Uncle Leo remembered

Tuesday night I called Pher. I wanted to hear my son's voice. I asked how he was doing and what he was doing.
Pher: "I just got done skinning me a squirrel, Momma."
Me: "Where are you?"
Pher "AJ's house."
Me: "Where are AJ's parents?"
Pher: "Right here."
Me: "Are they aware that you just got done skinning a squirrel?"
Pher: "Yes."
Me: "How did you get the squirrel, Christopher?"
Pher: "AJ, his brother, and his dad killed it."
Me: "What? How?"
Pher: "I don't know. I'd imagine a .22 or something."
Me: "What are you going to do with this skinned squirrel?"
Pher: "Well, I'm going to eat it."
Me: "I should have known."
Pher: "Yup. Gotta go."
Me: "Christopher, you can come home and eat."
Pher: (chuckling) "Yes, Mom, I know. Love you. Bye."

I posted some smart alec remark on Facebook about not asking him what he's going to do with a dead squirrel ever again. Cousin Jennifer commented and stated that "your uncle" (a.k.a. her father) killed a squirrel, cooked it, and made them taste it once. Yes, Uncle Leo would have done that I fondly remembered.

You see, Uncle Leo was born in the wrong century. He should have been born in the 17 or 1800's. He loved the primitive life. He loved muskets & gunpowder, cooking over open fire, and reliving what life would have been like in that era. I remember Uncle Leo and Aunt Judy taking us to 'real life' forts in upstate New York. I remember the stories about the people living in the forts defending it against the Indians. I remember their authentic attire. I remember my Uncle Leo telling me that the people who pretend to be living in the Fort or the Camp would talk and act like they were really living there. If I were to talk to them about things of modern times, these people would not know what I was talking about. I remember trying to fool them. I remember never being able to get them to 'break character.' I had a flood of memories... fond memories of my Uncle Leo and Aunt Judy and them exposing Matthew and me to the rich and full history of upstate New York.

At that point I started to think that Christopher may have inherited his free spirit. It might not be as acquired as I thought. It could very well be an inherent part of his being. Grandma Jan had a wandering relative (I can't remember if she said it was an aunt or uncle). I have an uncle that enjoyed primitive and sparse living. Christopher is like his family, and it's sad that they are family members he never had the opportunity or good fortune to meet.