand it down to the next generation in our family.
But the greatest gift Uncle Chester has shown me is how to truly love. When I think of him, that's the thing that stands out most. My Aunt Al suffered with Alzheimer's for a long time at the end of her life. Chester, along with his family, cared for her at their home. I know there were many tough times and many more days where it simply broke Chester's heart to see his loving wife in such condition. But he was always there. He always cared for her. He fulfilled the vows he made on their wedding day many years ago. And he continues to fulfill that vow, even after her death in early 2004. When he speaks about Aunt Al, to this day, it is evident how much he cared for her and loved her. There were no excuses of "she's just not the same person anymore." He knew she was the same person he fell in love with and lived with for all those years, no matter what shape her mind was in.
I hope that I can keep that gift with me for life. I hope I love in that same way, and that people can hear and see that love when I talk about Josh. I am very thankful for all my visits with Uncle Chester and hope they can continue for a long time. And I hope you've enjoyed learning about my Uncle Chester.
