A Time to be Thankful ~ Day 18 Uncle Gobel Jr.

My Family - Uncle Gobel Jr.

Last year I wrote a blog entry about my Uncle Gobel Jr.  He is the oldest brother on my Dad's side.  He has always been so special to me.  I am so very thankful that I get to visit him each time I go to KY.  I wish our visits were longer or that I could see him every day.  

Uncle Gobel and Me on the Skylift

Because he is stuck in a nursing home, I feel so blessed that I am able to take him out for the day.  This past summer we went to the Natural Bridge State Park with my mom and Aunt Minerva, his sister.  My Uncle Jr. was able to ride the sky lift with me and walk across the Natural Bridge. He really enjoyed the trip, especially the buffet of food at the Natural Bridge diner.  It makes me happy that he can escape the dreariness of the nursing home.  He doesn't have the best of health but he seems to be one of the healthiest and mentally stable one of all the people of the nursing home.

Look up the words humble and selflessness in the dictionary and you are liable to see a picture of my Uncle Gobel Jr. in there. I have always been drawn to his passive and gentle nature. He has a quality that cannot be duplicated or imagined. One of my earliest memories was seeing him working and digging tators in the hot sun on his Uncle George's farm. I ran to help him because he looked like he was working so hard.  

He may seem like a man of little words and experience but this wasn't always the case. He use to work and party with his aunt Dora Campbell and her brother General Lee when they lived in Chicago. My dad and his other older brothers soon followed in Uncle Gobel's footsteps. They moved to find work there as well. My uncles enjoyed partying as well on their days off but then, kids came along! 

One to rarely ever say no, it was then that Uncle Jr. became the "designated" babysitter a lot of the times! I can't imagine what my cousin Alonzo and I must have put him through. He wouldn't even stomp a bug so there's no way he would ever scold or spank us.

Uncle Gobel Jr., Great Aunt Laura, & Great Uncle George

A year or so later my dad's Uncle George ("Do-I") got sick and was unable to take care of the farm. Being the "single" one, Uncle Jr. agreed to move back to KY and help out on the farm on Fugate's Fork. What was to be a "temporary" stay, turned into over 10 years of Uncle Jr. working as a farmhand for his Uncle George, George's sister, Laura, and her husband, Garvey. He never married, never had children, or got another job after that. His life was surrounded by the duties on the farm until Uncle George's passing in 1985. It wasn't until then when he moved off the farm and eventually got his own place.

His life is a real example of selflessness. From him, I have also seen how giving and caring too much (co-dependent) can also be a curse at times. My Uncle Jr. is a smart man, full of kindness and good heart. He loved his family, the farm, and he loved my daddy very much. 

Uncle Gobel Jr.

His generosity is still there as he helps the nurses in the nursing home with the other patients. :-) No matter what, I know his heart belongs to Fugate's Fork and his family. It brings joy and brightens his heart each time he goes back there, just as it does mine. 

Taking Uncle Jr. to Natural Bridge had been a dream of mine.  I am hoping next summer that we can go to Buckhorn Lake, rent a boat, and take him fishing.  I really love and am thankful for the the memories made with my Uncle Jr.  Be thankful and appreciate those in the nursing homes and those special to your heart.

A Time to be Thankful - Day 15 Senior Citizens

In 1984 my Great Aunt Laura suffered a stroke.  For the longest time my mom and I would go visit her every Saturday in the nursing home.  Being in a nursing home around old people was very boring to a 14 year old.  I dreaded the days when I had to babysit her.  She never talked to me much and she whined a lot.  The needy old people scared me and I hated the smell.

Since Aunt Laura had never been away from her home on Fugate's Fork, she had a lot of anxiety.  Her new life was now in a new strange place with strange people. Being secluded in Fugate's Fork, she was never really around running water, TV, or the sounds of the hustle and bustle of city life.  No wonder she had such a huge fear of being in the nursing home.  

A few years later she came home.  The Home health nurses came in to assist her but she never really liked them.  She never was able to walk again because of the stroke. But I believe it is because she fell into a deep depression and gave up.  She never had anyone to love or encourage her the way her big brother, George had done.  He passed away while she was in the nursing home as well as did her motivation to live.  Her husband wasn't the best either.  He would not allow her to go to her brother's funeral.  

