Remembrance

re·mem·brance/riˈmembrəns/Noun

1. The action of remembering something.

2. The action of remembering the dead, esp. in a ceremony.

Today would have been my Uncle Kent's birthday. He died in March so suddenly it still takes my breath away to think I talked to him on a Thursday and he died Saturday.

His presence has been in my life since I was born. Family vacations, christenings, graduations, birthdays; every conceivable event you could think important in a growing human's life, he was there. Christmas Eve was an especially amazing time for us all to get together. Even more important as my brothers and I became adults. We would drink martinis (when he drank hard alcohol before being diagnosed with hepatitis C), eat chocolate and laugh while tearing into our gifts. He could always fashion the most amazing bows using a length of ribbon and his creativity. Always wore his bright red sweater, gave the warmest hugs and always smelled beautiful. I would always breathe in deeply and squeeze him back, even if I was annoyed that he was almost an hour late. He always ran on 'Kent time'.

On my Birthday, as well as his own, we would talk about how being a Leo was the best sign of the zodiac to be. How our loyalty and killer sense of taste is just a part of being a Leo. For years he would call me on my birthday and read my horoscope to me from the paper.

Today's says:

If August 12 is your birthday:
You are very likely immersed in something that fills your every waking minute. This may be a person, job, an ambition or just a new hobby that inspires you and fulfills your fantasies. Your business skills are improving and during the next few months, you can make admirable progress up the ladder of success if you maintain a low profile while placed in a learning position in September.

I'd like to think of him doing interior design in the cosmos with Elizabeth Taylor. Drinking champagne and rolling around in a puddle of diamonds. He would always give my mother silly costume jewelry or books about glamorous women. Kent and my mother were best friends right up until the end. She and my father had the chance to see him before he died. My Father held him and cried. My Mother would call me weeping and held the phone to his ear so I could say goodbye even though cell phones weren't allowed.

I miss Kent every day. Sometimes I will still hear him chuckle in my mind whenever I see some disaster of an outfit. He never said anything mean about anyone though. Always Mr. Tactful. I strive to be more like him now more than ever. To carry on his lust for life and positive spirit.

Today I will be going out for martinis and a day of beauty with my lovely lady friends. I will toast to you Kent, where ever you are.

With all my heart,

Steffaree

Note: The picture above was taken on my Wedding day August 15th, 2008 with his mother.