Bless Dorthy’s heart.  She had to call me one last time last night just to let me know my Uncle Robert “You know the one who lives in Chicago” will be calling me soon.  Probably during the day once he is able to get out and “buy himself some more minutes”.  I am so glad that I just pay for a flat rate plan with our cell phone company.

  Mike just smiled as he took my hand and gave it a squeeze.  “She isn’t going to rest until she can touch you”. He said with confidence and a joyful smile.  I just can’t hardly believe our reunion is going to be here very soon. 

  I called Ibbet (to remind you her name is Elizbeth).  With so many brothers and sisters living near her in Dalton, GA, it seem like a good idea to give out a few “Reunion” jobs.  I’ve tasked Ibbet with contacting as many of the siblings that Dorthy gets along with and lets all meet up and break bread together while Mike and I are visiting.

  Turns out after getting two recipes and driving directions that there is a Shoney’s Restaurant that could probably accommodate our group.

  Ibbet went on to tell me a bit about more about herself.  She likes to make decorated crosses with ribbon, trim and lace.  She makes them from Styrofoam. They are carved with a razor blade.

  She also (a little sibling rivalry here) told me she likes to dip snuff.  The funny part was apparently her and Dorthy disagree on occasion as to which snuff is the best to chew.  I haven’t asked Dorthy yet if she chews snuff, but my best bet is that she does.

  She gave me the telephone numbers of Shorty (Jerry) and Imogene.  Both very colorful characters.  Shorty is on kidney dialysis and lives in a single wide trailer.  He is just down Airport road and has an addition on the trailer.

  He was very hard to understand at times.  He did share that he has very high blood pressure and doesn’t get along very well.  But that his trailer has cable, running water and electric all included in his rent.  Honestly, he sounded like some one on illicet drugs.

  He does not drive but can read and write some what.  He enjoys watching sports and day time tv.  His wife and he have lived there for many years. He is now 50 years old and tired of reading the same magazines at the dialysis center.

  Then I called and spoke with Imogene.  Imogene is 51 now.  In 1993 she had brain surgery to control her severe epilepsy. She called them “fits”.  She likes to attend church but admitted yesterday she decided to be “just plain lazy” and sleep in.  She was planning to attend the evening services.

  At the beginning of the conversation she knew who Ibbet and Willis and even knew where the restarant is.  At the end of the conversation she did not.

  She told me that she had asked about “Barbara Joyce”.  To remind those of you who are joining us now, please see this post to read our story from the beginning.

  I had to tell her sadly that Barbara had died a few years back.  Apparently she is not the only member of the Roberson family that died on their birthday.  Apparently I had a great uncle that died on his birthday.

  I am going to close up today’s blog post and try to call some radio stations near Fort Payne, Alabama and try and get some interest in our adoption story.  So far, no luck.

  Thank you for joining me on this amazing journey.  Please bless someone today.

August 20, 2011

  Yesterday’s post chronicled my phone call with Uncle Willis who it turns out prefers for me to call him Charlie.

  Later on Saturday I received a phone call from Elizbeth.  She has always preferred to be called Ibbit (like Ribbit without the “R”).  When I answered the phone I heard a precious voice, deep southern accent and a “Hi Loretta”, “I’m your Aunt Ibbit”.

  She continued to chronicle the lineage of the family history.  She once again Heralded my name at birth as being Loretta Lynn Vone.  My birth father James Vone “a short skinny man” had indeed deceased in prison sometimes in the 1960’s. I did learn that he is buried at the prison.

  I found out that he was at the Penitentiary located in Millegeville, GA.  Now for those of you who are just joining my story, I not only know where this prison is, but I grew up very close by in Augusta, GA. To read the first blog post, please click here.

  I plan to call this facility on Monday to find out if they can verify my father’s information.

  Ibbit had three children of her own.  The oldest would have been 50 this year but she died in her 20’s of Asthma.  Her other daughter is also deceased but she didn’t really tell me any details about her life or death.

  She did tell me that she is now 70 years old and living in a home in Dalton, GA.  She has one surviving child, Tim who is 49 and at age 42 finished up his GED.  She also is illiterate and does not drive.(Dorthy also does not drive).  She depends upon her and her husband’s Social Security to make ends meet.

  She does go to church but stressed how ‘organized religion’ is not what she wants, she wants to worship the Lord.   They attend a “Living” waters church.  I know this is a precious place for her.  As a believer in Christ I so clearly see his hand guiding this entire process.

  I also got to speak with Tim, Ibbit’s only surviving child.  Who until Saturday August 20, 2011 didn’t even know his Aunt Dorthy had children.

  A late night phone call from Dorthy was a bit more difficult for both she and I.  I know that she has a bit too much time on her hands.  She had been thinking of Barbara and wanted to know more about her life and her death.  I told her what I could. 

  However, the bottom line is Barbara’s life was a life that ended with unfulfilled potential.  Cut short by an accidental prescription over dose. How the end of her life has affected me and more importantly precious Melissa.

  Unfortunately, Dorthy’s phone battery died and I left her one last voice mail before turning into bed.  Precious soul keeps  forgetting the time difference between us.  It gets late quickly.

   There are now better accounts of the three children that have now died, two boys and one girl.  Both boys died of renal failure and Aunt Betty of breast cancer.

  Ibbit likes crafts, and wants me to send her some pictures of our family.  Which I will be happy to do.  I plan to make some small hand made gifts to carry with me.

 I also plan to take a cup and saucer from my China. I have been collecting since I was a senior in high school. As a small gift to Dorthy.

  And yes, at times the information I am receiving is a bit over whelming. I pull my strength from the Lord and praise him for all the goodness he is blessing me and my family with.

  Friends, I am trying to get some media attention to our story.  Please if you know of a way to get this in the public eye, let me know.

  Have a great Sunday.  Hold tight to your family, don’t forget to tell them of your love for each of them.

  With Love,