The One That Got Away...
Monday, May. 26, 2003 7:16 pm
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50 years.

That's such a long time.

Half a century.

So we had a party for them. It was fun. Everyone was there.

And as always, at any family shindig, more than half of them were drunk.

I mean really, really, drunk.

Drunk off their collective asses.

It was quite funny.

James drank to, but he didn't even get slightly toasted. He can drink the whole lot of them under the table.

Its actually kind of remarkable. He says its cause we American's have pissy beer. He says its like drinking water.

So it doesn't effect him.

Weird.

James made a comment about something he noticed on the way home. He said that they have been mentioning my father more and more. Like, every get-together now, we have to here about him.

I told him that they've been doing that my ehole life. He just probably didn't notice it until recently because we've all been getting together more often than usual.

I mean, Christmas, then Becky's baby shower, then three birthdays, then Becky's wedding, Gran's birthday, Jenny's graduation party, and now the anniversary, all in the space of 4 months.

Its always been that way. That's why I had such a complex as a child. I can't get away from him. My family brings him up every occasion, especially if there is James Taylor on, or alcohol around (which is always).

When I was little it would set my teeth on edge, make me want to either cry, scream, or tear my hair out, and sometimes all three at once.

When I was a bit older, I exercised a little restraint and learned to tune out the conversation, the same, worn out stories told over and over.

When I was old enough to understand, I assumed they told me these things for my benefit, but soon I realized it wasn't for such a noble cause.

I think they do it be cause they believe he lives on through them. If they talk about him enough, he just might stop by and visit.

They've talked about him so often that he has been built up to mythic proportions in their minds.

Patrick, the one who died so young, he has been immortalized by them. He will always be young, talented, tragic, funny, charning, a trickster, the one that got away...

It has nothing to do with me or my brother. I can't even think of once when I asked them to talk about him.

But still they do.

Artwork © Jessica Galbreth