I got a call from my mother, asking me to phone my three-year-old niece because she wanted to talk to me.

When April handed her the phone, Laura said "I miss you, Uncle Bubba."

I felt a little ferklempt when she said that.

"Are you coming to my pool party, Uncle Bubba? You'd better."

"When is it?" I asked, even though I know when her birthday is.

She asked April when it was and told me "In May. You better be there."

"Honey, I'll be there a few times before then."

It turns out Laura saw my picture on the shelf and told April she wished I was there instead of just my picture. She almost never speaks to me on the phone, so it was nice to hear her voice.

In other news, I received my weekly news roundup from The Advocate. It turns out Paul Winfield, the actor who died earlier in the week, was gay and had been mourning the death of his longtime companion for the past year or so.