Visit from “Polly”
September 20, 2007 | Birthdays, Travels
The Texas branch of the family was privileged to receive a visit from “Polly,” the title that we’ve given to William L. Polhemus Sr. He flew from B’ham just to spend the evening with us in honor of Bill, Jr.’s birthday, and then flew right back. As busy as he is, I must say I was very honored to have received such a wonderful gift.
I should mention that our grandchildren (formally, they’re “step-grandchildren” but as “Papa Luis” can attest, that distinction doesn’t mean a whole lot in certain instances), having met “Polly” a few times, are thoroughly in love with him. Everyone here that knows him, knows that he has that effect on children. Brenda used to be enthralled by him, in fact, when she was a little girl.
The Polhemus’ grandfather - “Polly’s” dad - married our grandmother when he was in his late 40s, and had four children with her. He died in 1962, and I am likely the only one of us four Polhemi that remembers him at all. Anyway, his nickname was always “Polly,” and so we have transferred that title to my bio-dad for the great-grandchildren’s sake. Since “Polly” is “only” 72 and in very good health, it may be that they will actually get to grow up knowing him.
Back to the visit: We went to a local steakhouse and had a great meal. At the end, “Polly” gave me an unexpected and quite breath-taking gift! A few years ago, he made a business load to me at interest, which I’ve been paying back for the past couple of years, but still have quite a ways to go.
He gave me a birthday card, and in it wrote “loan paid in full.” I cannot tell you what it means to us. I’m still rather speechless about it!
During our visit, we talked about long-lost cousins whom we have not seen in a long time, and it dawned on me that the Polhemus side (which isn’t as close as our Mom’s side of the family; believe me Mom, we do very well in that respect) has never even so much as TALKED about a family reunion. I think this is something that we ought to consider.
Beth, I think that you and our cousin Pam, who I believe lives in Birmingham if I’m not mistaken, would be PERFECT to organize such a thing. Let’s talk about it.
I didn’t want to take up too much time on the 1048 blog with this, since I know it’s of limited interest to the rest of you, but I do want to say that I’m thankful for my biological father, as well (of course) as “Papa Luis,” whom I still call “Dad.” I love both of them so much, although for different reasons, and I thank the Lord that as difficult as divorce can be on families, I have such sterling examples of “Dad-ness” as both my bio-dad and my sealed-for-eternity Dad.
Love to all.
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