Tag
Copyright© 2025 by A Well Traveled Man
Chapter 1
Thomas Andrew Gallo “Tag” was born in Pacific Palisades, California, on August 20th 2004. His parents are John & Dee Gallo, and their work is the most important thing to them. They want nothing to do with him except showcase him on Facebook. He has no other family except his dad’s father, who lives on his ranch in Montana. Tag’s story started when he was 4 years old. That was the first memory of his life.
His first memories of our family are of his mother and father going to work or some social gathering and leaving him with the hired help. We had a maid, cook, and nanny. Tag saw his parents once or twice a week for dinner. Otherwise, the help took care of raising him. He was enrolled in a private school because you couldn’t have a Gallo going to public school.
Tag’s parents and Grandfather never got along. Grandfather never agreed with the way his parents were raising him. Somehow, he got them to agree to let him spend the summers at his ranch. Let me tell you, he loved getting away from his parents and spending time with Gramps. Now, for the rest of the story
He started reading before preschool and can remember most, if not all, of what he reads. Tag looked up it’s called photographic memory, but he has total recall. School is a drag because he must listen to the teacher quote what he has read in the book. So, he drifts off during class and gets called out during class by the teacher. She reported his inattention to the office and his parents.
Well, that created a huge problem. Getting Tag’s parents together for a conference is next to impossible. Father is a bigwig in international banking, and Mother is a marketing guru. Needless to say, shit hit the fan when they were bothered with counseling sessions at school. He was grilled about why they had to interrupt their busy day to meet with the school. Tag, of course, had no idea what the school wanted. Like he said, they were pissed.
The meeting occurred with the vice principal, school counselor, and a few of his teachers. They sat down with Tag and his parents and reported his inattention during class and the likely cause. They wanted Tag tested to see if he belonged in a higher grade and to give him a basic (preschool) IQ test. The teachers also reported that because of his inattention in class, Tag was picked on by his classmates. Of course, his parents agreed and requested that future correspondence be written first and by phone otherwise. They had busy schedules and could not be taking time off for such trivial matters. That went over like a loud, smelly fart in church with the school, but they agreed. It was a quiet ride home.
Dinner that night was unpleasant, and they called all our staff for an after-dinner meeting. Father told the staff about the school issues and requested their input in solving the problems. His nanny, Kim Lee, was Asian and said her uncle could help with the bullying and help with his condition at school. Then Kim requested she field calls from school first to free Tag’s parents from being interrupted during the day. If an issue came up that needed their attention, she would address it when they got home. His parents were happy to farm off these non-important issues to Kim. Problem solved.
The following Monday, Tag reported to the office for testing. They had him in a conference room with a counselor and the testing proctor. The tests ran all day, and they requested that he return the next day to follow up on today’s testing. Tag gave the office a letter from his parents requesting Kim Lee to be the contact person regarding all school issues.
Kim picked Tag up in front of the school, and we drove to her uncle’s dojo. She explained to Tag the customs and procedures we would see at the dojo. If he had any questions, he should wait until the adult’s conversation ended or the Sensi, her uncle, addressed him. It sounded really strange to him, and it was the first time he had been outside the home for anything other than school and controlled social gatherings.
We entered the dojo, and Kim led Tag to the edge of a really large mat/workout area to watch the kids practicing. She explained what they were doing in a low voice, saying we should stand quietly and wait until the practice ends. Tag was amazed at how quickly some kids moved and their smooth, fluid motions. It was something he had never seen before. Tag could hardly wait until he could join.
When their training was over, the kids lined up, bowed to the Sensi, and left the practice area. The Sensi came over to us and bowed. We returned it, and Kim and the Sensei spoke in Japanese for a few minutes. Then, Sensi switched to English and addressed Tag. He said my niece informs me you want to join the dojo and learn the art of aikido. If you wish to learn, we will only accept you if you give 100% effort and follow all our rules without fail. Tag acknowledged the Sensi and assured him he wanted to join. Sensi spoke to Kim again in Japanese for a few minutes, hugged her, and we left. On the way home, Kim explained we would be training every day, starting with exercises in the morning and afternoons at the dojo. Tag was so excited he could hardly sit still in the car on the way home.
