Mama Neet and Uncle Daddy

My parents are snowbirds. They come down every winter from Lexington, Kentucky. Now they come to rural southwest Alabama to get away from the snow. They used to go to Florida to play golf, but now they’re past that. They are in their 80s/. They are still active every day, going to the local senior center and church activities. They live in a mother-in law suite over my brother’s garage while they are here. However, talking about the new senior apartments that have opened in town as their next stop.
My mother is Mama Neet. She named herself that when she had grandchildren. Uncle Daddy is what we named him when he became our stepfather. They short version is – Mama and Daddy were married. His sister Mary Jim was married to Bill. Daddy died. Mary Jim died. Mama married our uncle who became Uncle Daddy.
It sure is convenient to have your mother marry somebody you already like. It’s even more convenient to have her marry someone whose children are kin to you. You know you like the steps and in-laws. It saves much adjustment and grief. There are fewer family conflicts. We call the cousins Cuddin’ Brother and Cuddin’ Sis.
We laugh about what Jeff Foxworthy could doth our family. “You may be a redneck if you have an Uncle Daddy.” We think it far better to have an Uncle Daddy than a Stepmonster.
Uncle Daddy was raised in a cold weather state, but he’s the one who wants to be in a warmer clime. Mama just wants to come home and be among family.
Let me tell you something even stranger. My Gentleman Caller had an Uncle Daddy, too. He’s from Louisiana originally, so I guess it’s a southern thing.
I think it’s a marvelous idea. We have somebody we like to entertain Mama and keep her out of our hair and business (to some extent). We have someone who loves to eat as much as we do, so there are lots of family get togethers. We had one this weekend that involved a marathon of feeding.
They will be here until April. We will all have gained 10 more pounds by then.