Yet again an event has occurred in life that grants me another label. Two days ago (Wednesday, March 1, 2006 at roughly 7:15pm CST) I was bestowed the title of “Uncle Casey”.
Allow me to introduce Kooper William Peel. He is officially a “big boy” at 9lbs 4oz and measuring 21.5 inches.
Labels
I began thinking about labels over the past couple of days. It is interesting how we’re given some and some are given to us. Regardless of their origins some are objective and some subjective. Some labels change over time, from subjective to objective or from involuntary to voluntary. I was involuntarily given the subjective label ‘Casey’ roughly 27 years ago although after a few years I have internalized it and accepted it as objective (one could argue that after the label was put on my birth certificate that it then became objective, but I digress). Likewise just 1.5 years later I was involuntarily given the objective label ‘brother’ when Kelly was born. Since then I have taken actions that have caused me to give myself labels such as graduate, employee, Software Engineer, Performance Lead, fiancee. I’m more proud of some of these labels than others. Not sure how I feel about Uncle yet. I played no part in receiving the label although I have a feeling that a great deal of work will be required for me to live up to the title, much in the same sense that a ‘father’ (one who fathers a child) is not necessarily a ‘dad’ (a father who is deeply involved in his child’s life).
Digital Ramblings 
You know you were already an unofficial Uncle Casey, right?
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You bet!
Yes – I did know that I was already an “Uncle” to my adopted nephews (and one niece) although unfortunately I have played a very passive role. Benjamin and I need to get in gear and start focusing on more things outside of ourselves. I’m hoping after the first weekend in June we’ll have more resources/time to do that.
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If you’re a friend of Casey’s then…
… that makes him a Fruncle to your child. Fruncles and Fraunts = would be uncles and aunts if related, but since just friends… :-)
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Re: If you’re a friend of Casey’s then…
Fruncle sounds like some *really* old person while Fraunt reminds me of the word France. I think out of those two I’d like to be a Fraunt, pronounced with a swallowed “a” so more “aunt” than “ant”. Just call me <accent language=”French”>Fraunt Casey</accent> :)
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Congratulations!
I can’t believe you didn’t call to tell me he was born, but we’ll discuss that later :) In the meantime, please give your folks and the new parents hugs of congratulations! Granny is beaming as she sent an e-mail last night to share the exciting news. I know you will be great uncles as you begin your new lives together!
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