A Better Picture of Myself

John Congdon — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 02:11:19 +0000

I recently wrote a post “I was raised a typical boy“. A few weeks after I wrote it, I had forgotten the exact details of what I put in it. All I knew was that it represented a very emotional response to a picture that I had received from my dad. I received many comments from friends that it was well written (which is unusual for me). During a phone call with my mom, I felt like sharing the emotional side of myself and told her of the post. Not realizing how much the post itself would hurt her. I alluded to a conversation where my dad said he had no clue we were moving. He may have said it more along the lines of, at the time of the divorce, I expected to get to see my kids at least every other weekend and two weeks in the summer. I don’t remember the exact wording, but he has never talked badly of my mother. Mom, I am very sorry for the post and the feelings that it caused. I know you don’t want to talk about it with me, so I hope this means as much to you as it does me.

She did a great job raising me. Can’t confirm or deny the same for my sisters…

I made allegations about her destroying pictures without knowing the truth. I got home last night after bowling to a box on my doorstep. It included many things and was a very precious gift. My wife and I sat down to look through it and I was overwhelmed with emotion once again. I will post some of them here, eventually.

It started with newspaper clippings of the announcement of my mom and dad’s wedding. Many of them, different newspapers and pictures. It was great seeing my mom at that time of her life. Then there was a photo album that had pictures of my mom the day before my birth and then my first year. Seeing my family was exhilirating. I don’t remember much about many of them, but many memories did come rushing back. I was surprised that I could point out so many people to my wife.

There was also a newspaper from the day I was born. I was afraid to open it and look to much, I didn’t want to rip it or have it fall apart on me. It’s old, which means I am too…. :’-(

There was a scrapbook of my first year of school, with pictures, colorings, writing, and math work that I did.

I can’t believe all of this stuff has survived the past thirty three years. I can’t believe I didn’t know about it. And what gets me the most is that I can’t believe how much it meant to me. If you had asked me two months ago if this stuff would have meant anything to me, I would have said “It would be neat…” I would never have imagined the emotional response that it had elicited from me.

THANK YOU MOM AND DAD FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE GIVEN TO MAKE ME… ME!

THANK YOU KEITH AND CARRIE FOR MAKING MY RESPECTIVE PARENTS HAPPY FOR SO MANY YEARS!

I love you all and feel very lucky to have such a great family (my sisters included).

My Nephew, Jayden Michael, is Born

John Congdon — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:30:53 +0000

Congratulations to my sister, Kelleigh (Congdon, Morabeto, ummm… not really sure at time), for giving birth to my newest nephew, Jayden Michael (here we go again, Congdon, Morabeto, ummm… you get the idea).

I can’t wait to meet the little fella. I am sure I will make it to Jacksonville soon. In the meantime, here are some photos of him. Those that are squeemish should not look. Babies are not pretty. Gotta give my sister a hard time.

John Congdon » Family

A Better Picture of Myself

My Nephew, Jayden Michael, is Born