one more for the dark road

[jazzfish]

Duke Shackelford, Pop's younger brother, died in his sleep last night. I think I'm now almost entirely out of relatives of my grandparents' generation; there's Grandmother Taylor, and a great-aunt in Lubbock who I've not seen in close to twenty years.

I didn't know Uncle Duke well. I saw him on the occasions when we went down to north Louisiana to visit my great-grandmother, but those stopped when she died (early high school, I think). He was one of the few relatives to send me any sort of high school graduation gift. I saw him at Gram's funeral in early '98, and twice two years ago for Pop's party and then funeral. He looked a lot like Pop. Talking to him felt like talking to Pop, too: same inflection and north Louisiana drawl, same quiet manner, same dry humor.

This isn't as bad as last year, or the year before. I'd really like to get through next fall without losing any more relatives, though.

Comments

[europasings.livejournal.com]

My sympathies. My grandmother is the last one standing in that generation of all of my "known" relatives. there may be some others floating around, but I don't know them.

My coworkers father died last night/this morning too. something in the air...

[jazzfish]

Thanks.

My friends are getting older, and I guess I must be too
Without their loving kindness, I don't know what I'd do
--Greg Brown

[vt-andros.livejournal.com]

My sympathies.

[jazzfish]

Thanks.

Dead men naked they shall be one with the man in the moon and the west wind
--Dylan Thomas

[jazzfish]

. . . that's man in the wind and the west moon, I'd be dangerous if I didn't have a memory like a steel sieve.

[elvenyukiryu.livejournal.com]

*really big hugs* I know how that sentiment goes.

[jazzfish]

Thanks.

To get here, you had to walk through hell first.
--Steven Brust

[airncbuh.livejournal.com]

Deepest sympathies.

[jazzfish]

Thanks.

you pick up the pieces and go on.
--Lindsey Buckingham