A credible eyewitness has come forward with shocking news: Mr. Tommy’s memory isn’t always what he thinks it is.
Regular “Friday Letters” readers may recall that the Feb. 11, 2011, version consisted, in part, of an anecdote about Tommy’s 1979 Jeep CJ-5.
An adventure was reported in which the lives of Tommy and a passenger were endangered by a mechanical malfunction. The gear shift lever came out in his hand when the vehicle was in a precarious position at the edge of a big river.
Here’s the incredulous reaction from the credible eyewitness. It was reported previously that the passenger endangered was “another man’s girlfriend.”
The eyewitness was my daughter, Jayedominique Hodge Blair, who now lives in Indiana.
After reading the Jeep story, she telephoned and said: “Dad. That wasn’t somebody else’s girlfriend. That was ME. I remember it clearly. It scared the hell out of me.”
Let’s see. Jaye would have been 16 at that time. She has always had the most beautiful brown almond-shaped eyes, since the day she was born.
Her hair was and is a lustrous brunette color. She is very feminine and mannerly and extremely intelligent. She has always had the most wonderful smile and a beautiful mirthful laugh.
At the time of the Jeep incident, I was recently divorced from her mother. I was busily “trying to date” a woman named Deon Rossi. Deon already had a boyfriend. A jealous boyfriend.
A gorgeous brunette, Deon had the most beautiful brown almond-shaped eyes. She had a mirthful sense of humor, a wonderful smile and a beautiful laugh. Are you beginning to see the synapse-link wreckage?
Once upon a time, I believed memory, particularly my memory, was infallible. But I have to admit now that time, and wishful thinking, and a guilty conscience, played tricks on my memory.
Certainly, there were other instances in which I could have been caught, uh, in a compromised position with another man’s gal. (See also the Feb. 18 report, “Desperation and Falsehood.”)
Over my entire writing career I have made it a personal policy to own up to it when I make a factual error. Thanks to Jaye, this one has now been set aright.
Siblings around the world
Son Benjamin lives with his family in Seattle. He reported by text a few days ago that he had accomplished almost nothing he had intended to do while off work for the weekend.
Ben and Shana are parents of a brand-new Christmas baby, their first child. He texted, “Hey Gramps. Spent the weekend holding Sal. Time flew by. There were other things I could have done, but I was busy squishing the boy.”
My son is a good father, a real good father. I already know this. If you have a beautiful Christmas baby like Ben and Shana have, you should spend the weekend squishing the boy.
Touch is intuitive and essential. Good parenting depends a lot on loving touch – demonstrating to the child acceptance, affection, inclusion. Good nurturing technique.
Good for you Ben and Shana. Squish the baby.
-0-
Shortly after she was graduated from high school, our youngest daughter Monica left for Florida. She has made her life there since.
Like the other three, there are many admirable traits in her. She started from scratch down in F-L-A, and has succeeded in various endeavors on her own. Well, on her own with the help of an amazing network of friends and supporters. Currently, she lives seaside in the Keys and spends her days working in the yacht business.
She is attentive to her parents, thoughtful, generous, concerned, loving and kind. Much the same as her brother and sisters. She is attractive with a bright smile, self-assured bearing and confidence that bring her strength when “life happens.”
Monica said something on the phone a few days ago that has really stuck with me. I was wondering aloud about our nation, our people, our future, probing a little for my daughter’s “take.”
I asked, “Why do people give so little attention to their spiritual lives? They don’t seem to realize there are consequences . . .”
Monica interrupted. “Dad. People don’t even know about that stuff like you and Laura do. Most of them are simply caught up in the fury.” Fairly bright, I thought. Perceptive.
Caught up in the fury.
-0-
Then there’s Tammy, younger sister to Jaye, older sister to Monica.
Twenty years ago, Tammy moved to Australia and then more recently to New Zealand, Auckland to be exact.
She and Phil have two beautiful sons who are growing tall and strong in beautiful New Zealand. Tammy is like her siblings, relying on her inventive survival techniques, a self-starter, analytical thinker, downright hard worker. She’s quite bright and beautiful. There’s that smile again . . .
In a recent telephone conversation, Tammy revealed that she had resigned her high-profile job in a company that specializes in real estate auctions. It was engaging work, she said, but pressurized, and she became fatigued.
As a good dad, I thought I’d better ask, “How are you going to make a living now?”
She answered, “Oh, we’ll do something creative. I don’t really know yet.”
I like that. To leave one job without having another one to go to? It shows a young woman who is courageous, resourceful, confident, self-reliant, strong.
It’s enjoyable being a dad to these four strange moppets. Indiana, Florida, Washington, New Zealand. But once in a while I have to say to their mother, “What have we done?”
-0-
Word of the week: Sibling. Originally in Middle English, “sib” and “ling” meant “a relative.” We use it today to mean one of two or more persons born at different times of the same parents; brother or sister.
Regular “Friday Letters” readers may recall that the Feb. 11, 2011, version consisted, in part, of an anecdote about Tommy’s 1979 Jeep CJ-5.
