The Relatives

I will do my best to remember everyone but if I’ve left anyone out, don’t feel slighted.  I may have just run out of time.

Grandmom – Bloom

What I remember about her is

• she was a great cook – we ate a lot of Thanksgiving dinners at her house
• she kept it neat too even though outside her lawn was brown as it was always “raining” soot from the local steel mill - when we visited, our car may have been clean when we arrived but when we left (usually 4-6 hours later), we could write our names on the hood.
• always had a smile and seemed genuinely happy to see everyone.

Died 1988 (at 88?).  Lived in MD but did move from Sparrows Point.

Grandpa – Bloom

Most of what I remember about him was he did great needlepoint.  Pillow cases, sheets, towels, etc., he had a great eye for detail.  He was amazing.  I wish I was older so I could have gotten to know him better.

Grandma – “Mumzie” Dawson

All I really remember is

• She was very fat – obese doesn’t quite cover it.  She slept on the couch (sort of) with her knees on the floor and face down on the cushions.  All I remember it was hard for her to get around.
• I learned a lot of card games there – Rook, Pinochle, Canasta, Hearts.  I don’t ever remember playing poker, which I learned from my dad.
• First and last time I got stung by a bee.  I was very young and running through the yard.  I got stung on one of my fingers and it swelled up and I cried my head off for a few minutes.  The pain subsided and the cold compress that Mumzie gave me turned it into a memory by the time we went home.

Cousin – Melvin ‘Dale’ Dawson

Lived for a long time in China (where he met his wife, Lulu).  Has a son, Trey, who is 4 or 5.  Now lives in FL, expecting to grow an orchard.  I probably haven’t seen him in about 45+ years.

Grandpa Dawson

I really don’t remember much about him but when he died (I was young).  I do remember how David was bitten by fleas when he slept on a mattress that was kept on their back porch.  Oh, there was an incident with my dad when he returned from his dad’s funeral regarding his missing license.  I think I wrote about it in another article so I won’t bore you and repeat it here.

Bruce Calvert Dawson

He had many jobs (Army, milkman, insurance salesman) throughout his life.  His last was he managed a bowling lane called Center Lanes (aka City Line probably because the shopping center next to it was called the City Line Center).  He taught me how to bowl at age 4.  He wouldn’t let us play the pinball machines.  He told me it was like gambling.  Pool was ok.  Hailed from MD which may explain the origin of his middle name (and mine).  Born Oct 14, 1924 and died Dec 12, 1965 (bronchitis) after being bedridden for about a year.  They used x-rays to dry up the mucous build-up in his lungs.  Buried in a cemetery (I never knew where) in Philadelphia which I never revisited but wanted to if I ever got back East.  He also married my mom twice.  He strayed with Vera(?) (about 6 months) who seemed nice.

Muriel Jane Dawson (nee Bloom)

Before retiring, she worked for the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.  Was at the Forest Service before that (where I first heard of Smokey, The Bear).  In all, worked in government service about 30 years (and got a pin at her retirement, which I attended).  Her family lived in MD too but not sure where/how my folks met.  Born Oct 2, 1926 and died Nov 9, 2004 (after complications from surgery) in a hospice located in Richmond, CA.  At her request she was cremated but what happened to her ashes was never revealed by her executor, our sister Dara.

Dane Bruce

Most of his work life was as a printer but he’s done other things.  For example, he had a good paying job after the Navy but got in a car accident which almost ended his life and couldn’t work for more than a year.  He worked for a while for the Church of Scientology.  He now lives with his girlfriend and no longer works.  Born Dec 6,1949 and currently lives in IN.

Dara Lynn – married name Worrell

Independent and working for herself as a transcriptionist.  Owns and cares for horses.  Born Aug 31, 1951 and currently lives in Southern CA (but may have moved to NC).

Bridgette Elizabeth Worrell

My only niece born Jan 31, 1971 and currently living with her mom.

David Wayne

Is a machinist by trade and has been inspecting parts for errors for at least the past decade.  Born Sep 27, 1952 and currently lives in IN.

Drew Calvert

Worked somewhere in the IT field since about 1985, which I got more and more involved in when at my first law firm.  Disabled with MSA.  Original onset 2004 and diagnosed 2007, when I was considered disabled by my job and let go.  Born Oct 14, 1953 and currently lives in IN.

Most of our relatives slowly became estranged to us kids, especially when we moved West in the 70s.  I think the only ones we stayed in touch with were on my mom’s side.  (My grandmother visited us in CA (twice?) before she died in ‘88.  My mom usually visited her in MD.)  Here is a list of those I remember or who I found out about later.  I confirmed some of this but again, you’ll have to excuse my fuzzy memory.

Aunt Vickie and Uncle George Gordon Dawson (the oldest)

I don’t remember much about her except our visits were always very happy and I enjoyed my time spent with all my cousins.  She was a great cook too.  Was she a native of another country (Egypt)?  He was an engineer who played some excellent electric organ music semi-professionally. He may have died shortly after his brother Bruce (my dad) from a heart attack.

Cousin - Denise Dawson

I don’t remember much about her except I had a huge crush.  I didn’t really know all the ins and outs but my heart would skip a beat whenever she was around.  Retired from a publishing business she started and now lives in FL.

Cousin - Yvette Dawson

We became pen pals when I was at Patton.  I remember eagerly anticipating her letters and hoped she enjoyed mine.  I wish I still had them.

Cousin - Bruce Dawson

What I remember the most about him was our time fishing.  He was the only one I ever did that with.  He was a good friend.

Keith Dawson

Son of Bruce (first cousin once removed?).  I connected with him through Facebook.  I wish there was still time to meet and get to know him.

Aunt Shirley and Uncle Ben Bloom

Lived across the street from Uncle Gordon.  Only seemed to visit them during holidays and they had two sons, Bennie and Raymond. 

Aunt Shirley (nee Bloom) and Uncle Rick

We would visit during the holidays but more often after my dad died.  I remember Uncle Rick would let Scott sit on his lap and take a drink of his beer.  I don’t think he ever got him drunk though.  I don’t remember what he did for a living and may have died at a young age.  I believe Aunt Shirley is still alive as well as their two children.  All three either still live in MD or moved to VA.  At one time had her email address (about 10 years ago).

Cousin – Kathleen Faith – married name Fuka

I think she’s either in VA or MD.  Has a cleaning service with her husband.  Likes the Ravens (NFL) team.

Cousin – Scott

Her brother.  I think he may live in VA.