Uncle Brent passed away on Monday November 18, 2024. The news was sort of a surprise but not really a surprise as I knew he was in the hospital for quite some time. I just assumed he would pull through but alas, that was not his fate.
Here, I will post a letter (well..an email…Canada Post is on strike so no chance of sending a letter) that I wrote to Aunt Ree and Troy with some thoughts about Uncle Brent.
I’ve spent a few days thinking about Uncle Brent as many do when a spirit passes on. While I never grew up physically close to any of my aunts or uncles, they always left an impression on me. The impression Uncle Brent left on me was to be charitable, be kind to others and focus on having a good laugh. I would like to think that those qualities have grown in me because of him.
And now, a story.
My mom’s mother passed away in Gaspe a few years ago in late January or early February. She was well loved by all who knew her and I was privileged to be by her side before she passed away.
That evening, the most incredible wind swept through Gaspe. It was so cold that the heat couldn’t keep up in the place that my parents and I were staying. We were walking around in our parkas inside the house. The wind was howling like a wolf to a moon.
The next morning it never let up. My Mom and I drove to the frozen beach and I joked that I nearly lost my hand to frostbite in the ten seconds I took my glove off to snap a photo of her and I. I had never witnessed such wind and such force before in my life. It lasted three days.
I thought about the wind a lot those days and I believe that Nanny Ruth had an incredibly profound effect on those around her. Because of this, there was a need for an equally incredible force to whisk her spirit away. This became a belief of mine.
So when I read that Vancouver Island was walloped by incredible winds in the days after Uncle Brent died I smiled and wasn’t surprised at all to hear about it.
It was never a surprise to hear that only the strongest of winds could take Uncle Brent’s spirit away.
May he rest in peace.