In a message dated 6/18/2004 8:31:57 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes:

> Hmmm.  You may not have been present when your grandfather was shot. THERE SEEMS TO BE NO QUESTION THAT I WAS PRESENT. THE QUESTION IS WHETHER IT OCCURRED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME, AND WHETHER IT WAS INTENTIONAL OR ACCIDENTAL SUICIDE.
> Stories tend to change after years of retelling.
THE ODD THING ABOUT THIS ONE, WHICH WE WENT THROUGH HERE A YEAR OR TWO BACK, IS THAT IT DIDN'T GET MUCH RETELLING.
 It does not appear that you remember the event, only the retelling of the story of the event. ALL I REMEMBER OF IT IS GOING, OR MAYBE RUNNING, TO THE NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE ACROSS THE ROAD.  MY INITIAL UNDERSTANDING FROM MY MOTHER WAS THAT HE ACCIDENTALLY SHOT HIMSELF; SHE SUBSEQUENTLY RETOLD THE STORY (TO MY WIFE AND ME AS ADULTS)AS AN INTENTIONAL SUICIDE WHICH HAPPENED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME; AND THE NEXT TIME THE STORY WAS TOLD, IT WAS AN ACCIDENT AGAIN.
>
> Your penpal made you unhappy? WELL, LET'S JUST SAY THAT I DIDN'T THINK OF HER AS A PENPAL, BUT MY FRIEND CLARK REALIZED WHAT AN ASSHOLE I WAS, AND THAT PENPAL WAS AAS GOOD AS IT WAS GOING TO GET, AT LEAST FOR ME.  SHE SUBSEQUENTLY SWORE OF GENTLEMEN CALLERS AND BECAME A DYKE.

NOW ARE YOU HAPPY?

RALPH

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