Nephew to Uncle

I have four uncles; two from my mother’s side and two from my father’s side.  My father’s family is dispersed throughout the nation while my mother was the third generation of her family to live in Washington State.  I have always had access to my mother’s brothers, but especially to my Uncle Norman.  One summer he hired me to help him turn part of his yard into a play area for his young family, and to set the form-work for an outdoor concrete staircase leading to his basement.  I have worked with my uncle off-and-on over a 20 year period since that time.

My sister’s family is visiting from Arizona.  Three of her four children are boys; each of whom is interested in what I am up to while at work.  Noah (10) had seemed less interested than Nathan (7) and Luke (6) until Wednesday.  He had wandered across the street to see the drain system I am putting in for my parents’ neighbors.  “Can I come over and help you?” he asked.  “Sure,” I replied, “but you need to have jeans on and a pair of tennis shoes, no flip-flops,” I called to his back as he ran home.

I could not have predicted how excellent my nephew could be as an assistant on my job-site.  I was especially impressed to find that Noah already knew how to read a tape-measure.  It might surprise you to know that I have been on construction sites with men in their 40s who can read neither a tape, nor a level.  It took a few extra minutes to get tasks completed, but I would wait while Noah figured out the lengths of pipe we needed in his head.  “O.K. so the measurement inside to inside is 15 and three-quarters, but what do we need to add to that?”  “Three inches?”  “That’s right.  So how much is that?”  “Um, 18 and a three-quarters?”  “Exactly, good job brother.”

I learned this afternoon that Noah was asking his mom about things he could do to thank me for letting him help out.  He has not asked for any money in return for his services, which is both surprising and encouraging.  It is a pleasure for both of us to participate in the family tradition of construction.  Being an uncle is an extra joy; an added source true life enjoyment.