"Growing up I was surrounded by my aunts and uncles who were teenagers. I was like the little sister, the doll, the tangible asset they could play with, protect and teach. The pictures of my toddler years show a young me always smiling, yet desperately hanging onto my family members. Whether it’s a picture of me holding my uncle Brian’s foot, or one of me standing next to my aunt Pam I was a big part of my family. One of my fondest memories is of me going to the track with my uncle Eric. Eleven years older than me, he would put my tricycle in the trunk and put our dog in the backseat. Prior to 1988, car seats were not mandatory so it was nothing for me to sit in the front seat with my uncle when he drove the mile or so to his high schools field. Once on the track he set me up to ride. Try as I may I never was able to ride fast enough to catch him and Tamu our dog on the track. It was so much fun trying though. Eric was my best friend. He was the type of guy that played barbies, watched scary movies, combed my hair, brought me ice cream and did everything a father should do with their daughter, except he was my teenage uncle."
I would like to salute the men who have stepped up in the father figure role for their nieces, sisters, and cousins. Some of us girls longed for a father to throw us on their shoulders. A father to run and play in the sand with. A father who provided. For reasons that are unknown by many the biological didn't step up! But, some of us did have men that stepped in and showed us love. It's not until you get older that you sometimes appreciate what that man meant! Here is an excerpt from my book that sums up why I love my uncle Eric. He will probably never read this because he's computer illiterate haha!! Is there a man in your life who without reservations took on some of the roles your father should have? Share, will ya?
"Growing up I was surrounded by my aunts and uncles who were teenagers. I was like the little sister, the doll, the tangible asset they could play with, protect and teach. The pictures of my toddler years show a young me always smiling, yet desperately hanging onto my family members. Whether it’s a picture of me holding my uncle Brian’s foot, or one of me standing next to my aunt Pam I was a big part of my family. One of my fondest memories is of me going to the track with my uncle Eric. Eleven years older than me, he would put my tricycle in the trunk and put our dog in the backseat. Prior to 1988, car seats were not mandatory so it was nothing for me to sit in the front seat with my uncle when he drove the mile or so to his high schools field. Once on the track he set me up to ride. Try as I may I never was able to ride fast enough to catch him and Tamu our dog on the track. It was so much fun trying though. Eric was my best friend. He was the type of guy that played barbies, watched scary movies, combed my hair, brought me ice cream and did everything a father should do with their daughter, except he was my teenage uncle."
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AuthorMy name is Tamieka Blair and I live on Long Island in New York. I write, I read, I write, I work, I write, I support..I WRITE!!! Archives
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Please note that the viewpoints expressed in this blog are solely my views and do not necessarily represent those of any employer or company associated with Tamieka Blair.
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