Take off your hat, I want to stand up.

Chapter 37: Summer of '83.

Chapter 37: Summer of ' 83.

A better summer ahead, '83.

Her new man in the summer of 1983 was named Bill. We had a long and storied association with people named Bill. My brother was named after grandad's own brother, William, but called Bill. Next, there was a  cousin Bill, who preferred William. Grandad's brother was a William also called Bill. There was a small scripted note on the inside page of an old family Bible, published in 1886. The note said; my dear brother William died today. This small note was our only link to the fact Grandpa Blair had a brother named, William, also called Bill. Grandad's  own son was Dr. William Blair, he was called Bill. Invariably the name Bill sat well in our family, even if this man did not.

According to the Bible record, Grandad Blair married Jessie Adelina Campbell, May 15, 1918. Jessie was born January 14, 1888. Which meant she would be on her thirtith year when she wed Grandpa.

As luck would have it Bill was a drunk. He was a silent drinker and a quiet drunk, nonetheless still a drunk. How could this happen? Ev was clean, off the booze, yet she laid host to a violent and committed drinker. Step between a boozehound and their liquor and you will see unquestionable self centred ugliness.

We had our mom back. Yet, she was being blocked by a selfish, ego-centric, domineering, vast of good skin. My mom could really pick them. She had a talent for choosing needy, broken, shame filled, relationships. She saw the fabric and ignored the holes. He would turn out to be a disaster of monumental proportions.

I visited her at the lake in July. Bill did not know me, nor I him. He thought I was my younger brother and dressed me down in front of our beach neighbour Kelly. Why did he think I was someone else, easy he was drunk at the time.

I had to leave, said goodbye to my mom, kissed her and drove back to Calgary. I was thankful she was not drinking, perhaps there was hope. Time would tell