An adventure was reported in which the lives of Tommy and a passenger were endangered by a mechanical malfunction. The gear shift lever came out in his hand when the vehicle was in a precarious position at the edge of a big river.
Here’s the incredulous reaction from the credible eyewitness. It was reported previously that the passenger endangered was “another man’s girlfriend.”
The eyewitness was my daughter, Jayedominique Hodge Blair, who now lives in Indiana.
After reading the Jeep story, she telephoned and said: “Dad. That wasn’t somebody else’s girlfriend. That was ME. I remember it clearly. It scared the hell out of me.”
Let’s see. Jaye would have been 16 at that time. She has always had the most beautiful brown almond-shaped eyes, since the day she was born.
Her hair was and is a lustrous brunette color. She is very feminine and mannerly and extremely intelligent. She has always had the most wonderful smile and a beautiful mirthful laugh.
At the time of the Jeep incident, I was recently divorced from her mother. I was busily “trying to date” a woman named Deon Rossi. Deon already had a boyfriend. A jealous boyfriend.
A gorgeous brunette, Deon had the most beautiful brown almond-shaped eyes. She had a mirthful sense of humor, a wonderful smile and a beautiful laugh. Are you beginning to see the synapse-link wreckage?
Once upon a time, I believed memory, particularly my memory, was infallible. But I have to admit now that time, and wishful thinking, and a guilty conscience, played tricks on my memory.
Certainly, there were other instances in which I could have been caught, uh, in a compromised position with another man’s gal. (See also the Feb. 18 report, “Desperation and Falsehood.”)
Over my entire writing career I have made it a personal policy to own up to it when I make a factual error. Thanks to Jaye, this one has now been set aright.
Siblings around the world
Son Benjamin lives with his family in Seattle. He reported by text a few days ago that he had accomplished almost nothing he had intended to do while off work for the weekend.
Ben and Shana are parents of a brand-new Christmas baby, their first child. He texted, “Hey Gramps. Spent the weekend holding Sal. Time flew by. There were other things I could have done, but I was busy squishing the boy.”
 |
| Squishin' the Baby |
Touch is intuitive and essential. Good parenting depends a lot on loving touch – demonstrating to the child acceptance, affection, inclusion. Good nurturing technique.
Good for you Ben and Shana. Squish the baby.
-0-
Shortly after she was graduated from high school, our youngest daughter Monica left for Florida. She has made her life there since.
Like the other three, there are many admirable traits in her. She started from scratch down in F-L-A, and has succeeded in various endeavors on her own. Well, on her own with the help of an amazing network of friends and supporters. Currently, she lives seaside in the Keys and spends her days working in the yacht business.
She is attentive to her parents, thoughtful, generous, concerned, loving and kind. Much the same as her brother and sisters. She is attractive with a bright smile, self-assured bearing and confidence that bring her strength when “life happens.”
Monica said something on the phone a few days ago that has really stuck with me. I was wondering aloud about our nation, our people, our future, probing a little for my daughter’s “take.”
I asked, “Why do people give so little attention to their spiritual lives? They don’t seem to realize there are consequences . . .”
Monica interrupted. “Dad. People don’t even know about that stuff like you and Laura do. Most of them are simply caught up in the fury.” Fairly bright, I thought. Perceptive.
Caught up in the fury.
-0-
Then there’s Tammy, younger sister to Jaye, older sister to Monica.
Twenty years ago, Tammy moved to Australia and then more recently to New Zealand, Auckland to be exact.
She and Phil have two beautiful sons who are growing tall and strong in beautiful New Zealand. Tammy is like her siblings, relying on her inventive survival techniques, a self-starter, analytical thinker, downright hard worker. She’s quite bright and beautiful. There’s that smile again . . .
In a recent telephone conversation, Tammy revealed that she had resigned her high-profile job in a company that specializes in real estate auctions. It was engaging work, she said, but pressurized, and she became fatigued.
As a good dad, I thought I’d better ask, “How are you going to make a living now?”
She answered, “Oh, we’ll do something creative. I don’t really know yet.”
I like that. To leave one job without having another one to go to? It shows a young woman who is courageous, resourceful, confident, self-reliant, strong.
It’s enjoyable being a dad to these four strange moppets. Indiana, Florida, Washington, New Zealand. But once in a while I have to say to their mother, “What have we done?”
-0-
Word of the week: Sibling. Originally in Middle English, “sib” and “ling” meant “a relative.” We use it today to mean one of two or more persons born at different times of the same parents; brother or sister.
I have to admit, your recollection/telling of a misapprehending memory has tears streaming down my eyes. You’ve a beautiful way to describe your children.
ReplyDeletePerhaps, my emotion has more to do with our three little ones have just headed out the door. Another eleven days must pass before they are allowed to return. Only for an all too short reunion. 11 days must pass. Nothing brings a humbleness, sensitivity and gratitude to a life hardened heart like children.
Separation/divorce…I once thought society, judicial, etc. held a laissez fair attitude. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. With a national divorce rate averaging 50% there is dominance in opinion. And an entire regime covert and overt minions of madness.
Mar’s is not the only place that is in need of Mom’s.