On her parents’ 25th Wedding Anniversary, she didn’t even get a copy of their portrait… let alone an invitation to the party. They had reserved the Country Club, invited all their friends, had portraits done. They had their boat – a cabin cruiser, their businesses, their swinging and partying. They ignored her existence as if to exclude her from the family. What was the problem? Oh yeah, she was an unmarried Hippie mama with two babies.
Some families embraced their children in spite of their rebellion in the 60’s, others did not, and some cut their children off completely. She was somewhere in the middle. She talked to her folks weekly, sent them pictures of the babies, managed to get a small stipend of $100 per month to help her with childcare so she could go to college. But they hated the guy she was with and so she was cut off.
She loved her family, but sometimes it was better for her if she just stayed away. That way she didn’t have to see their disapproval or hear their criticisms. What bothered her the most was the hypocrisy. How can you tout acceptance of inter-racial marriage, but get angry to the point of a belt when your daughter dates a black guy? How can you be hosting swingers’ parties in your home and then be astonished when your teenagers take on hundreds of lovers? How can you insist on no drinking or drug use when you have been drunk everyday since she can remember, smoke cigarettes like a fucking chimney, and have also used marijuana and cocaine?
When she did come home with her two beautiful blond haired blue eyed cherubs in tow, they were treated like royalty. The presents under the tree measured at least five feet in height and were stacked as high as they could be without falling over. The kids were excited to be at G’ & G’s house.
On Christmas morning, the boy dressed up in his blue suit which he wore over his pajamas. The girl wore her pink nightgown like a princess. They opened presents for three hours solid and then cried when it was over. Grandpa sat with the kids and played happily. “You can always count on me,” he said as an aside to his daughter. But she knew the truth. She knew she could never count on him. And she loved him anyway. Prodigal visits only.
(First published 6/22/11)
