My Uncle Charlie was the most charming, dapper man I will ever know. Born in waning years of the Gatsby era, he spent his childhood avoiding the Depression by traveling Europe and lied about his age to go fight the Nazis. Yes, my Uncle Charlie could have easily been a character in a romantic movie, he had the plot line and the looks for it too. I never saw him wearing a top hat or dazzling dames on the dance floor, in fact I didn’t meet him until he was in the waning years of middle age, but it was always easy to imagine.
Uncle Charlie and I
I don’t remember ever seeing Uncle Charlie without a smile on his face or a twinkle in his eye. Even as he began suffering from Alzheimer’s, he would put on a happy face, at least for entertaining company. Warmth and positivity exuded from this man. Never in a Santa Claus way, at age 90, Uncle Charlie was still pure Fred Astaire. Even while doing something like washing dishes. I can still hear him singing the jazz standard he always sang over a soapy sink, “Heaven, I’m in heaven…” the first line of “Cheek to Cheek“. Life was worth singing about, even over banal chores.
Is my Uncle Charlie the reason I stayed single for so many years? Did he set an impossible standard for charm, good looks, humor, and concentrated je ne sais quoi? A breed of man that is entirely extinct in 2018? No. He was in a class of his own, a different era. Might as well be a different universe. A fact that is for better and for worse. I never compared anyone to my uncle. The thought never crossed my mind. Until…
On the fourth date with the fella who is my Valentine today, we were sitting at a vegan cafe in the East Village. As we waited for appetizers, he made a face and confessed he’d had a song stuck in his head all day. “Gah, he’s so cute!” I thought, and asked what song was stuck in his head?
He took a breath.
And there in a vegan cafe in New York City, almost exactly one year after my Uncle Charlie had passed away, this man I was just getting to know started singing to me, “Heaven, I’m in heaven….”
My Valentine and I, dancing cheek to cheek. [Photo: Tessa Flannery]
The song stuck in his head was my uncle’s dish washing song! It was too weird! In that one line of song, I became completely overwhelmed with emotion and a bizarre feeling of… kismet? I didn’t know what to do! “STOP! Stop singing that song!”
I made him stop. But nothing could dilute the magic of that moment.
I’m still not sure what that moment was. But it holds a special place in my heart. I’m so glad I’ve had many more moments with this man in the past months. I’ll never introduce him to my uncle, which is a little sad…but in a way I already have.
♥
You might remember that my aunt passed away on New Year’s Eve. Uncle Charlie was her late husband. This was one of the last stories I ever told her and it made her smile.
Happy Valentines! It’s nice to hear your loved up story instead of disastrous date ones 😉
Nikki recently posted…Exploring Qianmen Street
Awwww Happy Valentine’s Day! What a sweet and beautiful story. Thank you for sharing!!!
Meghan Sara recently posted…Wanted: Instagram Bae
This is lovely. I wish too that I could have met your uncle Charlie. He sounds wonderful.
Rachel recently posted…Day 15: Currywurst
This is SO incredibly sweet! What a lovely post <3
Lauren recently posted…It’s Not all Glam & Glitz: A Visit to NYC’s Tenement Museum
This is a beautiful story. Happy for you.
Tip recently posted…The Seinfeld Blog
This is the sweetest story! I couldn’t stop smiling all the way through. He sounds like the greatest guy ?
Sophie
http://www.glowsteady.co.uk
This was such a lovely post! It’s so great to hear a beautiful story and I hope you had a great Valentine’s yesterday
Such a beautiful story! What a lovely post!
Hi, Such a beautiful story and perfect for Valentine’s Day.
Chloe recently posted…Review of Fruiteatox 14 Day Detox Tea
This is such a beautiful and heartfelt post for such a fitting day. Thank you for sharing!
Jessica & James | http://www.foodandbaker.co.uk / http://www.foodandbakertravels.co.uk
Jessica & James recently posted…Oslo: The Culinary Deluxe Food Tour
Aww this is such a lovely post ?. Uncle Charlie sounded like a wonderful man, so full of life and character. This is such a beautiful post and so well written. Thank you for sharing ? xx
Bexa | http://www.hellobexa.com
What a beautiful story ❤️ Thank you for sharing your Uncle Charlie with the world ?
Melanie | http://www.frasersfunhouse.com
What a lovely story, and how fitting to share it on Valentine’s Day. I’m a strong believer in fate, kismet, call it what you will. Sometimes the planets collide and everything happens for a reason. It’s a shame your Uncle Charlie never got to meet your Valentine but I’m sure he’s very proud and happy for you. Thank you for sharing! x
Lisa | http://www.lisasnotebook.com
Lisa McLachlan recently posted…Woodland Adventures from Artemis & Xena: Spring box review
Is it just me or do I just want to ugly cry from the cuteness and heart felt wonder of this story! It was so poetic and almost like a scene from a movie…The universe has such a way of showing us things and helping us find happiness. This is the perfect title for this post! You’re oh so charming Uncle and Valentine are simply amazing. You sound so happy just from reading this…I may not know you, but I’m truly happy for you 🙂 <3 Thanks for sharing in the month of love!
xx Lena | https://lenadeexo.com
I love this story. It’s almost as if your wonderful uncle was sending you a message.
A wonderful post, thank you for sharing ??