"Unca" Dan turns 90 on Christmas Day. His birthday celebration is Wednesday, and I, regrettably will not be able to attend. Thinking about his birthday has brought many memories to mind.
I am a child of the '50s and '60s. It was a good time to grow up, for while the '60s were a time of growing pains and turmoil in this country, I was protected from most of it. We had a fairly insulated world of public school where most of our classmates were our neighbors, and the greatest diversity was found in which protestant church you attended regularly. Some were financially better situated than others, meaning some had 2, or amazingly, 3 bathrooms and some of us only had one.
In the days of walking to and from school, riding bikes all over the neighborhood, and friends' parents correcting you when you misbehaved, I was blessed with "Unca" Dan and Aunt Sarah in my life. Now, they were not called "Unca" and Aunt until I was grown because we called everyone older than ourselves Mr. or Mrs. Whomever. As I became an adult, the Mr. and Mrs. Leech sounded so formal, but heaven knows, calling them Dan and Sarah would never work. That was just not propah! Thus, "Unca" Dan and Aunt Sarah were born.
I met Mr. and Mrs. Leech through their daughter, Becky. We met the first day of first grade, and became very good friends. We had some adventures (Shelby Park Tennis CourtsJ). Seldom, but sometimes we got crosswise with each other (the 1920's-tennis-skirt-styrofoam-cooler-on-the-head-falling incident - I still laugh when I think of it), but those did not last long. Our parents had the good sense to stay out of it, and I always felt loved by the Leeches. Becky had sisters. I had brothers. There is quite a difference.
"Unca" Dan was a contractor, and so the Leech's actually had 2 bathrooms in their house, or 3 if you counted the one off the garage, which proved to be a welcome spot on a day of playing outside. I was always a little afraid of that bathroom. I was much more fascinated by the pocket door on the master bath. I remember their house being huge, but I imagine if I walked in it now, it would not seem so. In the den they had a "coffee" table made of a log. It was known as "The Log!" I learned at my mother's birthday party that it is still around, and there is some conversation as to what to do with it. I think I heard talk of a Solomon solution; "cutting it in half."
The Leeches had a big round table in their kitchen. I shared meals with that family at that table on many occasions. In the middle of it sat a little bottle of saccharin tablets. I was always fascinated by that, and we were known from time to time to sneak some of Mr. Leech's little "sugar" tablets, and let them melt on our tongues. I also remember high hilarity at that table, and when it got out of control, I was sent from the table just as if I were a Leech girl. There is some chagrin and much comfort attached to such an event.
Mr. Leech loved cars. He bought Becky a red car that made a SmartCar look like a luxury sedan. I do not remember what kind it was, but, if memory serves, we called it the Red Rooster. A moderately strong teenage boy could have picked it up and carried it home. I do not recall that it lasted long, but I do remember enjoying time spent in it. There were other cars too. Unlike my daddy, Mr. Leech bought vintage cars to fix up. My daddy bought old cars that broke down. Mr. Leech's cars were small and fashionable. Daddy's were tanks! Did I mention, I had brothers? My daddy was a smart man!
The first time I saw the ocean as a teenager, I was on a family trip with the Leech's. It was at New Smyrna Beach. It was amazingly fun. I was with the Leech's when U.S. astronauts landed on the moon I will never forget Mr. Leech insisting that we go to Cape Canaveral. Seriously, we were at the beach. Who goes on a sightseeing trip like that at the beach? Can you fathom how stupid I was that I could not appreciate the fact that we were going to the very place from which the astronauts left earth to go to the moon? Mr. Leech was not to be deterred, thank heaven. I remember many things from that sightseeing adventure. Above all, however, I remember how I felt at home. I was not with my blood family, but I was with family nonetheless.
I had a wonderful father and I have a wonderful mother. I guess I did not need multiple sets of parents, or, perhaps I did. Perhaps, we all do.
So happy birthday to "Unca" Dan. You are a lovely man, who just by being yourself have, along with the rest of your family, been a blessing in my life.
For anyone reading this, I wish you an "Unca" Dan and an Aunt Sarah, and I wish you
blessings
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