Photographs and Memories

I mentioned, not too long ago, that I’d gotten an email from my biological mother.

There’s such a long story behind all of it that it makes me tired just THINKING about explaining it all to you, so let’s just suffice to say that my biological parents are abusive and mentally unstable, that and my sister and I have been doing everything in our power to get as far away from that scene as we can, and that we’re just as happy to have nothing to with either of them.

Anyway, this is the terse message I got from the Maternal Biologic (we’ll call her MB):

Chili,

We’ve changed our will and now our executor is holding all the things that Punkin’ Pie and Beanie will be getting when they turn 21. As our executor has Beanie and Punkin’s social security numbers, the lawyer will have no problem contacting them.

And rather than burdening our friend with the task of sorting through our possessions when the time comes, she has the savings bonds and jewelry in her safety deposit box for the girls and the rest of the things that the girls will get is safely stored with her.

The 40 years worth of family pictures, however, was a concern for her as she didn’t want to risk having them damaged or lost. There are too many pictures, cards, etc. to safely store so I told her I would contact you since I have no contact information for Auntie.

If Auntie wants the pictures that are of sentimental value to her and wants to give you the ones that pertain to you, she can either call me or e-mail me and then can pick them up at my friend’s house. I’ll wait till the first of March and if I don’t hear from her, we’ll assume no one is interested and the pictures will be thrown away.

There is SO much about all of this that is at the same time pathetically sad and hysterically funny. MB speaks of the things that will be transferred to my children as if she’s a freaking Kennedy. Possessions, bonds and jewels, my ass. I’m betting the entire take will consist of a couple of $50 savings bonds and my father’s wedding band.

Whatever.

I also love how she thinks that being in possession of my children’s social security numbers is somehow analogous to having the code to a homing device on my kids or something. Again, whatever.

It’s the last bit that cracks me up, though. Even though Auntie HAS been in touch with them, and I’ve sent follow-up emails, just in case Auntie’s new email address got snagged in a spam filter or something (she created a new address JUST for this occasion - Auntie loves that the biologics don’t have her real contact information and I’m SO jealous of that…) there’s been no response. I’m pretty sure that, right now, MB is absolutely delighted over the idea that we’re upset that she’s throwing all of our baby pictures away.

While Auntie and I would certainly have liked to have our baby pictures, this is simply not something over which we will be pining for the rest of our lives. It’s sad to think that the entire affair was quite possibly concocted by MB with just this end in mind and, if I didn’t think it would invite more trouble, I’d send her an email telling her how sorry I am that her life has found its way to this.