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I never had the opportunity to get to know my Daddy's side of the family after my parents divorced in 1966. I visited my Grandmom Dosser as much as I was able, especially after Daddy passed away. I was living in Colorado at that time of his death and moved back to California to be closer to Grandmom. She was very ill the last few years of her life, and had a bad stoke in 1985 that left her without her language. She worked so hard to get it back and after some time she did, to quite a degree. I would take my girls (her only g-grand-children) and visit her every Sunday. On one of those Sundays, she brought out the family photos. She wanted me to know who was in each photo and when and where it was taken so I could write the info on the back. It was slow going and we could only get a few done every week. The time came when I just couldn't stand to see her struggle so, and we only did a couple a month. There were very many to do. After she had a second more mild stroke we abandoned the photos all together. When I got the photos after she passed away, all I could do was cry and cry when I saw that she had gone through them and put all the information on the backs of the photos in her own hand. I can hardly stand that all those photos and family letters and all were lost, it simply broke my heart. So I guess by my finding out as much as I can about my family and preserving it where it cannot be lost, is my way of making sure that what she did for me (which was far more than just writing on those photos) was not for naught. I cannot express how very much I appreciate and treasure finding and knowing so many members of my family that I never knew. I still miss my Grandmom a lot and I know she is smiling down on all of us, happy that we are getting to know one another. Family was very important to her. Well, I hope I haven't droned on too long. I just want everyone to know what I am about in my quest for my roots. Darrellyn
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