Many Thanks to Joseph C. Trombley

I read a novel a while back by Greg Tobin called Conclave. It drew my attention because the protagonist is named Cardinal Timothy John Mulrennan. Born, baptized, and raised in the Archdiocese of Newark, he goes on to become the Pope. While there may be Mulrennan’s born, baptized, and raised in the Archdiocese of Newark other than my family, I am unaware of them.

For that reason any character hailing from New Jersey named Mulrennan would be a novelty. That the character goes on to become the first American Pope is even more fantastic to me. And not just because of my obvious and well documented impiety.

As it happens my older brother Frank (see Big Spider xombyte) was born 3 months premature. It was a miracle that he survived and so he was given the name Francis, the saint whose feast day he was born on. He came into this world with a birthmark on his face in a shape that looks like the country of Italy.

This was viewed by my parents as a portent. They often joked that he would become the first American Pope. Thus Mr. Tobin’s choice of our surname for his character caused an even greater stir in our family.

My sister Linda was especially incredulous and insisted that Mr. Tobin must have been aware of our miraculous brother and his birthmark in the shape of Italy.

It took awhile before I got around to reading Conclave but, when I did, the acknowledgments received more than a cursory examination. This yielded no evidence of a link but gave me an idea.

The next time I spoke with my sister Linda, I told her that the acknowledgments offered many thanks to Joseph C. Trombley. Mr. Trombley was known by his many friends as Swanee. Swanee, a pioneering member of AA in our part of New Jersey, was our father’s sponsor. A sponsor is your adviser and guide to recovery.

As soon as she got off the phone with me she got on line and ordered six copies of the book. When I next spoke with her she mentioned the purchase. I laughed and asked if she really believed that line of bull about Swanee. She insisted upon being compensated for the books and, as I have told her on numerous occasions since then, the check is in the mail.

While Greg Tobin didn’t say it, I will. Many thanks Joseph C. Trombley. I might never have known my own father if not for you.