So, there seems to be some confusion about me and rightly so. To set the record straight, I am an only child. And, so when I wrote my recent blog about my “brother” Marty there were many who said WTF? I thought you were an only child? And, technically you are right.
However, a bit about me. I was born to Donna Somerville, the 4th oldest of Ruth and Ray Somerville of the legendary family from Westpark, Ohio with 13 kids. My mom was 21 years old when she had me. Unwed and NO plans what so ever to marry or even involve my father in my life. To this day, he knows nothing about me; we’ve never spoken; we’ve never met; and, in fact, to my knowledge he has NO idea I even exist—let alone that I’m a girl or that I have a beautiful and amazing 21 year-old-daughter, Meghanne, which I consider truly the greatest accomplishment of my life. He knows nothing about me and I don’t even have his name.
Instead, I’m a Somerville—through and through. I’m so proud of that fact that personally and professionally my name has ALWAYS been and always will be Sharon Somerville with an added last name—first McGuire and now Boyes.
In 1969, when I was born, being a single parent was not the norm and coupled with the fact that my mother—well… had issues and still does. My grandparents, Ruth & Ray, took me in and raised me as their own. At the time of my birth 10 of their 13 kids still lived under their roof and Marty was in kindergarten, Peggy 10 years old, Annie 11 and the remainder of the kids up Ray (7th oldest) were under the age of 18. So yes, I was just another baby in the house and treated as such. I was number 14. There was no distinction. I was just another Somerville under the roof of Allien Ave.
My grandparents cared for me like their own and honestly, although I knew I had a different “mother,” since my mother was hospitalize for much of my early years for her mental illness which she still battles today, I don’t think I realized she was my “mom” until I was five years old when she took me out of the house to live with her, my “aunt” Patty and her daughter, my “sister” Michelle. Michelle was also another “niece” raised in the Somerville household. In fact, I know I didn’t fully realize this fact, until my grandparents both died in 1977 and 1978 respectively, and Michelle moved to Florida with her “parents.”
For the record. I LOVE my real mom, Donna, and will until the day she dies—and sadly, I know for a FACT that I will be the one to bury her given her fragile mental state. I am so fortunate to have had a few really good years with her and right now she is in a good place and we have a good relationship. I cherish that every day. But, I’m a realist.
My point is this. There is an old African saying that “it takes a village to raise a child.” And, I was so blessed to be born into the village of the Somervilles….they really did rally around me to raise me as a family—and that family cannot be defined by traditional words like “sister,” “brother,” “niece,” etc.”. I will always consider, Peggy, Annie, Ruthie, Marian, Karen and especially my beloved sweet Michelle to be my sisters. Patty & Jim to be my second parents, who took me in when I had terrible postpartum depression with Meg; Ray, Jerry and Timmy who were those father figures I never had. JoAnne, who took me in to her home, the oldest, pillar of strength, an amazing guiding force in my life. And, I will always & forever, to the day I die, consider Marty to be my brother—in the truest sense of the word.—because he was and always will be. For those of you who have read my blog…he was my everything and made me the person I’ve become…I am so grateful for my life thanks to him....and you don’t even know the half of the story.
Thanks for reading.
