Another absence

Right. So I went up to my friend's cottage in Killarney for five days, it was just wonderful - got back on Tuesday afternoon and I was getting ready to post all about it, when I got a call from my Mum.

My uncle Ronnie passed away on Monday.

I'm okay now I think, but at first I was in shock, and on Thursday I went to the viewing with my Mum and it all hit me. I couldn't stop crying - well, I'd almost stop, and then I'd start again, I was just a wreck. I didn't really know his family, so I met them all then (Mum's family is all in New Brunswick, so this was Lil and her kids and grandkids) and they were all really messed up over it, not surprisingly. He was just the best guy ever, everyone loved him so much. The funeral service was on Friday but I just couldn't do it - my brother Danny and his girlfriend met Mum for that. My eyes were still sore that day.

After the funeral they flew him back to New Brunswick, they're having a viewing today and the actual funeral tomorrow I think, he's going to be interned beside his father.

Ronnie is the baby of the family - he was not yet 55. He had a massive heart attack, but he was home alone when it happened. He and Lil were moving into a new place, and he had moved in first - she was at her son's place - so no one was there but him, and when they couldn't get a hold of him, they ended up calling the police to get in. The coroner said he went fast though, so there wouldn't have been much pain, and that's a blessing. He'd been taking good care of himself lately too, going for long walks every day and eating better, not drinking as much either, and he'd lost 35 pounds this year as a result. I'm so proud of him for all that.

Ronnie took me to see Tron for my birthday when it was out. Ronnie came to see me when I had tonsilitis. Ronnie danced and sang and caroused and called me My Love. Ronnie's favourite song was Only The Lonely. Ronnie gave my brothers Beatles 45s when they were little and probably caused them to become musicians. I hadn't seen him in probably three years, but it doesn't matter, it's like yesterday and I'll miss him terribly.

Ronnie LeBlanc 1951-2006