Last week, we compressed our lives into a single square foot, and this week’s challenge for the League of Extraordinary Bloggers comes from Rich over at the Nerd Nook, who was the first to post a response (Please send all hate mail his way.) Your assignment this week is…

—

Cool story, bro.

—

I don’t have any kids. I know, I know… with all the cool toys and stuff I have, you would think otherwise. However, that does get me the title of “Coolest Uncle Ever” by my 4 nephews and 3 nieces. This cool story (cool to me) started in 2004. My baby sister (I’ve got three of them, I’m the oldest child) had just her first child, niece number 2, and there I am spoiling her rotten just like I did all her cousins. I made sure she was raised right by introducing her to Star Wars, video games and toys. Somewhere along the line, she developed a fascination for Transformers.

Fast forward to 2007. Sister #3 (sis3) calls me and tells me my niece has something to say to me. She puts her on the phone and I hear, “Tio*, go see oppimes pime? Oppimes pime?”

Let’s hear it. 1 - 2 - 3 - Awwwwwwwwwwwwww.

It took me a second to translate, but when I did, my heart melted. I told her “sure” and she got excited. My sister gets back on the phone and I confirm what I heard.

“She wants to go see Transformers?”

“Yep. She’s been harassing me for the last few days ever since she saw the commercial on tv. And she wants you to take her.”

Remember, I don’t have kids. I don’t change diapers. I’m not sure how safe I am with a 3-year old. I ask my sister to go with me. She says nope. That this is a “Uncle/Niece” bonding moment. However, I should ask sister #2 (sis2) to go with me. I call and ask sis2 to go with me to help with baby duties. She agrees. Saved!

So the day comes. July 4th, 2007. I didn’t have to work and neither did sis2. I pick my niece. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more excited child. Took me a minute to get the car seat right (you ever try getting a car seat in Mustang? A challenge in body positioning.) and off we went. I picked up sis2 and then the movie theater.

We get to our seats and the little one won’t quiet down. Talking about “Oppimes Prime” and how cool he is. I’m afraid she’ll be like this the entire time. Then the lights go down and she is quiet and on the edge of her seat the entire time. Well, one time she had to go potty and sis2 took her. She was there and back in record time. Seriously, it was like less than two minutes. Sis2 said she ran there and back.

Afterwards we had some lunch and listened to her re-tell the movie in her own words. Best. Day. Ever.

Since then, niece #2 and sis2 and I have made it a tradition to catch Transformers together. A tradition that I thought would only last two more movies. However, I got the phone call the other day…

“Tio, you know there is a new Transformers movie, right?”

-----

* Tio - Spanish for “Uncle”.

Some other members of The League share their cool stories.

The Geeky Vixen had an experience I can relate to (The time I met Chris Claremont. Or the time I met Cal Ripken, Jr. How about the time I met Whilce Portacio. I still get star struck).

Achievements in Gaming has short, but very sweet, story.

Only have one thing to say about G.I. Jigsaw's story. Wow.

Check out more about "Cool story, bro" here.

And this is why I hold the title of "Coolest Uncle Ever"!