Wasted Years
I would like to share a story of two lost children. Oh, they were quite secure in their home with a mother and father, until
a demon came into their midst. The
demon is the demon of alcohol,
that couldn't be controlled, and it broke up their happy home.
The little girl remembers, her mother running the grocery store and the father went to work. She couldn't wait until her
daddy came home to tell him of the pony ride, and
pictures that were taken.
These were happy days for the children, until their parents opened
up the bar next to the store.
They lived in back of the store in a bedroom, kitchen and bathroom. She remembers watching TV every night until it went off a lull-a-bye sang her to
sleep. She was told that the grandmother was there, but she must have been running the store, the little girl could not remember her.
The drinking got so out of hand, that the
parents went their separate
ways. The children went to their aunt and uncle's home for a
while, then to the grandmothers. After that, the little girl did not
see her daddy again.
The mother remarried and moved the family out west. They grew up
being told that their father did not love or want them anymore. But what was unknown, the father had
searched for over 30
years for his children. The day came, that I became that little girl
looking into her
daddies eyes. Two strangers
stood there, hands shaking, lips quivering,
eyes filling with tears. The hug made up for so many wasted years.
I grew up thinking that my father didn't want me, but we were
always in his heart you see. So let me tell
you about the other children that grew up
knowing their older sister and brother. There wasn't a day that went by that our dad did not speak of his lost children. The other
children had only one picture to remember us by, the
one that was taken on the pony.
When I met my two sisters and two brothers it was as if we had never,
been apart. So, when I say blood is thicker than water it is true. They had so much love for one another, it was over
whelming. To see the love and
respect, they had for our dad, I thought I would give it a try. My
dad raised four children by himself and the twin boys went to his
sister.
Each year we have a family reunion, so we
can get together. I had my
dad for nine years, which was the number of children he had. Last
year I went to bring him home, so he would not have to go to a nursing home, he passed away on the day we left for our journey. I was told that over the years my dad had
taken in homeless children.
He helped anyone that needed it. Most of the children came
to repay their respect. This man instilled what family love should be, in his children and the children he took
in.
We had some good times, and
I will always cherish them. The memories have to make up for the
wasted years. You see I had only one time a year and the
telephone to be close to my dad. He was so happy
that he was going to live with us,
we had everything planned out. He would stay with each of us for
awhile. This way everyone shared him.
It has been a year
since I was in Florida, and
now I will visit him at his grave side. To tell him once again I love him. My brothers and
sisters are here, and to see the love
that they still share for one another still touches my heart. You
see my dad had instilled this in them as well, and their children hug
each other good bye, as they live around the corner.
I have told you this story
so you would enjoy your parents, no matter what they have done.
They are only with us a little
while, and there is not enough love on this
earth. The older brother never got a chance to meet his father,
now it is too late. He is also missing out on the brothers
and sisters that he
has not yet acknowledged. You
see, God chose not to give my brother nor
I any children, but he did give us sisters, brothers, nephews and
nieces. I am truly blessed, I have always had an empty space in my
heart. But now my heart is bursting with love
for my family.
"But there are still so many wasted
years".
In Memory of Lonnie Lovett
1926-1997
By his daughter Amelia Anne 1998
INDEX PAGE
Amelia's Index
07/04/10
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