I just found out that my father's uncle, James L. Caldwell Jr. passed away a couple of days ago.

Uncle Jim was the oldest male Caldwell of my line. I feel fortunate that I got a chance to talk with him the day before his 91st birthday just a few weeks ago. We talked about everything from growing up on the farm, to he and his wife, Fay, joining my family on holidays before I moved to California.

I was hoping that he'd still be around for my "pilgrimage" back to the original 1855 family homestead in Iowa. He didn't think he'd make it to spring, I was hoping he would.

"Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night."