Good-Bye Leo: A Tribute Blog

So, today I went to my Mom's Uncle's funeral. I guess that would make him my Great Uncle Leo. He was my favorite mysterious relative. I've heard many stories growing up about Uncle Leo and his women, or the time Uncle Leo ran the car into the ditch. In any case, a top three list for my dearly departed.

Top Three Things I Know About Leo Off:
1. Once when my Mom was eleven, Uncle Leo was sitting in the kitchen with a woman's wig on his head singing "Okie from Muskogee".

2. He went to jail twice for disturbing the piece. My Grandpa called him a shit disturber.

3. The priest today said, "He had the devil in him if I ever saw it! But he overcame and was a man of faith until his very last day."

Once, while he was in the hospital last year, the nurses gave him a mild sedative to help him sleep better. He did fall asleep, but then he started to sleep walk... naked! Also, he was pretty old at the time, so he needed a walker to get around. He was cruising around his floor of the hospital, naked and working the walker. He walked into a few rooms before the nurses caught him. He woke one man up and said, "Wake up, it's time to get working." To which the man replied, "I don't work anymore." Uncle Leo was having none of this, so he stole his robe and continued on.

At the bottom of the funeral card, which Uncle Leo had made previous to his death:

My earthly days are over
No long will I roam,
So pray for me as I did you,
Now that God has called me Home.

To the ones I've left behind me,
In hopes one day we'll be
With God and all the angels,
And the Holy Trinity.

Love Dad & Grandpa

On A Lighter Note
Top Three Quotes of the Day:
1. Father Rushka: "And Jesus said, 'Follow me and I will blow your mind' ".

2. My Brother: "I would be a homosexual if I could have the cowboy lifestyle."

3. Uncle Leo as told by my Mom: "You know Susan, I never really liked turnips. That is, until I went to jail."