The Watchful Eye

Over the past few days, I've been thinking a lot about my Uncle Charlie.  I don't know why, he just keeps coming to mind.  My Uncle Charlie was a person we would label today as "special needs".  After a bout with fever that left his brain damaged at the age of nine, Uncle Charlie was suddenly "different" from everyone else.  Growing up with him, it never phased me.  It was just who he was.  And one of the things he happened to be was the watchful eye of the family.

It was Uncle Charlie's job to always get the mail.  He would walk to the mailbox each morning to wait for the postman to bring the mail.  He knew exactly when it should arrive, and would make sure he was there to receive it before it even entered the box.  The mail carriers all knew him and enjoyed his company.  They would stop and chat before moving on to the next family.

Uncle Charlie was also our chaperone whenever we kids went out to play.  He would always keep us in his line of site, never engaging in our games or play.  He was a silent sentinel keeping watch so that no harm would come to us.  If we got too close to the road, he would yell and bring us back.  He would accompany us to the swimming pool and pull a chair up to the edge of the water.  If we happened to go underwater, which we did quite frequently, Uncle Charlie would stand over the spot where we submerged calling for us to come back up.  He would say, in his gruff voice, "Don't do that."  We always had to be where Uncle Charlie could see us.

Uncle Charlie also had a police scanner in his bedroom.  At night he'd turn the volume up all the way and listen to the reports as they came in.  Our room was right next door to his, so we heard a running commentary throughout the night.  After a call would come in, Uncle Charlie would repeat it at top volume to make sure everyone was aware of what was going on.  I think it was soothing to him in the night, although the same cannot be said for those of us who were within earshot!

Uncle Charlie was a true character, and I am so blessed to have had his watchful eye in my life!!

Blessings and Peace,
Sara