How Brown
03-10-2006, 09:25 PM
Today at work,after finishing Joe Chetcuti's story on Tumbelty in Ripperologist and Don Souden's funny story in Ripper Notes, I was in the "thinking" mode as to possible sources of new information or data ( as a result of Don's story which had numerous fabricated instances of bizarre suspects and a fear that his joking might not be such a joke by this time next year !!:eek: ) that the community may come across in the future.
Its no secret that a lot of people are skeptical about locating information on the Case which will "help" solve the mystery as to whom JTR was...or were.
Its no secret that a lot of people complain in private to each other...almost all of us in fact...about how discussions will turn into circular arguments or a clash of egos. I'm as guilty as the next person,so I know what I'm talking about here.;)
The bottom line to all of this is the sense of frustration that rears its head in or at various places and can hardly be blamed. Its not our fault that that scumbag Hitler sent his planes to blitz London or our fault that thieves lifted materials from London which might have expanded the parameters of what we discuss and argue about today. Nietzsche said we only suffer for our virtues...and in the case of the Whitechapel Murders,we that are sincere and are truly virtuous in our common goal do suffer by situations and events out of or beyond our control. We are left to the mercy of a little good luck...and the hope that there are other materials left to find. Sometimes,we are shaken from our perch by new suspects such as the Uncle Jack fiasco,which diligent Ripperologist Jennifer Pegg put back into its place...worthy of a few months of discussion,perhaps...and then we go back to where we were before we were so rudely interrupted.
In addition to reading the latest two excellent editions of Ripper Notes and Ripperologist today,another thing happened. Not something that relates directly to the Whitechapel Murders or anyone in particular here.....yet,it relates indirectly to the WM and to everyone of us here in general. Let me share it with you....
To provide a little background to the story,allow me to say that of each side of my family,I am very familiar with my Mothers side and yet,with the exception of meeting my Grandfather on my Dad's side once in 1978...I have never met any of my dad's side of the family and only emailed one cousin once and that was three years ago. Certain events,such as my dad being ostracized ( and probably,considering the times, correctly so ) from his dad and generally at odds with his 7 brothers and sisters for most of his life are a major reason why I have had,as well as my brother,little contact with any of my family on my dad's side.
So you can imagine how I felt about recieving a phone call at 1:30 today from a cousin who I have never spoken to in my 52 years and 2 months on the planet...from my Dad's side.
She had been told of the three year old email from that other cousin and called my work,not knowing if I was still alive or if working at the same place.
Her mother,my Dad's sister is in pretty poor shape,being nearly 90 now. My aunt will have to be taken care for in a home,as my cousin herself is pushing 65 years of age. A little too much for my cousin to handle.
In any event....out of the blue...she asked me if I would like the several boxes of family photos,letters,and "data" that her mother had accumulated over the last near century. I have only seen two photos of other family members ( and I have hundreds of living relatives ).
So...without any hesitation I told her I would pay for the postage and to go ahead and send them. Some of these photos will be of my Dad...and the rest of those I never knew.
This may turn into something "good" for me regarding a relationship with my kinfolk. This won't mean much to you that have stuck with me on this story all the way through..I apologize !
But what it does mean to us all is this:
We should keep our collective heads up and remember this story which after 52 years now has a decidedly different ending than anticipated. If I was paid a dollar for everytime I hoped for a day like today,I'd be very rich,my friends....very rich.
Someday,I still believe as I always have ever since I really got "into" Ripperology that someone or something from the periphery would come along and take us into a new direction. A cache of police official letters....a missing file from the PRO....or even a box of old family data,files,letters and photos from the past.
Never say never folks...never again.:judge:
Its no secret that a lot of people are skeptical about locating information on the Case which will "help" solve the mystery as to whom JTR was...or were.
Its no secret that a lot of people complain in private to each other...almost all of us in fact...about how discussions will turn into circular arguments or a clash of egos. I'm as guilty as the next person,so I know what I'm talking about here.;)
The bottom line to all of this is the sense of frustration that rears its head in or at various places and can hardly be blamed. Its not our fault that that scumbag Hitler sent his planes to blitz London or our fault that thieves lifted materials from London which might have expanded the parameters of what we discuss and argue about today. Nietzsche said we only suffer for our virtues...and in the case of the Whitechapel Murders,we that are sincere and are truly virtuous in our common goal do suffer by situations and events out of or beyond our control. We are left to the mercy of a little good luck...and the hope that there are other materials left to find. Sometimes,we are shaken from our perch by new suspects such as the Uncle Jack fiasco,which diligent Ripperologist Jennifer Pegg put back into its place...worthy of a few months of discussion,perhaps...and then we go back to where we were before we were so rudely interrupted.
In addition to reading the latest two excellent editions of Ripper Notes and Ripperologist today,another thing happened. Not something that relates directly to the Whitechapel Murders or anyone in particular here.....yet,it relates indirectly to the WM and to everyone of us here in general. Let me share it with you....
To provide a little background to the story,allow me to say that of each side of my family,I am very familiar with my Mothers side and yet,with the exception of meeting my Grandfather on my Dad's side once in 1978...I have never met any of my dad's side of the family and only emailed one cousin once and that was three years ago. Certain events,such as my dad being ostracized ( and probably,considering the times, correctly so ) from his dad and generally at odds with his 7 brothers and sisters for most of his life are a major reason why I have had,as well as my brother,little contact with any of my family on my dad's side.
So you can imagine how I felt about recieving a phone call at 1:30 today from a cousin who I have never spoken to in my 52 years and 2 months on the planet...from my Dad's side.
She had been told of the three year old email from that other cousin and called my work,not knowing if I was still alive or if working at the same place.
Her mother,my Dad's sister is in pretty poor shape,being nearly 90 now. My aunt will have to be taken care for in a home,as my cousin herself is pushing 65 years of age. A little too much for my cousin to handle.
In any event....out of the blue...she asked me if I would like the several boxes of family photos,letters,and "data" that her mother had accumulated over the last near century. I have only seen two photos of other family members ( and I have hundreds of living relatives ).
So...without any hesitation I told her I would pay for the postage and to go ahead and send them. Some of these photos will be of my Dad...and the rest of those I never knew.
This may turn into something "good" for me regarding a relationship with my kinfolk. This won't mean much to you that have stuck with me on this story all the way through..I apologize !
But what it does mean to us all is this:
We should keep our collective heads up and remember this story which after 52 years now has a decidedly different ending than anticipated. If I was paid a dollar for everytime I hoped for a day like today,I'd be very rich,my friends....very rich.
Someday,I still believe as I always have ever since I really got "into" Ripperology that someone or something from the periphery would come along and take us into a new direction. A cache of police official letters....a missing file from the PRO....or even a box of old family data,files,letters and photos from the past.
Never say never folks...never again.:judge: