I have been in Portland for the past week visiting my 91-year-old uncle who is convalescing in a nursing home after spending five days in the hospital. I wrote about my uncle in this previous post where you can see a really cool picture of him from his days on the Broadway stage.
Uncle Mitchell is the most upbeat, grab-life-by-the-collar, live-every-moment person I know, even while his failing body is giving him plenty to complain about.
This quote from John Lennon reminded me that rather than being sad that my uncle will not be with us much longer, I should be happy I still have him . . . and the wonderful memories he has given me.
Uncle Mitchell
Robin Coyle 
Thanks for passing by
wow is he good looking–he is lucky to have you and lucky you have that philosophy
I learned that philosophy from my uncle. Isn’t he handsome? When my daughter saw his photo album from his hay day she said, “Wow Uncle Mitchell. You were hot!” He replied, “What am I now? Lukewarm?” His sense of humor is still spot on at 91!
good for him – lukewarm – haha
Your uncle had lots and lots of handsomeness in him. The word nursing home just does not make a sense when I look at this photo…
I will tell him you said so! He will be tickled.
Because he was an actor and model, he has a ton of professional photos from his salad days (as my mom would say). My daughter said to him, “Uncle Mitchell, you were HOT!” He replied, “What am I now, lukewarm?” Gawd, I love his sense of humor. He still has it at 91!
He will forever be that handsome man in my mind.
There’s nothing lukewarm about a person with a great sense of humor. Just tell your uncle that he’s still hot. It sounds like he is very much young at heart.
I called and told him what you said. He loves you. He wants to know if you will marry him.
Gladly:-)
Is this picture/ quote on a poster somewhere, would love to give to my granddaughter?Thanks for sharing.
For the life of me I can’t remember where I found that image. I poked around the Internet to see if I could find it for you, but no luck. There is a lovely selection of Lennon posters here tho:
http://www.allposters.com/-st/John-Lennon-Posters_c516_p4_.htm
Thanks….I will keep searching…..love you blogs, btw.
Well thank you!
I meant to tell you that in looking for the poster for you, I discovered that the quote is incorrectly attributed John. Lesson learned. Don’t believe everything you read on the Internet.
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Dang! I have to go somewhere and pose for a picture like that. I need that suit, too. All people were so much cooler then. Now, we’re just sloppy. Hf
You’d look good in a suit like that. He had rather a swagger didn’t he?
Your uncle Mitchel is one cool dude. So is John Lennon so they are in good company together here.
So true! Mitchell wore Beatle boots back in the day and I thought it was the coolest thing ever.
As you know, my favourite word is “happy”, and when I read that quote from John Lennon, I realised I was in good company…When good things happen it’s easy to be happy but when bad things happen, although tougher, it’s more important, and of course if you’re happy the bad things aren’t as bad as if you’re unhappy. Love the photo of Uncle Mitchell 🙂
In every negative situation there is a always a way to look at the positive. It may be hard to find, but it is always there.
Robin, I just love posts about family–precious family. Thank you for sharing a glimps of your uncle with us. And I had to look up the word “convalescing” so thank you for sharing that with me, too. 😉
KL
He may be convalescing but I think he is running the joint. They adore him at the “farm,” as he calls it, and it makes me happy that he still of sound mind to suggest the movies to watch. Odds are he knows the star or at least the director given his former career in the theater.
It is a blessing! My neighbor is turning 83 next month and he runs circles around me 🙂
What a wonderful life Mitchell has led and you and the girls are so fortunate to have been along on that ride! He’s one-in-a-million, that’s for sure.
Thanks Pammy! So nice to hear from you. He is one-in-a-million for sure. My heart aches and soars at the same time. What a man and what a role model for all of us.
That is a wonderful quote from Lennon, and learning to appreciate the people in our lives while we can is true wisdom.
I love him so much. And I love that I can stop and appreciate him for what he has given me…even tho I am in pain that he may soon be gone.
I haven’t ever heard that John Lennon quote. I LIKE it!
You uncle was quite the guy in his day. Zowie.
When my girls saw the old photos of Uncle Mitchell they said to him, “Whoa Uncle Mitchell! You were HOT!” To that he replied, “What am I now . . . lukewarm?” The man cracks me up.
Uncle Mitchell was so handsome!!!! And still is even at 91. A heroic figure in SO many lives.
He is my hero. I know he is yours too.
What a suave looking man, gorgeous. Great post, Robin and a fabulous quotation from Mr Lennon. Very insightful. Very zen. 🙂 Thank you for sharing this! 🙂
Wasn’t he a handsome man! All the nurses flirt with him at the nursing home.
No wonder. I’ll be he laps it up too! 🙂
Yes, he is quite the flirt.