although, unlce richie was my godfather, uncle charles and i had a special connection ,BESIDES HAVING THE SAME NAME,we both came from a family where we were the middle boy, he taught me how to have compassion for my fathers shortcomings, not by lecturing me or  gossiping, or kicking a dog when he was down,  but a kind of like "things sort  of work themselves out  mentality, wise in a silent way long before his years ,taught me to respect my elders (most importantly my dad and his), never ,ever heard him say a bad word about anybody in the FAMILY,  but by example, by loving that person inspite of "how they acted at their worst".  my mom's name was theresa  and your mom's name was theresa, and of course you are named theresa , we both married late and had one child, "a girl" we both worked in banking and "not "the stock market  like my dad, uncle richie and my two brothers, both worked for 30 years, both took express buses from brooklyn  to rector st ,each morning sometimes meeting each other at 5;30 a.m. , i did not drive until i was 30 years old (unheard of for a guy from my generation living on l.i.)to the best of my knowlede uncle charles never got his drivers license, both liked the horses not "love them " liked my father , taught ME everything in moderation,  both had the same barber when i lived in bay ridge,so what my own dad was incapable of teaching me , unlce charles did, thank you Jesus,he was my friend, both had brothers named edward and richard  both liked wasting hours sitting silently at a dumpy bar (places WITH names  like the RED FLAME )then going back to the house to b.s. with loved one's and maybe getting heartburn( nothing like alittle pepto biz to ease the runs ) ,we both loved long walks (alone!!!!) both had been married only "once"  and were both blessed unbelievably by the women God finally gave us becoming better men, husband's and fathers, thank you Jesus.. he had to know that probably up to six ,seven, eight years old , second to my own dad  he was larger than life ( unlce richie as well !!! to me and my brothers) , both survived at least one brother's death, both could be a loner or social ... , both buried our parents, both never had a ounce of quit in them , probably enjoyed  our "own "company to anyone elses , both married woman who were previously married,  and both knew in our hearts  who that gal arms she would run into in heaven ,no doubt !!! both knew that we were blessed in our lives far beyond anything we  ever merited, and believe me  i could go on and on and on, but we will have a eternity to talk ,so enough for now my family from God, THANK YOU JESUS,THANK YOU MARY, THANK YOU SAINT JOSEPH. AMEN. AS MY MOM THERSA WOULD SAY, "MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU,  AND GIVE YOU PEACE FOREVER", or as uncle charles would say when we watched yankee doodle dandy together, "my mother thanks you , my father thanks you, my sister thanks you, and  I THANK YOU !!!!!!