June the 2 - It's About Tradition

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On Sunday morning I was making breakfast for the Queen of Blasdell when Sam said:

"Tomorrow is June the 2."

I smiled, of course, knowing that the next generation of Fuzzy's have the date already cemented in their minds.

I told them about Uncle Tony being the one who started it all by saying he'd pay his debts on 'June the 2', but I also knew it was so much more than that.

It was a bond between fathers and sons and brother to brother. My Dad was always mentioning June the 2 as well...every year...and when I was a kid I thought it was silly.

I don't think that anymore.

Because Uncle Jim took it to a new level.

Now we try and schedule a memorial mass for him around that date. (I missed it this year with all the commotion).

I told Sam about Uncle Jim calling me at 6:30 on the morning of the last 'June the 2' of his life.

"When I asked him why he was calling so soon," I said. "He answered, 'It's June the 2. I couldn't sleep.'"

Sam laughed.

"We gotta' keep it going," I said.

Sam nodded.

I know he will.

"Mr. Popple is the one who keeps it going now," he said. "He's not even a Fuzzy."

"He thinks he is," I said. "And that's good. He got enough 'Bah pollack get off my couch!' yell downs to qualify."

Sam laughed.

"Yeah, he can help us to keep it going. Maybe it'll go on forever."

Yes, son...

...maybe it will.

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