Oh Ryan! Perfectly said! You are an awesome writer!!! I often have similar dreams about my past and family, and I find myself questioning why I’d dreamed the particular dream, as it isn’t as if any (or majority) of my family ever even think of me any longer. Perhaps I have already died in their eyes. But I miss them all! I have lost, really all of them, with exception of Margie, because she has been oust and axed from the family, too, and feels just like me. I miss Rhett so much and I know you do, too. You were best buddies, not only brothers. I haven’t heard hide or hair from either Rick or Skip and I so worry where they are and how they are both doing. Are they both still alive, I wonder? Last time I spoke to Rick he had gone to see Jim ( July, 2022), as he was on his death bed, to say goodbye. I didn’t go because I feared being verbally accosted by our very loving family; it happens to me all the time, but like Rick and Margie and Jay and Gene and Pete and Skip, I also have heart disease. Two totally clogged arteries showed up on my recent cat scan. My heart stops and starts now like dozens of times per day. I have many other health problems, too, but my heart’s a biggie… Fun times, indeed. (Sarcasm detected?) Anyhow, even Jasmine has yet again lost touch with your mom. So sad!! When Mom, your grandma, and then Rhett passed away, her brain snapped like a rubber band… And I miss her and I miss Rick and Skip, too. The last time I went to see Pete, I told him I love him to a very weak, “yeah, love you, too.” Honestly if he never sees me again, will he care? Doubtful. Joanie still loves me but we don’t talk often enough. Since Don died, I think, she has a difficult time by herself. But she is stubborn like my mom, your grandma always was… A Hineline trait, perhaps?

Yes indeed we all need to recall who Jesus was and who he hung out with, certainly NOT perfect people! As nobody is perfect. I am far from, but thankful that I am forgiven for all my shallow sins. I basically live by the Golden Rule. I give it my best shot… anyhow!

I think we have similar dreams because our subconscious misses that old family love we used to feel. Theresa and I were just talking about you being little and when Harvey died. He had terrorized you and Rhett as children and the first time your folks stopped by after he died, I will never forget your frightened little face peeping around the kitchen doorway, asking if Grandpa Harvey was still in “the box,” (which you’d meant, his coffin.) I remembered getting mad at your dad because he spanked you for saying how you felt. You hadn’t grasped death yet and you were only close to turning three, and the man always frightened the crap out of you two boys. Indeed, that faith, JW’s are often wrong in many things, rearing kids, for instance. I am very grateful I never got baptised in it, although they all treat me, shun me even still as if I had… 🤔

Anyhow, Ryan. I love you. You are precious to me and always have been. PS, please NOTE: I use Theresa’s email because my old, forgetful brain cannot recall my own email password. 😖 But it’s all good… 🤐

Love,
Aunt Mary Jo