People watching (I should say Uncle watching, lol)
My uncle is in town visiting this weekend and it's been a VERY interesting visit. He's 2 years younger than I am and I hadn't seen him in close to 15 years. Lots has happened to him during that time, and with this visit I'm just getting a glimpse...
I spend most of my time comparing the boy I grew up with to the man he's become. There are rare instances the boy comes through... times where he jokes and laughs that I see my father in him (my dad is his big brother)... and times where I totally see my grandmother (the one who left me the money) in how he views the world, how he finds out things.
He doesn't talk much about those 15 years. Doesn't talk much at all, actually. He's been doing mechanic's work for a bicycle team all over the world now he's retired (yep, he retired at 40), and when he stopped over at the bike shop just to check it out, the first thing my friends said was "man, he's quiet". Which cracked me up an hour later because he said he stopped over at a motorcycle store in Sturgis and the salesperson was quiet and he said the person was a bit creepy because of it, lol.
We're a bit different, he and I... I like to just go with the flow, laugh and play, don't care much about the details as that's someone else's worries... he likes to dig deep, get all the information he can, which has me saying "I don't know" ALOT, lol. It made me feel a little insecure at first, but then I realized that's just our differences, and now that I'm relaxed we're having fun.
It comes too from something he told me over dinner the other night... he said that he was part of the criminal investigation task forces for 911. Police, Military, I don't know exactly. He even mentioned having worked with the FBI, so obviously that's were that digging deep comes from. Again, that glimpse. From time to time, he mentions visiting friends who are or were Federal Marshalls. I get this feeling that there's a very interesting book hidden inside his past. MAYBE someday he'll write it down... It would be sad if he didn't.
A side effect though, is that there appears to be some kind of trauma. He doesn't like people. So I took him hiking yesterday. As we were getting ready, I described one of the trails and he said "isn't that just a walk?" So Ok, I thought... you want HIKING, I'll find you HIKING, lol. So we did our walk to Roughlock Falls - the one I'd described to him - yep, he agreed that was a hike and enjoyed it. So then I took him on the 76 Trail which is only 3/4 of a mile but climbs 1000 feet. Oh yeah, he really liked that one. As we stood on the cliffs, he mentioned that he loved that there were no people there even though there were, we just couldn't see them. And then we hiked to the other waterfall. Again an easy one, but he took lots of pictures. :)
Today, we are going hiking to a huge peak with some of my friends. I just found out there are 6 others coming, plus 4 dogs. So he's gonna feel a little like being surrounded by people. But once he gets to that peak, I KNOW he's gonna love it AND completely fall in love with hiking (this weekend has been the first time he's been doing it).
Next time he comes (which he's already planning), I hope to be in great shape and will take him biking my favorite singletrack. And the bike shop guys are gonna arrange for their friends to get together for some local rock climbing. Who know... I may just get that book out of him yet.
Well, gotta run, he's up and about... LATER!
I spend most of my time comparing the boy I grew up with to the man he's become. There are rare instances the boy comes through... times where he jokes and laughs that I see my father in him (my dad is his big brother)... and times where I totally see my grandmother (the one who left me the money) in how he views the world, how he finds out things.
He doesn't talk much about those 15 years. Doesn't talk much at all, actually. He's been doing mechanic's work for a bicycle team all over the world now he's retired (yep, he retired at 40), and when he stopped over at the bike shop just to check it out, the first thing my friends said was "man, he's quiet". Which cracked me up an hour later because he said he stopped over at a motorcycle store in Sturgis and the salesperson was quiet and he said the person was a bit creepy because of it, lol.
We're a bit different, he and I... I like to just go with the flow, laugh and play, don't care much about the details as that's someone else's worries... he likes to dig deep, get all the information he can, which has me saying "I don't know" ALOT, lol. It made me feel a little insecure at first, but then I realized that's just our differences, and now that I'm relaxed we're having fun.
It comes too from something he told me over dinner the other night... he said that he was part of the criminal investigation task forces for 911. Police, Military, I don't know exactly. He even mentioned having worked with the FBI, so obviously that's were that digging deep comes from. Again, that glimpse. From time to time, he mentions visiting friends who are or were Federal Marshalls. I get this feeling that there's a very interesting book hidden inside his past. MAYBE someday he'll write it down... It would be sad if he didn't.
A side effect though, is that there appears to be some kind of trauma. He doesn't like people. So I took him hiking yesterday. As we were getting ready, I described one of the trails and he said "isn't that just a walk?" So Ok, I thought... you want HIKING, I'll find you HIKING, lol. So we did our walk to Roughlock Falls - the one I'd described to him - yep, he agreed that was a hike and enjoyed it. So then I took him on the 76 Trail which is only 3/4 of a mile but climbs 1000 feet. Oh yeah, he really liked that one. As we stood on the cliffs, he mentioned that he loved that there were no people there even though there were, we just couldn't see them. And then we hiked to the other waterfall. Again an easy one, but he took lots of pictures. :)
Today, we are going hiking to a huge peak with some of my friends. I just found out there are 6 others coming, plus 4 dogs. So he's gonna feel a little like being surrounded by people. But once he gets to that peak, I KNOW he's gonna love it AND completely fall in love with hiking (this weekend has been the first time he's been doing it).
Next time he comes (which he's already planning), I hope to be in great shape and will take him biking my favorite singletrack. And the bike shop guys are gonna arrange for their friends to get together for some local rock climbing. Who know... I may just get that book out of him yet.
Well, gotta run, he's up and about... LATER!
Replies
Sounds like a wonderful hiking time you are having!! Enjoy the intrigue and the company. He sounds interesting to have as a relative.
Your uncle sounds like an interesting and complex guy...and you clearly care about him. Glad you are comfortable around him - 15 years is a LONG time! Sharing family stories etc. is always fun. Enjoy your visit!