Long Ago

While I was working at cleaning my office I came upon a photo album I had brought home from my mother's house when I was clearing it out five years ago. I had not opened it until yesterday. There were a few photos that included Mark, Matthew, me and one of my brother whom I have neither seen nor heard from in thirty years. There's also a cute photo of my Afghan Hound, Fallon, as a large puppy and the Bulldog, Tilly, sneaking a peek from behind the plant. This was our house in St. Louis Park.

Matthew and Tilly when he was maybe five. He loved Miss Tilly. Matthew was a joyful child. The fates were with me when he was born an agreeable, creative and good-natured kid. We lived alone together for five years and I was never alone.

We can see by the candles this was his fifth birthday. He didn't look anything like his mama then or now.

I'm an onlooker while my brother, Robert, was having some sort of tussle with Matthew. Matthew was deeply hurt when Robert decided to remove himself from the family. He felt, rightly, that he could at least kept contact with his only nephew.

Mark surrounded by fluff. I'm holding my dog, Gisselle. Babette is next to Mark. Giselle was from one of Babettes litters. I was early teens when she was born. I was allowed to keep her.

My office clean-up stalled as I was looking through the album. There are several others I haven't gone through. I think I'll put that on hold until I finish my task at hand.