Sometimes, I really wish I would have talked to my uncle about more . . . personal things. Old boyfriends, college, social work, religion, the future; I think I could have gained a lot of wisdom from him. He did teach me a lot through just being who he was, but sometimes, more than anything, I just miss listening and talking to him, and I would give anything just to sit with him over coffee and chat.

He didn't judge, and he didn't preach. He loved and he nurtured, and he understood that we are all only human.

I know I'm going to be influenced by him when I start working. I hear and read what people have said about him, and I want to be just like that.