Uncle Sherman, 1978

The last Christmas that I was living in California was 1978.  Marta and Charlie and I planned to go north to Oysterville for the holidays and I remember that it took a little planning to figure out how to fit the three of us, our luggage, and the Christmas presents in my VW bug.  At the eleventh hour, the folks called and said that Willard and Louise would also be “at home” for Christmas.

There was a bit of a flurry trying to decide what gift we could take them and I remember that Marta and I went on a last minute shopping spree in Berkeley.  We finally settled on a sort of joke gift — Uncle Sherman, the 20″ high flasher ragdoll in a trench coat.  And, yes, he was anatomically correct, right down to his gray yarn “hair” in all the right places.  We thought he was hysterical.

Granted, we were a little anxious about how Uncle Sherman would be received.  But, we assured ourselves that Willard and Louise both had a great sense of humor and that they would happily find a place for Uncle Sherman at the Red Cottage here in Oysterville or at their commodious apartment in New York City.  So, when we arrived in Oysterville, under the tree he went, wrapped in bright paper and festooned with ribbon.

Willard and Louise, Oysterville 1979

It’s still a bit painful to remember the reception that Uncle Sherman received.  Willard was the one who opened the gift and I still remember that rather blank expression on his face as he came face-to-face with the ragdoll.  We had to encourage Willard to left the flap of Uncle Sherman’s trenchcoat.  There was a long silence followed by Willard’s only remark about the gift:  “Well, you people in California are certainly more sophisticated than we are.”

Uncle Sherman Tee Shirt

Who’duv thunk that my cosmopolitan, worldly-wise uncle — my uncle who not only told a bawdy joke now and then, but also could write a bit suggestively as well — who’duv thunk that he could be embarrassed by the three of us young “sophisticates” from California?   But… I think he was.

As for Uncle Sherman… we never saw him again.  I’m so sorry.  I think he’d have been a welcomed addition to our Friday Night gatherings, especially if he behaved himself.