why i don't watch television

Last night I was watching 'Brothers & Sisters'. They have introduced a story line about a half-sister that was kept secret. Her mother lied to her about who her real father was, although the mother continued having an affair with him. The daughter has now learned the truth and said something that made no sense. She claimed that she didn't know this man that her mother had an affair with for over twenty years.

I just find that hard to believe. I mean, I wouldn't expect them to be best friends, but to not have had some contact would have been impossible. I speak from experience.

My Mom had an affair for about seven years on and off with a man that we referred to as Bozo. It started when I was about seven, and finally ended when I was fourteen. In between they broke up several times.

Bozo and I never got along. I just didn't have much respect for the man. He had a wife and two children older than my sister and me. To my eight-year old self he was the man responsible for my parents breaking up. I know that this isn't true, but then, it was how it felt.

And of course when I learned that he was in part responsible for my mother deserting us and driving across the country to discover America, he lost a few more points. I was devastated when I learned that he was still in the picture when I arrived in California with my father and sister thinking my family was being reunited. And once again shocked to find him in Southern California after escaping from my father.

Bozo would end up moving in with us, and then getting himself kicked out. He amazingly moved his family to Southern California too. And once again his wife showed up on our doorstep. In between there was almost a half-sibling. And still she took him back again.

He moved in with us again and after getting kicked out again, still showed up at my 8th grade graduation. He ended up in several of the photos, which meant I wasn't able to bring them with me to show my grandmother for fear my father would see them.

When we returned home that summer to a new apartment and our mother announced that Bozo was gone for good, neither of us believed her. It wasn't until the new guy showed up - married, kids, old enough to be her father, and her boss - that we got it. They stuck it out for over a decade. His wife once showed up at our house as the invited guest to a baby shower. Talk about fun times.

on the night stand :: The Mistress's Daughter