if you are reading this now there is a good chance you did not know I had an Uncle Vinnie. one reason is since he moved away from the area about 10 years ago i havent seen uncle vinnie much. the other reason is that uncle vinnie was not really my uncle, he worked with my dad for years, was a family friend and honorary uncle
uncle vinnie was the only person who could walk into my dad's garden and help himself to tomatoes. no one else could get away with that. but most importantly uncle vinnie accompanied us on many trips to Yankee Stadium. we would pick him up in Yonkers and drive down the concourse through the beaches of "cape cod, NY" and arrive at the home of Uncle Vinnie's beloved Yanks. he was a perfect companion for my dad and bro as he would tell us stories and jokes and accompany rit on his many trips to the restroom. I can't remember too many particulars of the games but i remember my love for baseball (but not the Yanks) being born out of these trips to the stadium with my dad, rich and uncle vinnie. there would be other trips with my sister, mom and friends but going with Uncle Vinnie always bore a special signifigance. the last game we went to was a game between the Yanks & Mariners in which both teams had young up and coming shortstops(jeter & arod).
uncle vinnie and his wife aunt mercy would always think of us on their trips to the actual cape cod by bringing us back t-shirts. my mom and dad would occasionally visit him when he moved there and we'd hear from him on holidays. this morning i learned uncle vinnie passed away and a shard of my childhood flashed before my eyes. would i have loved baseball as much or visited all those stadiums without my initial trips to the bronx with dad, rich and uncle vinnie...probably not.
