Seems that I usually write in this blog when sad things happen, and it may be because I want to record the dates and events as I recall them fresh in my mind. When my dad died at the age of 48 I was only 14 years old, and it made a tremendously negative impact in my life. I was very close to my dad and his early passing still stings. To top that, when I was 17 my mom moved us from the city where we had our social support-friends, and most of family, to another Province where my dad's relatives lived.
And there was Tio Alberto, my dad's brother, a couple years older than my dad. In my grieving I sought his company and guidance as he was a warm, good hearted man. He would tell me stories about him and dad as kids, from his perspective, and I loved listening to them. Shortly after that, after I graduated from high school I started to work in his business. I did a bit of everything, from typing business letters to bagging ponchos. He had a poncho/ski sweaters factory. I understood the nature of his business, and I appreciated his influence in my life. He was the closest thing I had as a dad, and I desperately needed one. As the years went by I moved back to Buenos Aires, my city of origin, and eventually to California.
Fast forward close to 30 years, to 2005 when I went back to Argentina and visited friends and family, and of course Tio Alberto. He was in his 80s, and it is very different to see people as they age on a daily basis than to be thrown 30 years in the future and have this 50 year old person in your memory, and in what it seems like a day, have them age 30 years. What a trip! That, by the way, was my whole experience with everyone I saw. Not to mention kids, who in my mind were 10, 12 years old, to find men and women in their 40s. The "Twilight Zone" has nothing intriguing compared to my visit.
We had a great time with Tio Alberto and his 4 "children." The oldest, Alberto Jr., is now a lawyer, married with 2 teenage kids, the age that I last saw him. Virginia, always running the other way when we had to work together to help Tio Alberto and I had to literally grabbed her and pull her to her duties. She is now married with 3 kids. Julito, born mentally challenged, the sunshine of our childhood. Always happy exploring the town on his bike; he befriended everybody, and I am nor exaggerating, everyone knew who Julio was. He loved all people due to the lack of ability to see the bad on others, always trusting, like a 6 year old would be, except he got stuck to be 6 years old for life. And then Guillermo. He had a special bond and love for his dad, Tio Alberto, and still does as it was evident in my last visit. A doctor now, he prided himself in providing the best medical care possible for his dad.
Tio Alberto died today, September 19, 2008 of old age. He lived a bittersweet life and was a man of integrity, love for his family, and a good man. He died as a Jew. Only the Lord knows what went on between them, but I surely would like to find him and my dad in Heaven when I join them. Tio Alberto was 87 years old.
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