Uncle Al has long been the patriarch of our family. He was an amazing man who lived a good long life. We all thought he had the perfect family. It was so sad to see him lose his daughter, then his son, then his wife and finally the family dog.

Uncle Al was an avid fisherman and an excellent gardener. I remember being in his garden one year many years ago. I listened with interest as he explained about each vegetable he had planted and how it would be processed. In an area where the dirt was all overturned but not in rows. I saw some pumpkins growing. I asked him about those ones and he said "Oh those are just volunteers" <big grin> That meant they weren't planted but just sprung up on their own from last year's crop. I have never forgotten Uncle Al's volunteers.

Uncle Al also had his pilot's licence and he took us up for a fly about when I was about 9 or 10. I think that is why I was never afraid of flying.

Kids use to make fun of me because my last name was Rodgers. They'd ask me if I was related to Roy Rogers but I'd tell them NO! But, I do have an Uncle Buck. Buck was Uncle Al's nickname <smile>

I also remember Uncle Al and Aunt Nel's cottage up in the North Bay area. It was outside of South River Ontario. We often went and spent some wonderful times there. <shiver> I was always afraid of blood suckers and leeches. One year, their granddaughter Erin was there and I watched her down at the beach as she puddled around in the water. *Egads* The girl got a little blood sucker on her toe. I wanted to scream but I didn't want to scare her so I said "Oh Erin. You have a hitch hiker. We have to make it get off and swim for itself!" I got the salt shaker and freed her of her 'hitch hiker'. We laughed but all the time I felt like jelly. A few years passed and there we were again. This time Erin rescued her little brother Jeff from his hitch hiker hehehehe I am so glad I didn't pass my fear on to those sweet children.

I have many more memories of Uncle Al but this is going to be the end of my stories. Although I didn't go to see him due to health issues and distance I will never forget or stop loving my Uncle Al. Rest in peace Uncle Al. You lived a long life and now you can be reunited with Aunt Nel, Carolyn and Gerald. Love to you all.