My dad's mother was mentally ill. I found that out when I found out he had a sister--but not the two sisters I grew up thinking he had. They were step-sisters, daughters of the second wife, step-mother Julia.

Real sister Hyacinth pushed into my life just as I was giving my folks a big 50th Anniversary party. She became the party. She HATED her father, my grandfather, whom I adored & mourned still after his death when I was 8.

My dad hated his mom.

NO ONE would tell me anything about her. Not even her name.

Last night, on the internet, I finally found my dad's birth certificate.

Please allow you to introduce you to Catharine Jones, my grandmother.

Why do families keep secrets, anyway? How much damage does it do?