Rest easy Uncle Chris.

Yesterday, my uncle Chris succumbed to Cancer. My mother didn’t want to tell me last night for fear of spoiling my evening as it was New Years Eve. I do not know why I am writing this.. I think perhaps to give some ease to myself although I am not deeply effected.. It had been years since I had seen him. Perhaps that my mother is so upset, and throughout the years our similarities had been pointed out by her. Last night I had a long discussion with a friend about going out to visit him and making a documentary about his ever losing battle that begun at age 28 when he turned to a reliance on drugs and alcohol as a staple of daily living. I wanted to hear about his life, from his mouth. The good the bad, the history of him through his eyes. I wanted to show that there was more to this man than one beating by addiction. I wanted to capture his memories to leave positive memories for others to experience. I was so adamant last night about doing this, about contacting investors today, about going out there this weekend and filming… but the moment had passed.. my uncle had passed. My opportunity to really get to know him had passed.

But I can still learn from others.. These are some things I learned about him today from my uncle Mike that I never knew about Chris:

• He raced and continually won motor cycle championships.
• He managed all the restaurants and bars at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport at the age of 21.
• He snow and water skied like an Olympian contender.
• He was a veritable Craftsmen God as a carpenter and even rivaled Thor with his prowess of the hammer.
• In grammar school as a "problem child". The district psychologist gave up on him because he "was a genius and the darn kid would be asking him the questions before the session would end"
• In the summers during junior high, he took the train with his friend to visit family to Guadalajara Mexico and spent months living as a local, playing football (soccer) and speaking Spanish.
• He would captivate a crowd with jokes and stories. So much so a pub would become silent to listen and roar with laughter and joy as he entertained."

Rest now, it had been a long hard road for you, this is something I have always known.. Bless you.