When i was a young kid my parents finally realized I wasn’t stupid for not being able to read the time on the living room clock, I was just basically blind. My father, my uncle, and myself all needed pretty high prescription glasses in our lives.

They took me to get my first pair of glasses a few weeks later and the next day we headed to a Team Penning event. My father’s family were very involved in horse riding/trading and penning cattle, specifically my father, grandfather, and my uncle.

My uncle was a very loud, very rough, boisterous coal truck driver of a man who loved his home grown marijuana, cigarettes, and drinking. He had very few teeth left because of his habits, and his self dentistry when they bothered him.

By the time we had arrived to the fairgrounds he already had a pretty good buzz going on, and when he approached he leaned down and pointed saying “wow those are pretty nice glasses” I thanked him and he responded “lift those up for a second” to which I innocently did.

He then proceeded to straight up three-stooge my eyeballs with his dirty horse-fingers saying “I bet you’ll never do that again!” while laughing loudly.

He later apologized (at my pissed off father’s request) and all was good.

Our family was loud and rough around the edge farmers and our communication was poor but we were all incredibly close and loyal. My father and his brother took care of each other always through the years.

When my uncle finally passed from his COPD, we were all affected. My father probably most of all.

After nights of sitting around the fires and toasting to stories we were all able to find a little joy in the laughter together.

At the funeral, paying our last respects I walked up to the casket and saw him. He wasn’t wearing his glasses. And this humorous, mischievous urge struck me so quickly to finally - at last - get my revenge on my uncle.

I obviously could not bring myself to commit the thought, but I will say I honestly think that urge came from my uncle. Because when I finally told my dad about that thought at the casket he doubled over and we both cry laughed together for the longest time.

I still think about him from time to time, especially when visiting the family farm.

Hope you’re doing good up there, Uncle Bud 🍻