To the editor -- The holiday season brought family gatherings, and with them stereotypical labeling.

Many of us men are sons, husbands, fathers, grandfathers and yes, even uncles. It's the latter label that causes me great dismay, be it crazy, weird, or even perverted.

Why do we as uncles, those purveyors of dad jokes and questionable dance moves, get such a bad reputation?

Let's examine the evidence. Is it our Hawaiian shirts that scream "I'm on vacation" or possibly our penchant for the occasional off-color remarks? Or perhaps our insistence on recounting our glory days in high school, which, let's face it, are more legendary with each retelling?

Uncles are the family's wild cards, the unpredictable elements who turn a quiet evening into a chaotic yet memorable event. They're the ones who bring fireworks to the cookout (even if it's just a sparkler) and somehow manage to turn every game of "spoons" into mortal combat.

Come on, cut us some slack! After all, who else will teach the kids to make fart noises with their armpits or demonstrate the art of the perfect belly flop? Embrace the quirks of your uncles, for they are the spice of our family lives.

Go ahead, cry uncle!

RON LIVINGSTON

Yakima