I miss my uncle Joe Albert, the guy I used to know, the guy I looked up to my whole life. As a kid I always admired him and even more so as I grew up. I thought he was strong for being able to follow his dreams and against all odds get out of Roswell. No money, no job, no support, just a kid and his skateboard. He made it all the way to San Francisco. It may not have been a glamorous life but at least he was doing what he loved.
A couple of years ago I made it out there to visit him. He and his girlfriend seemed to be doing well. Money was tight and they both worked multiple jobs but they were very happy. Always positive and full of love is how I knew him and I thought that's how it would always be.
Well Kat went to Italy for school and after that he changed. I didnt know it at the time but apparently he has a drinking problem. The only member of my Dad's family that I liked, admired and even related to had fallen into the same trap as the rest of them.
Last year I went to Roswell and he was there. I got the chance to hang out with him. We hung out and talked for hours. He really opened up to me and admitted that he does infact have a drinking problem. Suddenly, the pedestool came crashing down as he fell into his seat at Denny's. Now sitting accross from me is not the rad, superpositive, happy guy I looked up to my whole life. Instantly he became another one of them. Just another loser with no control. To say i was disappointed would be an understatement...I was destroyed.
Part of me wishes we never would have had that conversation. Part of me wishes I could still look up to him. I guess all I can do is hope that he can fight it and somehow get back to being my rad uncle Joe.
Posted by nicole at January 22, 2005 07:56 PM