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Uncle Mark saves the day
Every year our family in Illinois hosted a family reunion. What made our family reunions so special, were the family members that traveled half way across the country every summer to join in on the fun. One particular year my husband and I decided to have a bon-fire at our property after the picnic. We announced this as the picnic was winding down. To all the childrens delight we were going to continue the fun with a bon-fire.
We arrived at the property and everyone was settling in with blankets around the fire, as the kids were looking in the bushes for just the right stick to roast marshmellows. As all this is going on, not one of us noticed the black rain clouds forming overhead. It was then the sky opened and the rain came. The entire group; (about 50 of us), ran for the barn.
The look on the faces of all those kids was nothing short of complete and utter disappointment. Then... we heard the familiar strum of a guitar. Over across the barn sitting on a bale of hay was, UNCLE MARK!! The kids ran over to him and settled on the barn floor. The adults taking the other bales of hay for seats; breathed a sigh of relief.
The children in our family always refer to that night as one of the best, when they are thinking about Uncle Mark. The music just seemed to effortlessly flow from him like magic. We had hours of ;Momma don't allow no, That rooster in our yard, Country Roads, and many Irish tunes as well. He never ceased to amaze us how he could fix anything that went wrong with a little laughter and a song. WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE AND MISS HIM DEARLY.
We arrived at the property and everyone was settling in with blankets around the fire, as the kids were looking in the bushes for just the right stick to roast marshmellows. As all this is going on, not one of us noticed the black rain clouds forming overhead. It was then the sky opened and the rain came. The entire group; (about 50 of us), ran for the barn.
The look on the faces of all those kids was nothing short of complete and utter disappointment. Then... we heard the familiar strum of a guitar. Over across the barn sitting on a bale of hay was, UNCLE MARK!! The kids ran over to him and settled on the barn floor. The adults taking the other bales of hay for seats; breathed a sigh of relief.
The children in our family always refer to that night as one of the best, when they are thinking about Uncle Mark. The music just seemed to effortlessly flow from him like magic. We had hours of ;Momma don't allow no, That rooster in our yard, Country Roads, and many Irish tunes as well. He never ceased to amaze us how he could fix anything that went wrong with a little laughter and a song. WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE AND MISS HIM DEARLY.
Sweet memory Mar. Mark always had a song for every occasion and a few jokes up his sleeve.
That's a great story, Aunt Mary. I wish I'd been there for that reunion.
This thread could keep going and going. Uncle Mark probably saved the day quite often with his charm and quick wit. I remember when Mom, Bridget and I had been in a car accident, Aunt Rita and Uncle Mark came to pick us up. I was maybe 12 and the experience had been kind of traumatic. I'd hit my head and just wasn't feeling my best. Uncle Mark popped a tape in the tape deck of the van and said, "Music soothes the ravaged niece." We all got a much needed chuckle out of that. By the way, I believe the song was the Greatest American Hero theme, which we listened to a lot in those days.