Job, my xh's husband is a little strange in many ways (no surprises there) His grandfather emigrated to the US back in the 1870s when he was a young boy - he was well over 40 when my fil was born and he was over 40 when my xh was born, and my xh is no spring chicken. Most people have 5 generations in the time they have 3!!
Lots of mysteries, including the money he came with (enough to go to the best medical schools etc) his real parentage and a very unusual name . . . . . A family much given to secrets. My xh didn't know his father had been married before until he was in his late twenties. We found out by chance, then we spent an agonizing time deciding whether to tell his siblings, and wondering if his mother knew . . . . Honestly it is like a soap opera. In the end we told the siblings and never discussed it with his mother, even after his father died (at a ripe old age)
I think the strangeness of the family is the key. Very very buttoned up.
His mother's family is also odd . . . . . but I will save that for another time. More like an O'Neill play there.
