Something that not many people know about me is that I was adopted at birth. My birth certificate looks like any other and listed the adoptive parents as mother and father. I was never told this until I was 18 or 19 years old. My birth certificate says Mobile, Alabama. I always wondered about that since we lived in Gulf Port, MS for a few years.
I don’t remember my adoptive dad. I thought he had something to do with the Airforce base in Biloxi, MS and was later told he was a teacher. I knew they got divorced when I was young. Mom (adopting) then moved back to Cincinnati where her parents lived. I grew up there till the time I was entering 9th grade. She then married Bill Jenkins who was a long a time friend. We moved back to Biloxi at that point where I finished high school.
Bill developed Parkison’s disease and they wanted to move back to Cincinnati. He soon died. Mom died a few years after that from a heart attack. I believe I was 23 at the time. I stayed in the area moving from Ohio to KY then back to Ohio with my ex-wife Allison. In 2023 Allison and I made a plan to move to North Port, FL and did it. But by 2024 the relationship had fallen apart ending in divorce. I’m now living in Port Charlotte, FL as of 2025.
I met new girl that I fell in love with quickly. Deborah Raymond who is a Navy veteran, loves the ocean and fishing. We have a dream to get a sailboat which is why this site was created. She submitted DNA to a match website and found a half brother in California. Deborah knew I was adopted and had no parents for the last 34 years. The only one I called mom was my mother-in-law from Allison’s side of the family. She asked me why I never looked for my real mom since it was easy for her to find a brother. I had decided a long time ago that I was just not interested.
One day I get a friend request on FaceBook. Nothing unusual since that happens often if you are active on the social site. I looked at the profile and it was an older woman from MS who went to Biloxi High School. I accepted since I thought maybe there was a connection there. In a PM I asked “Do I know you?” She responded “No, I’m much older. Guess we don’t know each other.” I thought, OK, and went about my business. However, I have to be honest that the thought did cross my mind that she might be my real mom. Location and age lined up.
Next week Aug 9th I get this:
I’m a tech guy. First thought “scammer”, but the profile didn’t match that of a scammer. I asked more questions. She told me that she hired Pamela Slanton to find me. I also talked to Pamela on the phone to verify all this. Everything I was told was correct. Mary Lee Mason is my real mother. I had to tell Deborah that moment and I actually cried while hugging her.
Mom and I talked on the phone for hours and messaged back and forth for a few months. She made plans to visit by Oct 9th. She is still here as I write this. Last Sunday we did a boat trip across the Charlotte Harbor to the Rivera Grill in Punta Gorda. Here are some of the photos with all of us; Mary Lee, Jim, Deborah, Brendan and Kyle my sons.
Mary Lee has owned a few sailboats and loves shrimp. I love shrimp and boating plus want to get a sailboat. I hope to make that happen and take mom on a sailing cruise soon. Here we are starting a new chapter in life. Things change fast, so don’t blink you might get taken by a big wave.