I drove to see the folks today. It felt psychologically like Frodo's trip to the volcano to toss in the ring. I love my folks and I hate what happened under their care, both. But they're eighty plus now, and what happened is over thirty years ago. Time for an old lady to get over what a really old man and his old wife did to her. Don't ya think? But, I wonder, what does it mean to "get over"?
I know that my dad raped me. I know that on some level my mom knew what happened, even though I also believe her when she says that she didn't Know. She knows now, and believes me, but thinks that staying with dad will bring him to Christ. Maybe "thinks" is too strong a word for my mom.
You see, my folks are highly polished nice people. They are pleasant to be around, even when they are arguing with each other (constantly). They work hard at being easy to get along with. It's the sheen of them that is so disconcerting to me. Doesn't anyone know it's a lie except me?
For me, to get over it all means that I am able to hold the shiny people and the scratched up truth in my mind together. To get over it means I am able to believe that really nice people do some very f****ed up things. How do I wrap my mind around that?!
I guess I need cognitive stretches to get there, to get to peace with the what is and what was in my life, both.
So, today I enjoyed the folks. I stayed safely numb for most of the time, and so it was cozy in my little private cocoon. It gave me a story idea.
When will I be big enough to contain the opposites without them going rounds inside of me?
Thursday, January 31, 2008
ramblings
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2 comments:
Good post. Jesus struggled with this too. No wait, that's something else. I remember reading about people struggling with this in the post-holocaust world. when released prisoners came home and tried to get back to a normal life. I bet many took the questions to the grave with them...
Oy, you make me laugh... Jesus and all.
I appreciate the holocaust comparison, since so much of the trauma felt to me like what folks might have experienced then. I hadn't taken it a step further to the healing phase. Thanks for the insight.
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