Lauren's note

Uncle Charlie,

Well its begining to look a lot like Christmas in Rochester. We have had 10 inches of snow or more in the past couple days . This time of year reminds me of all the times that you and Aunt Barbara and the cousins would visit us up state. I still wish that I could play the piano like you and Charlie Boy! I also start to remember all the little things, the seemingly insignificant memories that flash into you foresight, triggered by a smell or a sound, or a time of year.

When ever I see an arcade game, I remember your rec room at your house in Tennessee, and I remember your pool, I remember Lisas wedding and running through the halls with Cindy in our matching hot pink and white tool covered dresses with matching humungus bows in the back. I also remember Cindy trying to pretend she loved that bow as much as I did.

When I smell chocolate I remember traveling across the pond to your "bomb shelter" in Belgium. I remember how excited you looked when we got there, and the wonderful room you set up for Allison and I in the loft. I remember the little gondola that ran from our little loft down to the living room. I remember the bug zapper that you heroicly gave me to fend off the mosquitos and the coo coo clock you took off the wall because it was keeping me awake. I remember going to the Eiffel tower, the Louve and Notre Dame... but your face and how you laughed, when Allison broke the glass in the French resturant or when she questioned if we were descending or shrinking our way down from the Eiffel tower is more a part of my memory than the architecture or the paintings.

I think of Christmas and not only you coming to visit us but our trips to visit you. The year we came down to see your house in Georgia and the amazing thearter room across from your Murphy Bench warehouse. Which I still stock and use almost weekly! I live with three boys and I am the one who has all the tools for the house, so they thank you and I do as well.

I hear donald duck and think of you

I see blue eyes and think of you

I see determination and charisma and think of you

I hear jokes and laughter and think of all that you have brought to me and to othes

I see creativity and genius and I think of the gift you have to create and inspire me to always be questioning

I hear a roudy piano and wish that I was 6 and sitting next to you on the piano bench belting out Christmas carols

I have found this email very difficult to write... not because it was hard to remember the memories but at the same time it is hard to remember them, and think that I might not have the chance to make anymore.

my love for you has no bounds and no matter where you or I are in this universe that fact will always be true.

Love always Lauren