My Renaissance Man

     My Renaissance man lives in upstate New York, near Binghamton, in a town called Smithville. He has lived there at least as long as I can remember. Summers, when my family lived in Ohio, we would drive to New York to spend some time there. My sisters and I were always excited to go and spend time at his place. He has always had a horse, or two, a garden, and a few acres to explore. We would sometimes go blueberry picking,  fishing, or go to pick corn and ride in the back of his beat up truck.We would bounce happily along in the truck bed, just happy to be there with Uncle Dave! These summers also meant one night with a bonfire popping and crackling as we cooked a local favorite called, Speidis. They are basically marinated chunks of chicken or beef that are grilled and then placed in a piece of soft potato bread and eaten like a sub. No need to add anything to it because the meat is so juicy and flavorful all on its own. It was then we would roast corn on the fire and talk, looking at the stars. The night so clear, compared to the dampening of city lights in the suburbs. It is these memories and many more that endear my heart to him and his place. I remember pictures from the seventies and seeing my cousins and I at the kids table for Thanksgiving! Thank God for those pictures because otherwise I would not remember.
   My Renaissance man, Uncle Dave, or Dave Thatcher is a man of many talents and skills. I am amazed at what he has done and is able to do. He cooks, he cleans, he....oh wait, he isn't a Saturday morning cheap infomercial gadget! Well, you get the idea. He does so much, like caning chairs! He cut down a cherry tree on his property and built cabinets, redid his own kitchen, AND put cherry flooring in the next room! (not to mention putting up fences and building a new porch) I find those skills to be amazing, since I don't have those talents. He also hunts, and knows how to sap Maple trees. (There is an old sap house that sits on his property). He can make maple sugar candy and of course syrup. On one visit as adults my mom and I sampled some homemade wine of his and some pickles he had made. (not together of course!) He is also an avid dancer, specifically swing dancing. He could tell you the different types of Swing, from East coast swing to West coast. He in short amazes me, with all he can and has done.
    I tell you all these things to illustrate the kind of passion and zeal he has had for life, all while facing Prostate cancer. He has been fighting for about seven years, enduring Chemo treatment after Chemo treatment. All the while he as kept dancing, kept cooking, and kept building. Building into my life a desire to not only work but to live and not take a day for granted. To get out of my living room and go, and see, and do, and meet people. He inspires me.
    Since high school my Uncle Dave and I have kept in touch via e-mail. We have written over the years about our daily lives. I have been kept informed on the deer he has shot and how well his garden has been over the years. I tell him about my job, my struggles, and my joys. He has also given me advice, and a little loving chastisement, such as: "You know who you will meet in your living room." He has always had a way of provoking me to action without,well, Provoking me to irritation or anger. He is blunt and straight to the point, one of the many things I love about him. One of the many things I will miss about him. You see he is dying. I say with tears that my Renaissance man is leaving. We were told about two months. He has fought and fought, and now it is time, not to surrender, but to go with grace and strength. To go with the strength that only God can give.
   I can't be there with him to say goodbye. My mom and sister Laurie have the privilege to go and love on him, and show him what he means to us. I am not able to get off of work to go, but I know it will be o.k. God is sovereign. I wish so much to be there to tell him how he has been more like a father to me than an Uncle, but I can't. I don't know that I could say it anyway, so I am saying it here. This post has been long, yet I can't write enough words to show you the humor, zeal, and all that is My Renaissance Man. I love you Uncle Dave and I will never forget or stop loving you.