Principles
Family
House of Bunny
My mom Dorothy, or 'Bunny,' passed away 5 years ago and the last couple of years I've been attempting to clean up her things. Later in her life she performed on stage in New York and Florida the life's of six stars, Charlie Chaplin, Bettie Davis, Katharine Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Barbra Streisand and Whoopi Goldberg. She would research their lives, not easily because it was before computers, and write scripts and go on stage. Although away from performing during her middle years, she had a natural talent and humor and her writings and performances were very good. I decided to make a book out of it, having my sister type up the scripts onto the computer, and would call it 'Bunny on the Stars.' I designed the cover and wrote a brief biography about mom and a preface.
Surprisingly the bio and preface I wrote were quite effective, at least the people I know who read them were impressed. My father started to cry and every time I read them I would become teary eyed. They were effective enough to make me doubt the validity of my other philosophical writings. Maybe I was being too abstract I thought.
Anyhow, I asked neighbor B to read them and let me know what he thinks. B reads this website. He liked them and said they were a testimony to my mother's life and the good all around job she did in so many areas. B came over and we had a little discussion. He gave good advice and said I should continue all my writings as they are all interconnected. My mother, when I was age 14 asked me if there was a God and B said this explains my lifelong search to find answers. Yes, they seemed connected. I then added that my mom wasn't always the best mom, indeed, like the stars, was often a small tyrant and not easy to get along with. I said basically she dominated the house and we all served her.
For years, I added, I tried to separate myself, become my own man, have my own thoughts, but when push came to shove, and with a lot of afterthought, I was a branch and she was the root. I was just a reflection of her. My father, my sister, and myself all basically served her. Now, I just accept it and don't fight it. Trying to be tough, or an 'individual," was all doomed to failure. You are what was put into you.
I explained all this to B and he was in complete agreement. At one dinner together with his wife who l like, I said gently to her that she might be 'a difficult person like my mother.' Instead of taking offense she agreed. In a sense B's family was like mine. I said in Jewish families and Italian families (he was Italian) this is how it often is. He added same with the Greeks and Spanish. I said that doesn't seem true of the Wasps, the blue bloods in Connecticut. There it seemed the father ruled. B said he hadn't much thought about that.
Earlier that day he showed me a picture of his son, who looked very all American, a Joe every man, who just caught a beautiful fish. He seemed like his own man. However, B said when his wife said something or disagreed with it, it was amazing how the son conformed to her wishes. He postured as his own man but it was a posture.
I then shared some history. In the Torah it is said that the 'House of David' actually stood for all the people beneath and around him. All their individual lives and dramas and activities and doings were all housed under one heading, the 'House of David.” I then said that all I am is someone from the 'House of Bunny' and my own name is not important. B smiled.
I then said you're from the 'House of Barbara (his wife)' and he shook his head in agreement.