Remote Familiarity

In my golden years I've remained distant to stay close to family, friends, colleagues, strangers and rivals. Recollections of me as a lively young man contradicts my grave Spartan visage and penchant for peace quiet, and solitude rather than all night long partying when I led the pack, danced till dawn’s early hours, shuffling in time with harsh crows of twin roosters.... (Why I was the very uncle both nieces and nephews cherished!) My sibling’s children fought to sit next to me during holiday meals for I, the fun guy, defied decorum and related embellished chronicles of the secret wayward adventures of their moms, dads, and myself when we marshalled mischief feeding curiosities, acting out dares from tagging Traynham Music Store’s parking lot with spray paint covertly hiding behind cars observing public reactions to our graffiti to walking through hazardous storm drains forbidden by our parents. (Splashing fetid water, we’d escape illusory thugs and transients!) Adult nieces and nephews still beg—indeed expect me—to repeat lurid legends of their parent’s naughty exploits like bedtime stories read to toddlers—no words left out or changed—rubber stamped with irreverence, puckish intent, dated hyperbole; dead to evolution, I’m presently trapped by my personal choice and distant demeanor. (I’ve missed out on novel daily nuances and fresh nightly mayhem!) Open to change, I might have witnessed rituals emerge—perhaps as a participant—that allowed my favorite uncle status to transform.