My nephew Austin was a best friend. He died at 28-years-old and I'll always remember sitting with him on that last late afternoon that rolled into early evening as the movie, just another movie, played out on the big screen... Then dinner, a drive home, and in six hours he would be gone... So that night will be remembered forever, and yet, all those times we hung out, especially when he was from ages 7 to 14, make it hard to recall just one in particular... So many movies and TV shows, and time spent together driving without a purpose... I was his uncle, his only uncle so, during those years I was there to protect him, my only nephew at that time, Austin Tavolara... And the last night we hung out... the last night of his life... he was only with me early on and later he was on his own... I just wish he were still around... More than that, even, I wish it could be the early/mid 1990's again... Youth is free and I was just past being officially young but still young enough to have freedom, but still I felt very caged... And yet, with my little nephew there by my side, I had purpose, and we both had all the time in the world, so, what else is there to say but I miss you buddy... Endlessly...
