prairie point

figure from the past

Over the weekend I learned that my former brother-in-law had passed away of cancer. When I saw his picture in the obituary I didn't recognize him at all. Thirty years does a lot to change a person, I guess.

When he married my sister he reminded me a little of Fonzie on the TV show. No black leather jacket that I can recall, but he was tall and slim and had long black hair and sideburns. He struck somewhat of an anachronistic figure, but then Texas was a little behind the times in those days. He was self-confident and a smooth talker, and seemed just slightly dangerous.

Even as a kid I sometimes saw through his talk. It did not surprise me that he was not as successful as he wanted to be. He tried to be liked, but he always pretended to be more than he was.

I have no idea what problems there may have been in the marriage but it came to an end when my sister moved back home with a black eye and two baby girls. What little good will toward him that remained in our household was squandered by that incident.

In his picture I could discern none of this. He looked plump and pleasantly prosperous as he sat grinning at the camera with another wife standing behind with her arm around him. Was the picture as false as the stories I remembered? I didn't want to know

Posted by Bill Hopkins on April 13, 2004 10:29 PM