What's so special about Uncles?

Growing up I really only have a few memories about any one of my Uncles. They were pretty much that "uncles" and very little interactions.  So I guess to me, there wasn't really much too special about them - they were just another relative.

So it really warms my heart when my son asks all the time where his "Uncle J" is.  Uncle J is my oldest brother and he's the favorite Uncle of all the nieces and nephews.  For my son, he is a very special person.  I like to call them "kindred spirits".  There is just this special bond between my son and his Uncle J, and its been like this from the first moment my son was introduced to his Uncle.  I don't know how to describe it other than they both make each other "happy" when they are hanging out together.  So picture a 2 year old boy and a 50+ year old man playing games, laughing, giggling and having a good time - that's my son and his Uncle J.

When my brother (Uncle J) found out that my son was in the hospital, he called to tell me that he would come home to help out any way he could.  He'd even cancel some business meetings if he had to.  You have to understand, my brother is a world traveler and his business  travel calendar is packed nearly 52 weeks out of 52 week year!  So it was the ultimate "gift" for him to extend that offer to me.  Yet, it was so sweet that he "loves" my son so much to want to come home to be with him.  My brother drove 3 1/2 hours to visit on Friday night - and the look on my son's face when he arrived at his hospital room was just priceless.  It was the happiest and most antimated he had been since he arrived at the hospital 10 days earlier.  Not only did my brother visit on Friday evening, he popped in for a couple of hours on Saturday afternoon, after making a quick stop at the Disney Store for some "gifts".  He played with cars and taught my son how to play "war" with a deck of cards.  If that wasn't sweet enough, he stopped back in on Saturday night for an hour or so before he had to go back to his home 2 1/2 hours away this morning.  I understand my brother will be back next weekend too!

So I now know what so special about "Uncles"!