Q & A

[poliphilo]

We are talking about my mother's memorial service- and questions arise that I think I need to answer.

Q1. Why do I so want to concentrate on her early years?

A1. Because that's before I entered her life and she started pissing me off- and I can think of her as I think of any other stranger.

Q2. Do I have any positive, happy memories of her?

A2. Not really. If I scrape around, maybe one or two....

Q3. Why if we choose our lives (as I believe we do) did I choose parents whose values and way of life were so profoundly at variance with my own?

A3. For the same reason a runner uses a starting block- as something to push against.

Q4. What did I get from her?

Q4. Stubbornness, self-reliance, emotional detachment.

Comments

[cmcmck]

I didn't attend my own father's memorial service after what happened at his funeral so I can see how hard this might be.

[poliphilo]

Thanks.

As I said to my sister this morning I can't honestly stand up at the service and deliver a eulogy.

Nor can I pretend to be in mourning- because I'm not.