Poking the Dragon
An open letter to my nephew Chad Gervasio
Why
an open letter? Well, it's difficult to talk to someone who has
blocked you at every turn and available way. But considering the amount
of anger I see festering and the probable outcomes... it's just that
time again.
You were such a great kid when you were
little. Affectionate, friendly, curious and cute as a bug. I have
often wondered what happened to bring you to the point you've arrived
at. More to the point, I wonder just what your mother did to you to
bring this about. I don't know the exacts, but I can pretty much tell
you when it began. When you were 4 years old, and ending a visit to
Grandma Rainy, you started to run to Jo and I both for hugs before your
family left to head home. Your mother stopped you in your tracks. She
told you that you were too old to give hugs and kisses anymore. You
were a big boy and big boys shake hands.
I remember the
hurt and confusion in your eyes at that moment. But you were obedient,
and you did as you were told. I hugged you anyway and hoped that you
would understand what I was trying to tell you.
Fast
Forward to your teen years. By then the distance was noticeable to all
of us at the Roosevelt house. That cute affectionate kid was gone, and
we could only wonder where he had gone to. And why.
The
family aged, we grew further apart with each passing year. By the time
you hit adulthood, I truly had no idea who you were anymore. The Family
Feuds got initiated, and a lot of people got hurt, and some got
disowned. You stayed out of it for the most part. Up until the
infamous message to me to keep my distance from Lucy. I pretty much
knew who was truly behind these feelings on your part. We both know it
was Judy. Money does horrible things to people, especially when
jealousy and envy are added to the mix. You had stayed out of the mess
with Dan & Nita. And that was for the best. And then you insisted
on showing up on my radar. That was foolish on your part.
Add
the whole 'Revenge' song to the debacle, and some pretty hard feelings
got set in stone all around. Making death threats on the Internet?
Doubly foolish. But I think you came to realize that and removed all
traces of the song from said Internet. Perhaps some common sense had
finally kicked in, or perhaps someone finally got through to you the
possible legal ramifications involved and just what you had handed to
me.
I heard about the recent interaction with Danny. I
can't say that I was surprised. 'You're Fat'. Seriously? I'm
beginning to think your emotional maturity was stunted at 13. It would
explain a lot.
Yes, Chad. My family is fat. This isn't
news. But y'know the one thing my kids aren't. They aren't bitter,
like you. And me.
You see, Chad. You're only 16 years
younger than me. That's not a very large gap. And trust me, living
life as a bitter old man is a pretty lousy way to end up. I can only
imagine what demons you're trying to put to rest, probably some of the
same ones I'm dealing with as well.
I don't have any easy
solutions for you. I'm not sure there are any. But opening the lines of
communication would be a good start.
