When Luke was a little boy, he called his uncle "Uncle Donie in 'Rado". Uncle Donie lives in Colorado and Luke combined all the information he had at his disposal into what he called his uncle. (His other uncle, Baby's husband, he called "KimmyJay" which is a combination of both his aunt's name and his uncle's.)
One time, Uncle Donie in 'Rado, called Luke from a plane. Remember the days when the seats had phones and you used a credit card to place a call? Well, Luke was about 4 and he got the call from the sky. He went to school and told his teacher that his uncle had called from the Moon. Well, his uncle was closer to the Moon than we were!
When Uncle Donie in 'Rado would run in a race (he is quite the jogger), he'd get a shirt for Luke. Everywhere he traveled, he got a shirt for Luke. Every college he visited, he'd get a shirt for Luke. I didn't have to buy a shirt for Luke until he was in high school.
Uncle Donie in 'Rado likes to spin a yarn and Luke loves to hear a yarn. It's a match made in heaven. The further UDIR gets from the truth, the better Luke likes it. And if UDIR peppers his stories with swear words, that's even better. Rarely does UDIR disappoint.
Last year, UDIR took Luke snowshoeing in Colorado. UDIR is always up for an adventure with his oldest nephew. The same is true for Luke. Being an only child, Luke sees UDIR as a sibling who he only has to see occasionally and never has to share with or pick up after.
Everyone needs a crazy aunt (I fulfill that role for many, many children) and a crazy uncle. I am so very grateful that Luke has UDIR and that UDIR is just crazy enough.
