> So. Let's say I have this dad. He has a sister named Jane. Jane marries this guy named Harold. Harold and Jane have two kids, Christina and Michael, my cousins. Then Harold and Jane get divorced. Is Harold still my uncle?
>
> -Eric Sleator
> Wed 3 Oct A.D. 2002

I guess it depends on how close the families are and how friendly the divorced couple is. I have an... um... ex-uncle-in-law, but he and my aunt divorced before I was born, and they live in different countries. I hadn't even met him until I was about thirteen. While we accept him as being attached to the family, because he is my cousin's father, I don't think any of the cousins think of him as an uncle. Now if one of the uncle/aunt couples I have grown up with split up, I think it would be harder to determine. I tend to think of both halves of these couples as equally related to me, even though only one is related by blood. So I imagine I'd still call the non-related one "Uncle" or "Aunt" when I saw them.

Lire"an oddly disturbing thought"lyn