Chosen Family

     The story goes that when I was about two years old, my father was sitting in a restaurant, probably drinking coffee.  A waitress fainted and my dad caught her before she hit the floor.  Thus began the friendship between our family and the Adkinsons, i.e., Robert and Colene, and their children, Mike, Vickie, Faye, and Becky.  I was seven years younger than their youngest daughter, Becky.  

    They lived only about 25 minutes from us over the state line in South Carolina.  The families vacationed together; ate together; shared birthdays and holidays together (which we still do now that I have moved back to Georgia); took many Sunday afternoon shopping trips together; etc., etc. Even when we moved to Florida and then back to Georgia in Swainsboro, we still visited and did things with them.  They have been a part of my life nearly my entire life.  

    One of my earliest memories is Colene and Robert picking me up and taking me with them to Six Flags.  Most of my memories involve the Adkinsons.  Even when I grew up and moved away from home, Colene never missed my birthday, and almost every time I came home, I visited them.  Colene and I wrote letters and when I called, we always said "I love you" before hanging up the phone.  The Adkinsons are our chosen family.  

    Colene passed away yesterday at the ago of 90.  She had Alzheimer's so she really hasn't been with us ever since I moved back.  Sometimes I thought she knew who Mom and I were; other times not.  But she was still Colene with the witty, sharp tongue and the looks she gave.  I am grateful I got to see her on Saturday for one last visit.  She didn't know I was there as far as I know, but I was able to tell her how much she meant to me.  How so many of my memories include her.  I am grateful she is at peace now, but I sure do miss her already.  

Colene
This is probably about how she looked when she met my father.

    Colene was a spitfire.  I was always in awe of her because she was the only person I knew who would stand up to my father.  I remember we were camping with them once, and she was making sandwiches.  Daddy said something, and Colene cooly replied, "You can eat it or you can wear it!" No one else ever got by with talking to him like that.  

From left: Faye, Vickie, Becky and me (about age 3).
This was a vacation to Florida the families took together.

Colene at her dining room table.
I cannot tell you how many meals I have eaten at that table.

Here I am at that very table, celebrating
my 10th birthday.

Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina
Another vacation and with the next generation.
Front: my niece, Missi, and Colene and Robert's
grandson, Kenny;
Back: Colene's niece, Angela, my mom, me
(probably about 14), and my nephew, Harry Jr. 

Colene and Robert Adkinson
about 2005