Long lost family

A few years ago, my SIL passed away. At that time they lived in Iowa, I think. We were never quite sure. The family called us for 8000 dollars to bring her body home. We did not have that kind of money and to be honest, we were not even sure Jodie had passed. We could never be sure of the truth with those kids. That was 1999 or 2000. I Can't recall what year. We tried on several occasions to locate them and see how they were doing.

Well on Sunday night the phone rang. It was Allan Dobson. Imagine that!!!



He had found a McLemore listed and he wanted to make contact. He said he had been on drugs for years and now had been off for 8 years. His counselor told him he needed to talk to people and get over bitterness to move forward.
I can see that. I saw that he resented us for having things, He felt they lived in squallier while we flourished. I wish no one felt like that. I feel so bad for them, We NEVER felt we were better than anyone, anywhere, anytime. This is a curse put on them by having itenerant parents. Parents that never settled in one spot or one house for a full semester of school. Those kids never went to a school on a regular basis. That had to hurt their chances. They were pretty sad kids but they did have lots of laughter in their home too. We used to visit and we always had laughter. (perhaps because we were there, who knows what went on later.) I do believe their parents loved them, I think they loved themselves more.

To put it mildly, that family has never been a family in the sense of homes and closeness.

But maybe this is a good sign that he has grown up. I hope so.

However we still care. They are family. We only want the best for them but we also realize what you do with your life are your choices.

Heck I took care of the two older ones when they were babies and their mom, (Jodie) was out drinking. I had never taken care of babies and being a newly wed, I took on the responsibility so my MIL did not have to do it all. She did a lot to be an older woman but she wanted the children to have food if not much else. David and I bought formula and washed a lot of diapers. (no disposables then).

So I was totally surprised at the call. We talked for a long time. He had no idea David was in his 70's. You know you just don't think that of an uncle you admired and saw as a young man. I completely understood how he felt.

So to family, your cousins are still around, All over the country but they are still alive and Melvin is a Great Grandpa, which means Stacy's daughter had three little girls, one of which passed away at 6 days old.

I learned a lot in a few minutes on the phone.

So that is what is new with us.