Dedicated to my uncle Don.

I thought about you today.
I saw an Oakland Raiders t-shirt
And for a moment planned to buy it
But you couldn’t wear it now, could you?
I imagine boxes of such things
Neatly packed at your house
Unused but not unloved
Perhaps a bit dusty.
I miss your ornery hello
When my calls would wake you
From your afternoon naps in the sun
With the dog at your feet.
And then the sparkle in your voice
As you recognized mine
Followed by the guilt trip
For the call rather than a visit.
When can I come up?
You know it’s hard with kids –
The job, family, a life
There’s so little time.
And how true that is,
That there’s not enough time
And now I spend so much of it
Just thinking of you.