when he had the occasion to trip down
memory lane he astonished himself by how well he remembered his aunts and uncles
and elderly cousins -- some so much older than he that he called them aunt and
uncle out of respect – dear older family friends were also aunt and uncle out of respect –
Instructed? Yah but with respect intended
they
treated him with respect
family community seemed to mean more when he was a boy tight-knit
his uncles went to war with strangers at their backs had theirs
they were intimates
they cared for each other
they retained their friendships
after the war
many were
his uncles their wives his aunts
he didnt cross themthey didnt cross
him
maybe when he was older he might have crossed themhe was
accused of having strange ideas if they hadnt
died but the way they treated each
other felt like love
he felt safealways safe cared for nurtured even if he was denied
what he wantedwhat he cleverly angled for or so he thought
he was probably obvious
they saw it they rebuked him though teased him with smiles and laughter
gay winks hugs and kisses
usually he immediately forgot his
disappointment
he supposed he didnt need what he
wanted
which isnt to say he didnt try
again
he went about it from a
different angle
theres more than one way to skin a
cat
he had cats now never thought to skin one
from his older or elderly aunts
and uncles he rarely got what he wanted no matter the angles he played
they must have talked among themselves and spread the word he was stymied
one after the other
they acknowledged him
then they kindly shot him down
he learned to accept No learned to be refused he accepted it and moved on
thinking about it now it was a
good way to learn to deal with rejection take No because No meant No
hed never be a prick salesman
he watched some of his cousins
try tantrums not a wise angle or good look was a great way to earn a crack on the ass then
sat to the side and told to think about how they acted
he didnt remember ever throwing
one
his relativeshis aunts and uncles as readily as they loved him they
were as ready to spin him around and crack him too
spare the rod spoil the child no spoiled children in his family and
extended family heaping helpings of
punishment were as acceptable as the bouts of joyous laughter and playful
ribbing
one didnt cross these people
they knew shit from Shinola
when he found time and slipped softly
into reflection and memory their faces returned
often suspended in these moments he must have seemed catatonic to anyone who
came upon him
theyd physically have to touch himnudge
him to arouse him from his reverie
he got lost as easily in them as he did in his dreams
reality sucks in
a nice way
0507,
Twosday, 18 2. 20
1140,
Reggae Friday, 21 8. 20
Beatles Strawberry Fields Forever https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44GB53rnI3c
Penny Lane https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRJ2a-z5SI4