Kim woke me up at 6 a.m. to practice tai chi. Now, that was an eye-opener and fun, too. Afterward, he did sit-ups, push-ups, and pull-ups. After breakfast, Tag went to school and reported to the office. They reviewed his tests and called Kim Lee. When Kim arrived, we were directed to the conference room. The vice principal and school counselor sat across from us and reported that Tag tested out above the 4th-grade level on all subjects. They recommended that he stay in school for social interaction. The teachers would personally give him advanced materials above his grade level but stay with his age group. They asked for him to move to first-grade class, and they would adjust this semester, and we would see how he adjusts to the upper class. We will have another conference at the end of the school year.
On the way home, Tag told Kim that they really wanted his parents’ money to develop this program. She agreed and said social interaction was important for his growth (social), and one semester would hurt. They offered us copies of the testing and a list of qualified advanced tutors if we wanted advanced training on a subject they didn’t cover. Kim thanked them, and we walked out the door. A phone call to the dojo, and we headed that way. Sensi outfitted Tag with a Gi, and his training began. Forms were the subject of the first hour, then punching and kicking in the second hour. Tag was tired and could hardly move by the time he got home.
Kim recommended a hot bath followed by stretching. By dinner time (no parents), he was beaten and ready for bed.
Tuesday was a repeat of tai chi and exercises, followed by breakfast and off to school. After school, we went to the dojo (2 hrs.) and returned for language study with Maria, our cook (Spanish), while eating dinner. This was repeated for Wednesday through Friday. The parents showed up for dinner, and Kim told them about the school problems and our recommendations for the semester. They thanked Kim for handling it without their input.
The weekend was restful and relaxing. Kim and Tag did tai chi every morning, and then he had breakfast and went to school. After school, they went to the dojo and went home. Maria would only communicate with Tag in Spanish, so he was learning at an accelerated rate. He still had problems pronouncing words, but she would go over the word slowly, speed up again, and have him repeat it until Tag pronounced it properly.
It was really fun to talk back and forth in Spanish. Of course, we could only do this when the parents were not around and couldn’t have a Gallo speaking with the help in their native language. When the parents were around, we (the help and I) acted prim and proper as they thought we should. He didn’t want the edict police to arrive or have him sent away so he could learn how to act in polite company.
Kim would bring Tag stacks of books from the library for him to read weekly. Math, Science, History, and English. She also included novels from famous authors. Kim thought his teachers tried to give him advanced studies. They had over twenty other students to teach. So, she encouraged Tad to check out upper-grade textbooks from the school library.
Monday arrived, and after tai chi and exercises, breakfast, and Spanish lessons, we headed to school. Then, after school, they went to the dojo. Tag did forms first, then punched and kicked the heavy bag. When his workout ended, Sensi sat Tag down to discuss chi. He said it was like meditation to relax and join the body, mind, and soul. Sensi explained that chi is based on the core of the body and how to focus and relax to find his chi. He said to try to find and hold his chi as long as possible, whenever or whatever he was doing. It would come like second nature eventually, and he would not even know or be aware he was trying during his normal activities during the day.
We sat in a lotus position, and he spoke softly, giving directions on accessing his chi. He’ll tell you it was a feeling out of this world. Tag has never felt this way and wanted to explore and refine this process to the max. It was like flying but never leaving the ground while being aware of all his body and surroundings. Tag lost track of time when Sensi spoke very gently to bring him back to the present. Tag opened his eyes and looked around, confused, having lost track of how much time we had spent. When he asked, Sensi explained it was about 15 minutes. Sensi explained the difference between obtaining chi in the lotus position and trying to obtain chi during daily activities. We would work on this daily after our workout/sparing sessions to perfectly align the mind and body. Needless to say, Tag was jazzed. Again, it was a quiet ride home with Kim. We arrived home, had dinner and Spanish lessons, and went to bed. Tag sat in lotus and practiced centering, then slept.
