Uncle Bud
June 1, 2011 
Some things you should know about my Uncle Bud...
1. He's always been my 'Uncle Bud', but he no longer wants to be called 'Bud'. He wants to be called by his real name, Knute. I still can't wrap my brain around this and, even though I try not to, continue to call him 'Uncle Bud'. It's kind of like if my mom asked me to stop calling her 'Mom'. It just doesn't come naturally.
2. He's always been my 'Uncle Bud', and has always kind of sort of been my life, although I never saw him that much while growing up. He lived in the 'big city' a couple of hours away. However, he was the kind of uncle who always hugged you and kissed you when you saw him, and laughed, and beamed love and affection.
3. By a twist of fate, he came into our lives in a much bigger way this past year. He slipped and fell in his condo and hurt his back, which was the catalyst for him to be moved into a rehab facility, and then to a nursing home. He chose to come to the nursing home in the town where my mom lives, about a half hour away from us.
3. Uncle Bud Knute is my dad's brother. (If you aren't familiary with my blog and/or family history, I'll should tell you that Dad passed away in 2008.) The first time I went to visit Knute, last summer, while he was in the rehab facility, I knew I had to prepare myself for the absolute resemblence to Dad. So I did. Prepare myself. And even though he did, absolutely, remind me of Dad, it didn't bother me. On the contrary, it was actually a blessing. To see some of the same twinkle in the eye, the expressions, and the way of saying things.. It was just... Good.
4. At the age of 92, Uncle Bud Knute walks laps around his nursing home every day. When we visited him earlier this spring, he was close to 2000. He keeps track on a tablet. He averages around 30-40 laps a day. However, when we visited him on Memorial Day, he had walked 59.
5. He has very little in the way of possessions, at least not in his room at the nursing home, and he seems to not want any. For some reason, I find this inspiring. The items he does have include a dictionary (actually, I think he has two), crossword puzzles, the daily newspaper, cards from friends and pictures of family, and his walking shoes.
6. When he first started sporting the whiskers, he told us that it's his 'Bret Favre look'.
7. Every time we go to see Uncle Bud Knute, the following things occur...
a. He asks us how we like living back in Minnesota.
b. He asks us where exactly we live and where Mr. Blue Eyes works.
c. He asks us the names of our children.
d. He tells us that our children have good, sensible names.
e. He tells me how many friends my parents have and what good people they are.
f. He tells me what good friends he and my dad were.
g. He tells me what a wonderful family my siblings and I are.
h. He shows us his legs and what good shape they are in. And they are.
It's one of those conversations you could have over and over. And I'm so happy that we do.
Family
Reader Comments (2)
... and now I want to drive to MN right this minute :)love this! keep writing
What a lovely post. Enjoy your time with Uncle Bud..er...Knute :-)