Monday, June 07, 2021















Three of my ancestors there. That's Uncle Benny on the left. Oh God. 

"Uncle Benny was not right" my mother said many times. 

"DID YOU NAME ME FOR HIM?!" No, she assured me. 

"THEN WHY DID YOU NAME ME 'BENJAMIN', MOTHER?!" 

"Benjamin FRANKLIN," she countered. I don't know if I believe her. 

"Franklin was Uncle Harry's middle name." 

Uncle Harry was a doctor. He delivered me. Uncle Harry also dispatched Uncle Clyde to the next world. 

"WHO WAS TOM NAMED FOR?"

"My uncle Tom."

"SO WE HAVE AN UNCLE THEME GOING ON IN THE NAMING OF CHILDREN. IT MAKES MORE SENSE, MOTHER, THAT YOU WOULD HAVE NAMED ME FOR TWO UNCLES THAN FOR ONE UNCLE AND AN INVENTOR!"

I don't remember if she had a response to that.

Oh God.