What aspects of your cultural heritage are you most proud of or interested in?
Even though I was born in a hospital I always felt like an alien. It took me years to find good things to say about my New England upbringing.
While my family was full of skeletons and whispering about past deeds and both parents shared guilt which weakened their spirit, there was much good from their parentage. With that I received two “American” lineages. Both of them had parents, and so on.
We didn’t have relatives or grandparents nearby- so they weren’t there to buffer the picture. One was formal- we saw them only on major holidays no more than twice a year; the other lived thousands of miles away.
My father did love his garden- and took great care of his patch of land; he taught me to honor my diet. And to label important things where they belong. and how easy it is to swagger in lesser company.
My mother studied anthropology and as a volunteer curator researched US Southwest Indians- before she got ‘sick’. I took her interests a step further- especially interesting me in childhood programming.
Most of the ways my parents lived I didn’t share. I never learned to play tennis; I don’t like the beach and I’m no sun worshiper. I learned obedience to those who are in power- and go behind their backs.
But I have a fine sense of artistic detail and critical eye (which I learned to soften…). I love textures, and color -which I likely got from my maternal grandfather who was antique collector.
I have some business acumen from both as they were successful with their own businesses. Both became millionaires- though I’m not sure which was shadier!
The shady part might have been taking advantage of willing participants – nuns who are always forgiving; and one probably worked some kind of intelligence on the side.
From them I learned to become independent; their values and beliefs didn’t resonate.
I never learned my own worth, until now, but they gave me insight to set the stage.
I write pretty well, as can my brother and seem to be a sort of visionary. Most of us seem to have a version of ESP.
Not at all sure where having an imagination or being ‘connected’ to the other side came from! Having and using my imagination was frankly discouraged as it would ‘lead me into trouble’. I stuck to the tried and true then- math and science.
Maybe writing was inspired by keeping a journal in tenth grade or maybe it’s destiny with both Mars and Venus in my third house of communication with Saturn’s sign Capricorn- indicating my house of mastery, on the cusp!
Indeed for them I am very, very grateful!
