This weeks header image on le craic
Writing by aj@lecraic on Sunday, 29 of June , 2008 at 8:29 pm
Just updated the header image. Press refresh on your browser if you can’t see it.
It was a nice capture by my nephew Darren a few weeks ago. I took both him and my niece Karina on a photo walk around the town. It was a nice Sunday afternoon and they enjoyed it.
I put a quote in it from Randy Pausch’s book, ‘The Last Lecture’ which I’ve read now a couple of times. There are just so many wonderful quotes from the book, but I particularly liked the one in the header image. I don’t have kids myself, but if I did I’m pretty sure I’d allow them stay up late!
Another story Randy tells is that a big part of his identity was “bachelor uncle”. He often took his sister’s two children, Chris and Laura on days out. One particular time when Chris was 7 and Laura was 9, he picked them up in his brand new VW Cabrio convertible.
“Be careful in Uncle Randy’s new car”, my sister told them. “Wipe your feet before you get in it. Don’t mess anything up. Don’t get it dirty”. I listened to her, and thought, as only a bachelor uncle can : “That’s the sort of admonition that sets kids up for failure. Of course they’d eventually get my car dirty. Kid’s can’t help it.” So I made things easy. While my sister was outlining the rules, I slowly and deliberately opened a can of soda, turned it over, and poured it in the back of the convertible. My message : People are more important than things. A car, even a pristine gem like my new convertible, was just a thing.
As I poured out that Coke, I watched Chris and Laura, mouths open, eyes widening…. A week later Chris got the flu and threw up all over the backseat. He didn’t feel guilty. He was relieved; he had already watched me christen the car. He knew it would be OK”.
I identify with the bachelor uncle thing. I’m the only one of my siblings who doesn’t have any children. I don’t want to be the bachelor uncle forever. I often see guys I went to school with around town with their kids. It leaves me feeling like I’ve a lot of catching up to do. I sponsored another of my nephews at his confirmation 2 years ago. I have to admit that I struggled to hold back tears during the ceremony at one point as I thought about whether or not I would ever see a milestone like that with a child of my own.
Ah feck it, I’m just feeling a little sentimental today. What will be will be and if it doesn’t, so be it – I’ll get on and make the most of what I have.
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Category: current affairs, design
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Comment by Grannymar
Made Sunday, 29 of June , 2008 at 8:58 pm
I like the header and the message.
Comment by Ursula
Made Monday, 30 of June , 2008 at 10:38 am
Dear AJ, there comes a time in your child’s life (say 16) when all you hope for is that he will not make YOU stay up beyond your own bedtime or wake you up at ungodly hours to enquire as to where to find fresh pillow covers (true story - hot off the press).
I was touched by what you wrote. Bachelor uncles and spinster aunts are to be commended. I almost qualify as the latter since both my sisters have numbers of children, almost of catholic proportions; though one of my sisters claims that all of hers bar number five were failures of contraception. Pull the other one, I tell her, even at age 12 all she ever wanted was a large family - and she got it; though seeing her you wouldn’t believe it. She looks fantastic.
I don’t know how old you are but I dare say there is still time; however, we can’t always have what we want. And I often think there is a good reason for it. If you are an uncle, kind and interested, you will be cherished by your nieces and nephews,and remembered most fondly.
I loved my uncles - each for their own quirky ways.
And, AJ, there is nothing more attractive than a man who not only admits to being close to shedding tears but actually does so.
Take heart; you never know who you’ll bump into at the next corner.
U
Comment by aj@lecraic
Made Monday, 30 of June , 2008 at 12:22 pm
Thanks for the kind words Ursula - and yes, there’s always the unexpected corners ahead!
Comment by Rosie
Made Wednesday, 2 of July , 2008 at 10:31 pm
should i ever manage to acquire some children, they’ll be in bed by 7pm every night behind their black-out curtains, just like i was as a kid. til they’re 12, and their classmates find out and they write me a precocious and precious letter seeking reform.
not that i did that…
Comment by aj@lecraic
Made Thursday, 3 of July , 2008 at 12:10 pm
Ah, Rosie that’s cruel - black out curtains - where did you live then - the Antarctic? 
Comment by Rosie
Made Thursday, 3 of July , 2008 at 12:11 pm
worse. Palmerstown.
