Fingers of Love? The long reach of the family tree

My family keeps coming back at me, one branch in particular. They do something that I don't agree with and ask me to get involved. I just had to back off. I'm OK with where I am, though. Yet they keep coming back and suggesting things that I don't feel good about. So I'm done for now. I'm not even going to answer the e-mails. I'm not in the game.

I just got another missive from my weird uncle J----. I had just been saying that I'm glad I know my mind when this came into my box: "Thanks for all the thoughts and outreach. Working with B---- is a novel approach; for me, personally, much easier doing things/talking about him behind his back. Pretty sure I'm kidding!"

About which part? What the ...? Talk about someone who does not know his own mind. He spends all his time disavowing insight and responsibility that it's creepy.

And everyone is so goshdarned principled, including me. In some ways we're all just a bunch of privileged, self-righteous know-it-alls who haven't had it rough for a long time. When poor B----'s just trying to eke out an existence.

So where do I begin? How can I help carry the water? Last night I sent him a piece I've been wanting editing help with, and I'd just been asking for an editor. I told him I am hearing his signals, for whatever that's worth (he might think I'm a complete nut but that's his prerogative).

But I don't want to pile more work on the guy, either. It occurs to me that I could get up early and go up there for a few days, to help out. My sweetie could get our daughter off to school and I could get a jump on the day and give my uncle a hand.

It's tempting to just go up there. Show up and offer to work.