Aufweidersehen bis mein Bruder

I have not had many opportunities to post on here of late. This one is very necessary. On Saturday morning, March 22, 2008, my uncle, Thomas Peters, lost his battle with metastatic prostate cancer. He was 64 years of age.

Thos who know me are aware of just how difficult the past several months have been for my family and me. When he was diagnosed back in 2006, the prognosis was not so good, as even then it was metasticized. However, in true Uncle Tom fashion, he fought and refused to let it take him quite so fast. He traveled three (3) more times to Germany - which made for 109 times all tolled - including one in September of 2006 with his pain in the rump nephew - me.

To try to sit here and express in words the impact of his life on mine would be doing him so little justice. He was a sage, a wise man who was never afraid to let me know exactly what he thought, whether I wanted to hear it or not. Odds are, I needed to hear whatever he had to say. I respected him immensely because even up until his last days, he did everything exactly the way he wanted. Uncle Tom was stubborn that way.

I loved him and always will. I told him that all the time, including the day before we lost him. His last weeks and days were not pretty, but he fought valiantly. He was the father figure I always wished I had. Sadly, I wish I would have realized that sooner.

I am proud to say I knew Thomas Peters as a man, a friend, an uncle, and a brother. Some many try, but no one will be able to take away the memories I have with him pertaining to nothing in particular - losing money playing pool, losing money playing cards, hearing another one of his jokes, AGAIN - whatever the case may be.

I can only hope he is keeping an eye on me. Heaven knows I need it.

Watch the ice, Bro.