I would be remiss if I didn't give credit to my brother Jimmy and his wife Loretta during this period in my life. They were always there for me. If I had an appointment during the day and Tammy was in school, I could always count on Loretta to keep Joey for me.
Jim and Loretta had two kids of their own...Jamie, born in March of 1966 and Lori Sue born in March of 1969...seven months before my Joey.
I naturally was very close to Jim and Loretta and adored their kids. Jamie was the smartest little kid I had ever known. He did everything early...walking, talking..reading. Lori Sue was the prettiest, sweetest baby ever...and she was named after me.
Jim and I had been close all our lives. Living so close together just strengthened that bond. Seldom a day went by that we didn't see each other, playing cards every Saturday night, at least. Tammy and Buddy...and later Joey...loved ther Aunt Loretta and Uncle Jim...a bond that exists to this day. Lori Sue and Joey became best friends as well as cousins.
I can't say enough good things about Loretta. She has been the perfect sister-in-law and friend. Through the years Jim and I have had our disagreements...but not me and Loretta. We've never had a cross word. In fact, I've never heard her say a bad thing about anybody. I love her like a sister.
Joe's brother, George, too was always available and willing when I needed him. Even though Tammy could take care of Joey when I couldn't be home, she was still too young to be alone with Joey and Buddy. She was 11 years old when Joey was born...Buddy was 10. George stayed with us a few months after he came home from Viet Nam. But even after he moved in with Uncle George...his Dad's single brother...he was at our house more that his own...and never complained about helping out with babysitting.
One hot June day when I was pregnant with Joey, George and I were home along...Joe had taken the kids to the baseball field with him. George decided to mow the lawn. Suddenly, from the back yard I heard this G0d-awful scream...followed by LOORRRIIIIIEEEEE!! I hurried to the back door and saw Georgie sitting on the ground. I went on out to him and all he could do was point at his foot. The toe of his shoe was mangled and blood was gushing out...well, maybe seeping...but as scared as we both were, it may as well have been gushing. I got his shoe off and ran back to the house to a towel...and grabbed my purse. I wrapped his foot in the towel and helped him hobble to the car and took him to the ER. His foot..toes mainly...were chewed up from the mower...but the doctor couldn't do anything except bandage it up and scold him for having his foot in front of the lawn mower while starting it. For the rest of his life, he's had problems with that big toe!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment