Part 14: I was borned a coal miner’s granddaughter but my daddy joined the Navy (final)

This blog will be my last and the hardest to write.  When Adam was in 2nd grade, we decided to move back to Bristol.  I just got it in my head that I wanted to be closer to mama and daddy.  I felt this urgency and I didn’t know why but I would soon find out.  We sold our house in Fall Branch and bought a house in Bristol, Tennessee.  We found a cute Ranch style house in Redstone that was perfect for us.  We loved the house and we loved the neighborhood.  Adam and Sam would be attending Holston View school and things couldn’t have been more perfect, until they weren’t.

My life had been so busy with getting married and having babies that I hadn’t paid attention to what had been happening in my parent’s lives.  They had been growing apart and I was oblivious.  When mama came to me and told me that they were separating I was dumfounded.  They had been married for 34 years and the thought never even crossed my mind.  I was devastated and our lives would change forever.  The family would never be the same again.  

​I know that divorce is hard on children at any age but as an adult it felt like a death in the family.  I’ll never forget calling my husband, who was in Indianapolis covering the NASCAR race.  I had always tried to make life easy for Kenny, since I stayed at home and he worked so hard.  I never wanted him to worry about anything while he was traveling but let me tell you, I called him bawling and had him all torn up.  I knew my mother was hurting and on the verge of a nervous breakdown so I was trying to comfort her and protect her.  I was also trying to help daddy because he was devastated.  If I hadn’t had my faith to lean on, I would have fallen deep and given up.  With God’s help, I picked myself up and made the choice of making the best of it.  I loved my parents, flaws and all, and would always be there for them, no matter what.   

​As with anything, you learn to move on and adapt.  Mama remarried to Tom.  Marrying into such a close family had to be hard but Tom welcomed us with open arms and never tried to come between us.  As mama always told him, we were a package deal and thankfully he accepted that.  Tom treats my brother and I like we were his own children.  My mama is very fierce when it comes to her children and her grandchildren.  We have a very close relationship, and I don’t know what I would do without her.  She’s my biggest fan and supporter and would walk through fire to protect me.  

​Daddy had a rough time when they divorced.  He eventually married Mary.  I can’t say if he was happy.  Daddy was very private and kept his emotions hidden as best he could.  Sadly, Mary developed a very aggressive form of Alzheimer’s and died.  But, good times were ahead for daddy.  Before he had ever met mama, he met Evelyn.  He was in the Navy at the time and was on leave.  His good friend, Buford, introduced daddy to his sister at a Sadie Hawkins dance.  They fell in love and daddy asked her to marry him and she said yes.   Unfortunately, he had orders to go to Africa for 2 years.  Evelyn was only 18 and I’m sure 2 years seemed like a lifetime so the engagement didn’t last and she ended up marrying someone else.  

Buford called daddy one day (after Mary passed) and told him Evelyn’s husband had died and that he should call her.  Bless Buford’s heart.  Daddy called her and within a few short months they were married.  Daddy told me he felt like a teenager again.  He was so happy.  

​Evelyn has been such a blessing in my life.  Seeing the love between her and my daddy did nothing but bring me joy.  She loved him dearly and when he began showing signs of Alzheimer’s she took care of him with such love, until March 22 when he passed.  Remember when I said that daddy didn’t like to show his emotions?  As he got older that completely changed; he couldn’t tell you I love you enough.  He was the sweetest, kindest and most loving father you could ever have.  

This is the end of my blog. I hope you enjoyed it. Thank you for reading and thank you for all the kind comments. God bless you all.