|
Warning: This tale also includes non-graphic reference to evil done to children and young women. If you don't want to read such references please do not read this tale.
Got your attention? :D I realize this thread won't get too many replies but I have to shout this news from the rooftops!
My mother died in 1974, when I was 11, my sister Annette 13, and sister Bonnie 14. Our mom had two sisters, Bev and Penny, who, by 1980, had left off trying to stay in touch w/ us "girls" -- us sisters, their nieces. They've been in touch sporadically over the last 20-odd years.
Bev's husband, Jim, molested me when I was twelve. (This is not the point of the tale; I've healed and have forgiven him.) I learned a few years ago that he tried to have his way with Penny, too, when she was a young woman. Word is that he's been after and/or has had his way with any female he's ever come in contact with, regardless of her age. That's disconcerting given that he has a daughter and three granddaughters.
Aunt Bev called my sisters (who share a home) in late November, saying she & Jim would be in So. Cal. over the holidays & wanted to see us all (not knowing I'd moved to MD). Bonnie & Annette discussed it, then Annette wrote in email to Bev, "we'd like to see you, but not Jim. If we can work that out, fine." When Jim replied to this email and asked "why," Annette didn't pull any punches. She told him "you got after our sister, you got after your wife's sister, god knows who else you've been after. We love our aunt but you have no place in our lives. Fuck off and die." Those weren't her exact words but that was the crux of it.
They never heard back from Bev or Jim, and did not see them over the holidays. When Annette gave me Bev's email address, I wrote -- making no mention of the above -- and said simply "would love to hear from you." Have done so twice so far. No answer.
Now the good part. Aunt Penny also called my sisters, just a few days ago, and left a (typically drunken, unfortunately) message: "I miss you guys, we need to stay in touch, call me," and left her email address. Annette emailed Penny -- and we three sisters got in return some of the most fantastic words we have ever read. Excerpt from Penny's email:
<Bev said she> did get an e-mail from Annette. And added that Kim is happy living in Maryland with her partner. I asked her to tell me more. She was hesitant and said she <. . .> would discuss it when she saw us on December 13th. Of course, I insisted she fill me in..... So Bev proceded to read to me the e-mail from you (Annette). Then at the end of it, Bev says to me: "I'm going to ask you something, and I want the truth. But if you tell me "YES," I never want to talk to or see you again.
Then she asked me if the contents of the e-mail were true. I answered, "Yes, Absolutely!" and "Where the HELL have you been the last 33 years?"
Well, you may not know me well enough, or maybe you can imagine the type of person I am. But I basically TORE INTO HER!!!!
Asked her why she found this news so surprising. That the biggest argument ever between us was because Jim had physically moved on me. She answered "Penny, that never happened." And "It was your imagination."
To make a long story short, you can only imagine how happy and busting with joy I was to add several other disgusting incidents, (you should have been there.... it was a Dear Diary Moment). Including the fact that while I was only dating Chris <Penny's husband> I asked him not to ever leave me alone with Jim in the same room.
I proceded to tell her about all the nieces, cousins, in-laws, friends, etc. that had experienced his sick ways. Of course, she refused, again after 33 years, to believe it. So, she asked me why I allow him in my home if all or any of this really happened..... To which I replied: (are ya' ready for this???) Hee. Hee. :-)
"BECAUSE, BEV, IF HE WERE TO APPROACH ME NOW, ALL I'D HAVE TO DO IS RUN UP THE STAIRS. IF HE FOLLOWED ME, HE'S SO DAMN HUGE, HE PROBABLY HAVE A HEART ATTACK & DIE!!!!!!!!!!"
Needless to say, I don't think that comment went over very well. She replied with a "okay then, I guess that's it" & hung up on me.
Haven't heard from her since.
. . . . I loved her & wanted to be a sister, cuz I lived without one for so very long. Knowing it was a losing battle, & I didn't have the energy or smarts to pursue it, I chose to put Jim in his place without involving Bev. Chose to take control so he would never have an opportunity again to put his filthy hands on me. . . .
If Bev chooses to disown her family because of this, it's her choice & we should never give it another thought.
WOW. That's all I can say. My sisters both rock, and my aunt Penny rocks so hard! These strong and fabulous women in my life make me so proud to be one of them --
Yet, as Annette summed up today: "I say to hell with "blood is thicker than water"... family or not, I don't need people like that in my life." My sisters and I agree: we choose our family. We don't love each other because we're sisters. We love each other because we choose to.
Thanks for reading. I'll answer questions if you have any. As I said, I don't expect this thread to get many hits or replies. I just had to tell the world.
|
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
