Today

Today Leo Eugene Birdsell was laid to rest. He fought a brave and galant battle since the beginning of 2012 with cancer. Through it all he never lost his sharp wit or his keen sense of humor. Thankfully, he was rewarded with very little pain until the last day.

May he rest in peace.

My uncle Leo, just like his brother, my father, and his sister, my aunt, were defined by an event that happened when they were very young. Uncle Leo was 2, Dad was 4 and Aunt Inez was 6 when their mother died. Many, and I've been guilty of this very same thing, believed this was extremely tragic. Yes, the death of a mother at such a young age was tragic. Heartbreaking even.

However, as much as it might have defined those three children for so many, those three children did not let it define who they were for themselves.

Most of us can't imagine growing up without our mother. For those three, they would have loved to have had her, but they also didn't completely understand why a child should only have two parents, since they had three. Their father and their late mother's parents. All three of those who loved Thelma the most raised her children. All three were grateful that their father, my grandfather, had the presence of mind to ask his in-laws to come out of retirement and help him raise his children.

There's nothing to do except admit the death of Thelma was tragic.

However, what seems to have gotten lost in this is that is the only part of the story of Roscoe, Thelma, George, Addie, Inez, Dale and Leo that was tragic.

The lives of those three children that Thelma brought into the world and gave to the world was anything but tragic. They were joyous lives. They had wonderful lives. Yes, they had hardships throughout their long lives, but overall, their lives were great lives. Lives that were celebrated by many. Aunt Inez never married, but she spent her whole life raising (by teaching) over 40 years of children in the town of Jewell. She helped shape and mold many into better human beings. My dad spent his life nurturing not only his family, but the land. He cared for each, the land and family with the same respect and care, therefore each gave back to him all he expected of it and more. Uncle Leo raised his sons, worked hard for the county and spent his free time with his wife, his family, watching all the local kids at one sporting event or another.

These three children who did have a tragic start in life, had anything but a tragic life. They gave of themselves to so many and in return are mourned by so very many. Family and friends.

Today, we celebrated the life that my uncle lived. But I'm taking this time to celebrate the long life of Roscoe, George, Addie, Inez, Dale, Leo and especially the short but important life of Thelma who gave us Inez, Dale and Leo. Without all of them, many of us who are mourning for the youngest child or Roscoe and Thelma would not be here today.

Rest in peace Uncle Leo. Now you can ask Grandpa George the one question you wanted me to find the answer to when I went to LeRoy. How did he meet Grandma Addie? I'll be waiting for that answer when I see you again.