Daddy, Papa and Me

Recent research is confirming that 'non-reproductive' elderly women (you know, your grandmothers, were essential in helping rearing and caring for families and that allowed (among other factors) explosive growth and success of Humans 30,000 years ago.

It just goes with my theory that a "family" is more just the parents and children (though of course that is intregal), but grandparents, uncles and aunts...

and tangently supports my theory that homosexuality was/is partially sustained genetically because having a small percentage of non-reproducing individuals in the family group (i.e. society) helps that family group survive and raise its children (the evolutionary term is 'kin selection')

The following is a letter I wrote, and not yet sure I will send, to a member of Guy's family. The family member has recently 'called Guy's family to repentence' concerning their 'acceptance' of his lifestyle and choices and has suggested that the way that we have to be dealt with is to 'walk away' from us. This is my response. I wrote it more to answer my own inner questions and theological musings, than to answer the family member directly. It is what I perceive the teachings and example of Jesus to mean when it comes to 'loving thy neighbor'. I post it to record a bit of what the history of our family is (This whole journal is part of that) and perhaps to give you a bit of insight. Be forewarned if you are neither Christian or Mormon and aren't 'into' reading that sort of thing. This is heavy in scripture and Mormon doctrine :). It is also very long.

the letter...

Friday morning I'm leaving for the Middleton Reunion. It is a reunion of the descendents of Middleton Place, a plantation near Charleston South Carolina that was the birthplace of a signer of the Declaration of Independence, presidents of the Continental Congress, revolutionary soldiers and several governors of that state, of whom I (maternal line) am a direct descendent.

They were also slave-holders. This is the beginning of the irony and paradox.. only the beginning...

It's Emma and me tonight. Daddy is in Utah working. So supper is simple. So simple in fact I can give you the recipe here before we talk. Cooked penne pasta (about a pound) tossed with 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes, 1 bunch sauted spinach and 1 cup sliced mushrooms (saute each for about 2 minutes in 1/2 tablespoon olive oil), 2 tablespoons fresh chopped basil and salt and pepper to taste. You can adjust amounts per your liking. We serve with salad. Voila.

First lets talk some science... A wrote a couple years ago about how grandmothers help their grandchildren survive and thrive and this is an evolutionary reason for grandmothers :).

Frequent commenter and blog friend Ann Adams (Roc Rebel Granny) lost her daughter last night. I can only imagine the loss she and her family are feeling right now. Please send thoughts and prayers.

Hug someone you love and reconcile with someone you haven't talked to in a while. I am learning that our time is always shorter than we realize.

Check out my nephew, Chad's, blog. He and his wife, Lorry, joined the Peace Corps and are teaching in Palau (Micronesia). He's teaching biology, she's teaching English. They are having quite the experience! I'm jealous: Musings from Micronesia