Uncle Dave
Probably the most influential person I have had in my life growing up was my mom. #2 was Uncle Dave.
There was always, and to some degree still is, a divide between me and my Dad. I think my side of it is that I feel like his life with my brothers was so great, and my life was pretty hard. While on his side, he barely knows me. I mean its like saying some guy on the street is your kid. How do you act? I mean he’s known I was his kid from birth, couldn’t deny me if he wanted to.. Just saying him in Hawaii most of my life, and me in Louisville.. We aren’t well acquainted like Father-Son Duo’s usually are.
So much to his chagrin, Uncle Dave was my father figure growing up in my teenage years. He’s a perpetual smart a–, and sarcastic as the day is long. Which I now am. Probably most of the people who have found themselves on the end of one of my tirade’s would wish Dave had left me the heck alone. I don’t know if he did it out of a service to his brother (my Dad), or if he did it because he felt he should (since I’m family), or if he did it because he just really thought I was awesome. Probably the awesome one. Dave was better to me most of the time than I really understood. He was always there. I’d call him just to talk to him, cause I missed “hanging with Dave”. Like my Father, I don’t think he ever got along with my Mom.. but it was never an issue for me.
Anyway, I am in TOTAL denial. Total and complete denial, he told me he was needing to be tested for alzheimers and I’m overwhelmed. It quickly over-ran all I had mentally to understand/cope/deal with it. He’s not really that old, but I guess that friggin disease starts at some point. Anyway. I’m ticked off that he might have it, worried that he does, and praying that he doesn’t.
I don’t keep in touch, I’m really bad with that anyway. I’m really bad at almost everything interpersonally that people depend on. I barely have any time to myself, and that time is either in the wee hours of the morning (Midnight World of Warcraft!!), or stolen from my family at large. Right now, whether its right or wrong my priorities are for the people I live with first. When/if I can get them to a place where me leaving won’t collapse the house of cards, I’ll be able to visit my Mom, and Uncle Dave.. maybe even a few of the others if they don’t hate me by then.
Well I’m freaked out.. its inevitble and I know this. People get old and wild stuff happens to them. I guess I’ve been so blindsided by my son having crazy things happen to him, I just never considered anything for old people. getting old = sucks.