And so, it went on for the next four years. The only major change was Tag’s birthday last week. Happy 9th Birthday to me! We had a cake and ice cream with everyone who was important to him. Kim, Maria, Tina, Yolanda (our maid), and I celebrated. His parents had more important business to attend to. One really strange thing happened. Well, actually, there were two things.
9th Birthday August 15, 2013
First, his Grandfather called to wish him a happy birthday. He spoke to Kim first and then to Tag. To say he was surprised would be an understatement. His parents told Tag we had no living relatives, so we talked for over 45 minutes. Grandfather said to expect a package from him any day now. Tag was to keep our conversations private until Grandfather could figure out how to get his father on board. They fought and have not spoken in over 5 years. Tag was really excited and looking forward to his package.
Second was the discovery while in the lotus position doing chi at home. While centering, it felt odd that there was no pressure on my rear or legs. It felt like he was floating, and there was no way for him to check it out. He’d have to ask Kim to observe him while he was centering. Also, Tag found it easier to find and hold center/chi during the day. He needs to talk to Sensi about this, too.
Another development was that his school had reached the limit of teaching me. They said he had progressed past high school, and we would need to seek tutors for him now. Kim had kept the list, and we interviewed the tutors and chose Tina, who was working on her doctorate at the local college. She read the reports from the school and was impressed with the progress he had made. She was planning on taking him to the university soon.
Spanish lessons with Maria are over, and we speak fluent Spanish during breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Tag asked Kim to teach him Japanese next. Languages seem easy for him, and it would be a real honor to address and speak the native language of Kim and Sensi.
Back to the grindstone with tai chi and exercises this morning. Tag asked Kim to observe him in the lotus position this morning. It’s getting him worked up to find out why he feels no pressure sitting lotus and practicing chi. Tag still doesn’t have his answer, and Kim is dancing around speaking Japanese so fast that he thinks she is having a breakdown. Maria and Junita are trying to settle her down, but she will not have it. She informed everyone over breakfast that we were going to the dojo early. We can’t get her to say what got her so worked up, but she said he will know after seeing the Sensi.
We arrive, and Kim runs into the dojo so fast Tag can hardly keep up. Kim addresses the Sensi in Japanese, and they have a 15-minute conversation. Tag gave up waiting and went to change into his Gi. When Tag returned, Kim and Sensi looked at him like he was a steak dinner and they hadn’t eaten in weeks. Now he was really nervous and asked what was going on. Sensi asked him calmly and quietly how his chi practice was going. Tag responded about not feeling any pressure on his butt or legs in the lotus position. He’s also been able to hold his chi longer during the day, usually about 15 to 20 minutes, without losing it.
Sensi asked Tag to follow him to a room in the back of the dojo that he had never seen before. He asks Tag to assume the lotus position and center himself/chi. After about 15 minutes, the Sensi taps his shoulder and asks him to follow him for our training. We are learning a new set of forms and practicing higher speed. We finish with work on the heavy bag and return to the room in the back. Tag sees a video camera and a 40-inch TV, which are all set up for viewing. He looks questionably at Sensi and motions him to sit on the floor facing the TV. Kim and the Sensi sit beside Tag and hit the camera’s play button.
Tag looks at the screen and can’t believe what he is seeing. He levitated six inches or more above the ground while practicing chi in the lotus position. Tag looked at the screen, then at Kim and Sensi, and then back to the screen, trying to figure out what was happening and why. Then Sensi asked Tag what he felt when he centered himself and the thoughts going through his mind while in chi.
Tag thought for a few minutes then thought some more, looked at the Sensi, and responded. Tag said his mind was focusing on centering to achieve chi. While that took place, he felt like his body was floating, almost like a boat floating on the water. He was tranquil and could practically feel the energy flowing through his body. It was hard to describe, and looking back at the TV, it was scaring the crap out of him. Sensi sensed this and, in a calm voice, assured Tag we would explore this together and answer whatever questions came about.