August 21, 2020 - 343 - "Family Secrets"

Disappearing Acts

     When Michael's mother was born, her father left.

     Michael doesn't know a lot of details about what happened.  He knew his grandmother had mental health issues.  Maybe that was part of it.  I think my mother-in-law thought it had something to do with her being born a girl.

     She grew up with her mom and her grandparents on the family tobacco farm.  She didn't talk much about her missing father.   

     Michael has one picture of the man.  His name was William Howard Loveless.  His mother referred to him as Howard.

     Just after Michael was born his grandfather came by for a quick visit.  The picture is of Michael in the arms of his grandfather.  Howard was fairly tall.  Michael assumed that where he got his height.  (Michael looks like a giant in family pictures.)

     Michael didn't really know of any visits before or after that day.

     Once Michael asked his mom if she knew how her father died.  She said she'd heard he died of the hiccups.

     So these are the tiny handful of things Michael knew about his grandfather.

Flash Forward

      Last night Michael got a message from his sister Torri.  Torri got a letter in the mail from a man who said he was a nephew of Howard's.  He was trying to find out information about what happened to the man. 

     This man's mom was Howard's sister, and she never told her kids she even had a brother named Howard.

     Apparently, Howard didn't just leave his young wife and daughter, but dropped out of his own family's life as well. 

     No one knows why.

Daily Hits of Happy

     - I got caught up on my journal that I'd fallen behind on.

     - Had a good tutoring session today.

     -It's the weekend so we'll have the house to ourselves for two whole days!

     -The blacksmith came to show us the materials he'll use to build the handrail for the new stairs.  Who knew such a person still existed...or how many projects we want him to work on.  (Shelves for the closet that holds the outdoor furniture cushions, a bench to hold Ella's litter box so she can go outside...without eating plants that make her sick, a holder for a security camera, the supports for a desk and a bench, and on and on and on...).  Anything you can draw, they can make.  It's fantastic.

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"The two impulses cannot be separated.  The desire to have a life and the desire to disappear from it.  The world is unlivable and yet we live in it every day."

-Laura van den Berg

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