Thinking about Uncle Robert

Sometimes my mom calls with a panic in her voice. "Lindsay," she says, "I have something to tell you." My heart starts beating faster. I wonder is it my grandma, my brother, my dad? Usually she tells me her something, and I roll my eyes. Another silly story or tidbit she heard. On February 9th, I received on of these calls. Only this time it wasn't silly. She called to tell me that my uncle Robert had died of a heart attach. I have thought of him almost every day since.

I hate death. I hate when people die. I don't understand how the whole world doesn't stop when someone you love dies. But I went to the funeral and learned a lot that day. I was reminded of who Robert Eames was and why we have death.

My aunt Sally was one of the speakers. She told great stores of when Uncle Robert was young. She retold the story of how he broke his wrist after falling out of a tree. She told stories of how he tricked my dad and others. One of my uncle Robert's friends also spoke. He reminded us how giving Uncle Robert was. He would give his time, money, or anything he had to others in need. He and Aunt Linda would jump in their Suburban and drive for miles and hours for to visit and to help others. They put over 800,000 miles on two Suburbans in their travels!

As I listed to these two, I thought about what Uncle Robert meant to me. He was the first person I had ever known who went on a mission, and I thought he was so cool because of that. He also knew Spanish from serving his mission, and I was also very impressed with that. Uncle Robert was a funny guy. When I was younger, he would entertain us with jokes or stories and amaze us with his detachable thumb. I would work for hours trying to perfect it like him.

As I sat crying at his funeral, his bishop spoke and really made me think. He said nothing that I didn't all ready know, but for some reason it touched me more. He told us that life is short, and we need to live it in a way that isn't wasteful. I really thought about how I live. I decided that it is wasteful. I'm always worried or mad or complaining. I decided at that moment to change. I won't lie and say I have had a dramatic turn around-ask Kevin. But small steps have led me to be a little more happy.

I try to think of Uncle Robert every day. He didn't waste his life. If I remember his example, I won't either.