You want someone who will cheerfully acknowledge that you have told a certain family story many times before but smilingly encourage you to tell it again.

We had been talking about seemingly small gestures that we had never forgotten. And I told my Uncle Jack story. Again.

In 1965, he and my Aunt Helen had taken my family to the New York City restaurant described below (see links). I was just a kid and promptly knocked over a seemingly enormous pitcher of iced tea.

I was mortified. But Uncle Jack somehow convinced me right away that it was no big deal. Nothing to worry about. Just some iced tea.

He and my aunt have been gone for some time now. So, too, has that restaurant.

But I'll never forget the tea tsunami at Luchow's and the way Uncle Jack handled it.

http://www.toquemag.com/food/luchows-americas-most-famous-german-restaurant

http://www.nytimes.com/1982/03/24/garden/luchow-s-symbol-of-the-good-old-days.html

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