The Ignominious Love-Child

The following story is a fact-based account of my life. The title of this writing was intentional owing the stigma often placed upon children conceived and born out of wedlock and marked by the label of “Illegitimate”. The term Love-Child is a substitute for the original word (Bastard), which could be thought of as profane. The first word in the title of this essay, Ignominious: refers to the shame, dishonor or disgrace often felt by people born under these conditions. Bastard: references the illegitimacy of the child’s birth and the absence of matrimonially linked parents. Both words, which offer a rather uncomfortable air, only offer a descriptive reference to the first phase of an individual’s life. They, in no way, represent an actual person’s attitude, temperament or social presence. It is my hope that you enjoy what I have written and that when you have had time to review what you have read a tiny light will appear giving you a better understanding of yourself your family and humanity. As for me, putting my thoughts, memories and feelings down on paper was rewarding, relaxing and educational, because with each word, sentence, paragraph and page, I gained just a little more insight into myself.