I know I've mentioned before that my one and only son wrote me and the rest of the family on my 70th birthday which was fourteen and a half years ago. Since then none of us have heard a peep out of him but I am fortunate in that his wife has kept in touch via email and also sent photos every now and again. I am ever grateful to Dianne for doing this for me and last month when she celebrated her 56th birthday she sent me a photo of the family taken that day. Not having seen my son for so long I of course noticed a difference in him (less hair for one thing) and it is amazing now how much like his dad (my first husband) he is. Not entirely, but there is definitely a strong likeness. His dad though has more hair and has never had a beard. Last time I saw that beard it was quite dark.
Their daughter Jessica (she apparently prefers Jess these days) looks very much like her mother and I think their son James takes after his mum too. Quite a handsome young man and much taller than both his parents. Jess is now married to Ryan and it was probably he that took this photograph. I'm so glad that someone did anyway and Di thought to email it to me.
Steve and Di had purchased a property in Tasmania several years ago and had several holidays there. Steve actually found work and stayed there on his own a couple of times. Di says it is now becoming too much work and too expensive keeping two largish properties going so the Tassie house has been sold. The home they have here is on 5 acres so a lot of work to keep it up to scratch and it has always looked beautiful. A quite large house with a really beautiful garden. Di has a real green thumb when it comes to growing thing. They are over in Tassie now to fetch the things they want to bring home; the rest will be sold over there.
Whatever Di's motive is for keeping in touch doesn't worry me. I am just so grateful that she has chosen to do so and I have been able to follow the two youngsters growing up, hearing about them going to university and now about their working lives. Jess turned 30 in May and James will be 28 this coming December. It is sad that I've not seen either of them since they were still at school and I often wonder if ever will see them again while I am still here. One never entirely gives up hope. Jess actually did write to me a few years ago but that was a one off
There, now you know about the 'other' family I have. Hope you don't mind me sharing this with you but sometimes I just have to 'let it all out".
