Bob Crampy's Interview With Chad Gentile
Bob Crampy: Thanks for taking the time to speak with me. I have a few questions i'd like to ask you.
Chad Gentile: Not a problem. I usually bookend myself plenty of spare time, but nothing to really do with it. So ask away.
BC: Well, why don't we start off with you telling me a little about yourself.
CG: Well, I moved down to Florida in March of '05 after my mother died and my father married a woman who lives down here. My living situation fell through in NY, so I moved into an apartment down here near my father. I find it's too hot for my tastes, but I don't miss the subzero weather.
BC: Do you have any other family or friends down here besides your father?
CG: Pretty much all my friends and family are still up in NY. I haven't seen any of them in a long time, and I miss them, even if I never did see them that much to begin with.
BC: Why is that?
CG: I dunno really. (takes sip of water) I guess my default setting is "By Myself". I usually have to make an effort to get out and see people.
BC: Are they bad people? Do you dislike them?
CG: No not at all. I guess I have a tendency to retreat to my cave as necessary. It's nothing personal.
BC: You mean an actual cave?
CG: No. I don't mean an actual cave.
BC: Oh. What do you do in "your cave"?
CG: I dunno....think mostly, I guess. I think about a lot of stuff. I try to occupy myself with the distraction of the day, but the CPU is usually chugging away in the background.
BC: What do you think about?
CG: Honestly, I couldn't even tell you. (pause) It just seems I have a lot of questions that need answering.
BC: Interesting. (flips pages) Now it says here....you sometimes make people uncomfortable by looking at them sometimes. Care to comment?
CG: Well I guess so...I dunno I like to look people in the eyes. I like to observe. People intrigue me. You can always read a person by looking them in the eyes. If I do it a little longer than most people, then it's usually because I'm trying to truly get at what they really mean, not what they are saying. It's really nothing malevolent.
BC: I see, I see. (makes note in notepad) So tell me one thing you don't like about yourself.
CG: Well...there's a lot of little things I'm sure most people don't like about themselves, such as "I'm too tall/I'm too short", shit like that. The one thing I guess I'm trying to improve the most, and something I feel I can improve upon, is the fact that I'm sick of being a critic on the sidelines. I'd like to envision myself going out there (gestures towards the door) and taking a risk. A big risk. Not like a different route to work, or seeing how far I can drive with my low fuel light on, but something that opens up a new and unfamiliar path for me. (smiles) But Lord knows i'll end up in my cave mapping out every pothole and hill along the way ad nausem, and I'll eventually become uninterested in it.
BC: So you've put a lot of thought into this I see.
CG: Yep.
BC: So what would you say is your main goal in life?
CG: Well...(tugs at goatee) that's a tough one. I mean, I do get caught up in the material game of life sometimes, but deep down I know that material things are only temporary. So 'big house and nice car' is out. (pause) I guess I just want to make genuine relationships with people, and to be happy.
BC: You're not happy now?
CG: Well...I'm definitely happier than I used to be. But it still rains alot over here.
BC: Yes it says here you had a pretty bad bout with depression and anxiety when you were younger.
CG: Yeah, it was pretty rough. I didn't know if I was gonna make it.
BC: And how did that work out for you?
CG: Well, I'm still here obviously. I've just started to see the light at the end of the tunnel recently, though. I guess in the long run I'm thankful for it. It made me a much wiser and stronger person today. (pause) But I wouldn't wish it upon my worst enemy.
BC: You have a lot of enemies?
CG: Well no. I mean if I did.
BC: Oh. (pause) So what would you say are your pet peeves?
CG: Lemme see...(pause) People who talk a lot during movies. When someone asks me "Why are you so quiet?" Onions, fucking loathe them and will never eat one again if I can help it. Stains on my clothes. Ignorance. Unreliability. People who drink too much, and say they can't control it.
BC: I see. So you said earlier that you...lemme see...(flips through notepad) that you "try to occupy myself with the distraction of the day". I take it from that you meant interests.
CG: Yeah I guess. Trying to be clever, ya know.
BC: What would you say your interests are?
CG: I enjoy watching movies a lot. I have a pretty good DVD collection. I read somewhat when I'm in the mood. I listen to music all the time. I enjoy deep conversations and hanging out with good people. Not often, but I do like to do some writing, such as this piece here.
BC: What do you mean?
CG: This interview.
BC: You mean I'm not a real person?
CG: Nope, sorry to disappoint. You're just a creation of my imagination.
BC: Oh. (pause) God that's kinda fucked up.
CG: Sorry man.
BC: It's ok, I guess. Just kind of a mind fuck. (pause) I was gonna say we do look a lot alike.
CG: Yeah. Exactly alike.
BC: Well then, before I go away, lemme ask you about your love life.
CG: Ok, but there's not much to hear.
BC: Why's that?
CG: Well I've had only one semi-relationship in my life, and that lasted roughly a month and a half.
BC: Jesus. (pause) Don't you even try?
CG: Well yes and no. Mostly no though.
BC: Meaning?
CG: Well I dunno. It's not that I don't want to date anyone, I'm just not very good at going about it all. (pause) I just can't really envision anyone wanting to date me, so I convince myself to not put forth the effort. It's just a big jumble-fuck.
BC: That's kinda sad.
CG: Yeah, sing me a lullabye.
BC: Um, ok. (pause) 'When you wish upon a star...'
CG: No. I wasn't being serious. Look I'm sick of this. You got all you need?
BC: Yeah I think I can make due.
CG: Alright. See ya. (gets up)
