What a Day.

It wasn't until 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning that I was able to get to sleep, mainly because of the heat; but once it cooled off I slept good in the truck tent. I got up once to go to the bathroom and entered the house, it wasn't something I wanted to do behind my Uncle's bushes, and then I was up again around 7:30, I was able to look in the living room and saw a sea of bodies. Little ones everywhere. I made myself some breakfast of fried chicken and mac & cheese and ate on the raised deck. I went back into the house and grabbed the shower, and when I got out I notice that Micaela was up and moving. It was about 30 more minutes bef0re anyone else got to going. I visited with my cousins and the kids until about 1:00 PM and then left for San Antonio. Janice wasn't there at the ICU so I was able to have some alone time with James and say my goodbyes. About 5:00 I left and went to see Aunt Nell, she told me that Janice was in Devine making arrangement for James and that they are going to disconnect the vent in the morning.

After I left Nell, I got a wild hair and did something I thought I'd never do.

I set the GPS for Universal City and went to the last know address of my mother.

I knocked on the door and some mutt of a dog came running to the door and stuck it's mussel through the curtain. It was followed by a face of an old woman. The door was opened and I asked if she was J.M. she replied that she was. I asked her if she was once married to my dad, giving her his name. She replied that she had. I told her that I was her youngest son, Charles. She looked at me and said, "You're kidding".

A lot better then I'd expected.

We talked a bit on the front porch, she was unsure if I was going to be hostile or not. I stayed calm and cool, and before too long she invited me into the house. She made me some tea and we answered each others questions. I found out that I had missed meeting my step-dad by about two weeks. After 40 years of marriage he had died of a cardiac arrest at the age of 82. We talked for about an hour and a half before I saw that it was starting to get dark. She put a twist or two on some truths that made her look like the victim. The resemblance of her to my brother Randy was remarkable. So, I've come to realize that if I pursue any type of relationship with her I must never let my guard down. But she does have information about my family from her side, and that's what I need.

We said our goodbyes but before I left I had her tell me about some pictures on the mantle piece that she had. Some were from her late husband's family, and others were of her. I saw a picture of Julia, my grandmother, I have very little memory of her, and also one of my great-grandmother and a great-aunt.

And then came the shocker, there was a picture of me. It was one of me taken with Santa Clause. I was maybe about 4 or 5.

It took me all of 30 mintues, 10 years ago to find out where she was. And she had a name changed. I've haven't.

I now need to decide if it'll be worth it to pursue the matter of why she never tried to find me.