My Uncle Jr, Great Aunt Laura, & Great Uncle George

The last time I saw my Great Aunt Laura was before I moved to Houston.  I stopped in to hug her goodbye.  Like always, she shed a few tears when I was fixing to leave.  I was looking forward to my life in Houston that I never could imagine the depression and loneliness she suffered. Her life and death always saddens me for it represents how depression can kill. No one should have to fight the battle of depression alone.

Years later when I worked with senior citizens at Bayshore, I was thankful for all those years of visiting my Great Aunt Laura in the nursing home. Little did they know that I could relate to their childhood years of not having inside plumbing, shoes, and thankful for hand-me-down clothes.  Some even had a better childhood than I did.  Some were willing to listen to my own childhood stories while others assumed I was some youngster with an attitude.

Everyone has a story to tell.  Young and old.  We all have our own experiences.  We just have to take time to listen.  Many do not listen to the senior citizens.  Like those who judged me as a youngster, we too sometimes do the same. We imagine they are old, grouchy, and set in their ways.  I find it strange that so many cultures appreciate the older generations while America kind of throws them to the side.

We all will grow old and want to share our experiences with others.  How many will listen? What can the older generation tells us that we don't already know? Their simple life wasn't so simple.  They have a voice.  Their stories and experiences can teach us a lesson.  I believe our senior citizens are the answer to many of our problems today.  

Be grateful if you have your Grandparents.  Be willing to listen to them share their secrets.  Adopt a Senior this Christmas! I believe you will get a lesson out of it more than they will. 

My Uncle Gobel

Since my dad's passing in 2008, Father's Day naturally has been a little depressing to me. I'd give anything to still be sending him gifts and cards. However, the month of June also reminds me of another blessing that I still have, Daddy's oldest brother, my Uncle Gobel, whose birthday is this month. Named after his father, Gobel Fugate, (brother of George "Do-I" Fugate), he will always remain "Uncle Jr." to me.

Look up the words humble and selflessness in the dictionary and you are liable to see a picture of my Uncle Gobel in there. Even as a child, I was always drawn to Uncle Jr.'s passive and gentle nature. He has a quality that cannot be duplicated or imagined. One of my earliest memories was seeing him working and digging tators in the hot sun on his Uncle George's farm. Even at 6 years old, my sudden instinct was to immediately to go help Uncle Jr. dig tators.

He may seem like a man of little words and experience but this wasn't always the case in his younger years! He use to work and party with his aunt Dora Campbell and her brother General Lee when they moved to Chicago. His younger brothers soon followed in his footsteps to find work there as well. My uncles enjoyed partying as well on their days off but then, kids came along! One to rarely ever say no, it was then that Uncle Jr. became the "designated" babysitter a lot of the times! I can't imagine the hell my cousin Alonzo and I must have put him through. He wouldn't even stomp a bug so there's no way he scolded us.

The good times in Chicago didn't last very long though. His Uncle George ("Do-I") got sick and was unable to take care of the farm. Being the "single" one, Uncle Jr. agreed to move back to KY and help out on the farm on Fugate's Fork. What was to be a "temporary" stay, turned into over 10 years of Uncle Jr. working as a farmhand for his Uncle George, George's sister, Laura, and her husband, Garvey. He never married, never had children, or got another job after that. His life was surrounded by the duties on the farm until Uncle George's passing in 1985. It wasn't until then when he moved off the farm and eventually got his own place.

His life is a real example of selflessness. From him, I have also seen how giving and caring too much (co-dependent) can also be a curse at times. For years, Daddy struggled to protect and warn his older brother from those who wanted to take advantage him. Many times, Daddy would "kidnap" his older brother from the farm so they could go have a good time. :^) Yet Uncle Jr. is a smart man, full of kindness and good heart. He loved his family, the farm, and he loved my daddy very much. He always returned to his home on Fugate's Fork.

Sadly, I rarely get to see my Uncle "Jun" since I don't live close by but we still manage to talk on occasions. He's very independent and active even though he currently lives in the nursing home in Jackson, KY. His generosity is still there as he helps the nurses with the other patients. :^) Yet no matter what, I know his heart belongs to Fugate's Fork and his family. It brings joy and brightens his heart each time he goes back there, just as it does mine. Home is where your Heart is.

Happy Birthday, Uncle Jr.

I love you VERY Much!!!