The Paul Newman connection
Many of you know that I was adopted and some of you know my parents adopted my brother me later in life. Well at least in the early 70's, 40ish was considered later. As a result, a lot of my personality was shaped by a more old school way of life. Of my friends, I was always the most cautious about trying new things and had trouble being daring. I was the last in my circle to try drugs and lose my virginity. The first music I enjoyed wasn't stuff my friends listened to; it was 40's and 50's stuff. We rarely went to movies, but we did watch them on TV. I have never seen E.T., but I remember watching black and white Blondie & Dagwood movies after church on Sundays. I remember watching a lot of news with my mom when Elvis died and I remember her crying about it. When Princess Diana got married, my mom woke me up at 2am to watch with her. And my mom loved Paul Newman, who died today at age 83.
It amazes me that just when I think I have had my last cry about my mom, something silly like her favorite actor dying can make me lose it. In just a few weeks, she will have been gone 21 years. If she were still alive, she would be 81 this year. Strange to look at those numbers and see just how far I have come...and yet not so far.
Oh, and regarding the whole nature vs. nurture debate, it is 90% nurture.
It amazes me that just when I think I have had my last cry about my mom, something silly like her favorite actor dying can make me lose it. In just a few weeks, she will have been gone 21 years. If she were still alive, she would be 81 this year. Strange to look at those numbers and see just how far I have come...and yet not so far.
Oh, and regarding the whole nature vs. nurture debate, it is 90% nurture.