Intro: Anger Issues
“Our family has a lot of baggage
and a lot of anger issues,” said Dave. I
looked out from the bow of the boat, watching the wonderful Bermuda island sink
into the background, getting swallowed up by the light green ocean. I didn’t know how to respond to Dave’s
statement, so I just listened, as he continued, “The problem is, nobody knows
how to talk about it.” I felt my cheeks
flush. I couldn’t tell if the moisture
on my palms was from nervousness, or just the sea mist that was being kicked up
from the cruise liner’s propellers, as it took us back home. I knew I was in for a long story.
Uncle Dave had a history of telling
long, boring stories. I tended to tune
him out, or avoid him, so I didn’t get caught.
I managed to do just that during this vacation to Bermuda, a present
that my grandmother gave to my sister and I for graduating college. There was a catch to this present: Gram
wanted to go with us, and bring my oldest uncle Dave, or half-uncle, to be
precise. It was a fun cruise and stay on
the island for a week, with Sarah and I skipping out on the two “old folks” to
have fun. But now the trip was coming to
a close, and the cruise ship was taking us back to New York, arriving in about
12 hours. Most of the people on the boat
were tired and resting below decks, and I thought I’d get some time alone,
watching the island recede in the background. However, I heard boring old Dave decided waddle
up beside me, and I couldn’t think of a good excuse to leave. What I didn’t know was that this was not just
another boring story of Uncle Dave’s, but a really personal one that would
change how I looked at him and my family.
