I like to protect the identity of my family. I am also a creative writer. I might see things a bit different than the rest of my family, or the rest of mankind for that matter. In that vein:
Mary Bennett - is a real person. She is in a long term marriage, has more than the usual amount of children - many whom are adults, and is a survivor of cancer (so far). She is a writer and a photographer and has done crafting.
dh - husband or Nate - is her wonderful husband. If what is written about him is complimentary - believe it. If it is wise-ass, believe it with a grain of salt.
daughters - I have any number, who want their identity protected. That they are beautiful, intelligent and kind ... They don't want their names or pictures used. So I don't and won't. They are all older than me now anyway, so I have to listen. Therefore, anytime I mention the word daughter, it is a work of fiction and has no relation to a living person or persons. Except when I mention their kindness, intelligence, success, protectiveness or events from the waay distant past that I might fictionalize a bit to not embarrass them.
sons - I have any number of them also, who want their identity protected. That they are handsome, at times available, intelligent, kind and caring .... They don't want their names or pictures used. So I don't and I won't. They are all older than I am now anyway, so I have to listen. Therefore, anytime I use the word son, it is a work of fiction, and has no relation to any person. Except when I mention their kindness, intelligence, success, protectiveness or events from the waay distant past that I might fictionalize a bit to not embarrass them.
Sister-in-Law - anything written about "sister-in-laws" is a product of imagination and has nothing to do with actual persons.
Brother In Law - any references to brother-in-law is a work of imagination and has nothing to do with an actual person.
Mother In Law - Is deceased. Has been deceased for about 10 years now. Any meddling done by my mother -in - law on my blog, is a work of fiction, and has nothing to do with a deceased person.
Father in law - I have one. He is happily remarried. We talk every so often. However any mention of Father in law is a work of fiction, and has nothing to do with a real person. Except when I mention his amazing garden, of which I am totally jealous of!
Brother - any references to "brother" is a work of fiction, and does not pertain to an actual person. Except when I mention one being a police officer. That is true, and I don't think police officers ever have a high enough salary. I can hear you groan, but it is a war zone out there, and anyone who goes into a war zone every day ... can not possibly be paid enough. I feel the same way about the military.
Sister - when sister appears in this blog, it is a work of fiction, and has nothing to do with a real person.
Nieces - I have 13, one is deceased, the majority of which I have no contact with except for three that I have contact with on Facebook. Interpret that as you like. It would make an interesting story on family dynamics. But not on my blog. So if I reference niece on my blog, it is a work of fiction, and has nothing to do with a real person or persons.
Nephews - I have 8, one of which is deceased. I have no contact with them , except for one which is proudly serving in the Navy. We message on FB now and then. Again, it would make an interesting story on family dynamics, but not on my blog. Therefore, any mention of nephew on my blog is a work of fiction, and has nothing to do with a real person, or persons.
Cousins - I have any number of those. They are good and kind people. Therefore, when I say cousin, it is a work of fiction, and has no relation to any person living or dead. Except for my cousin Bernadette, who was a saint walking on earth, and may God rest her soul.
Aunts - So when I say aunt, it is a work of fiction, and does not relate to any person living or dead. Except for my Aunt Tanya, Lord rest her soul, who was as close to a movie star that an aunt could get, and no one could ever think of anything mean or embarrassing to write about her. Or my Aunt Geri, Bernadette's mother, who is a walking saint, and who's prayers I am convinced are keeping the world out of war.
Uncles - Again deserve their privacy, and so when I mention uncle, it is a work of fiction and does not relate to any person living or dead.
Mother - was and is and will always be a nurse. She hates germs and spiders. Anything I write about her and hysterics about germs and spiders probably will not be fiction. Well about spiders anyway. The way she took care of me when I was sick, not fiction. She is a dedicated mother and grandmother, which is a blessing that can drive you crazy. Anything about this, probably not fiction. Anything else is a work of fiction and has nothing to do with reality, or my mother. At all.
Father - was and is and will always be a World War Two Veteran. It is the highlight of his life, more even than having kids. Think of a soldier; gruff, salty, tough, unapologetic. He was at the recruitment office on his 18th birthday to enlist, in January, even though he wasn't required until after his graduation in June. Sometime Stephen Spielberg will interview me and make a movie about him. He was tough as nails, he still is tough as nails. He can kill with a magazine, that's how they trained soldiers for WWII. Do you remember reading about the WWII vet, in a wheelchair, that took on the punks that tried to rob him and sent them running? That wasn't my Dad (thank God), but it could have been. I'm going to say that most things that I write about him in my blog are truth. The man is a character, fictionalizing him would make him boring and milquetoast. Oh, and he married really, really late in life. So I'm not as old as you think!! ; )
