I wasn’t expecting much from this spring break. A few days off work, hanging out at home with the kids, write a little? Man, was I underestimating life.
Last Wednesday I was parked on Lansing Ave, waiting for the middle child to come out of school, while listening to the youngest jabber on about her day in school. I was trying to stay awake and concentrate on my Hidden City game after a long day of listening to kids jabber. Rudely, my phone buzzed, jolting me to full awareness, I glanced at the message and passed the phone to my daughter.
“It’s for you.” I said.
“It’s from Jetah!”
“What does it say?”
“Call me as soon as you can. Marvin and I are driving to Laura Mie(?) right now and the service is spotty, but we should be there by 3 our time.”
“Who’s Marvin?” I asked.
“Where’s Larawmie?”
“I think you mean Laramie, it’s in Wyoming. Why is she in Wyoming?”
“I have no idea.” She hands the phone back to me.
“Aren’t you going to call her?”
“I’ll call her later.”
The middle child appeared, the phone was put away and life went on.
Thursday morning I was just about to clock in at work when my phone buzzed again.
Did you ever message Zoe?
It was from my Ancestry.com cousin. I stared at it blankly for a minute. Then realized there was another message above it.
Call me as soon as you can…..
WHAT!!
I fired off a quick note letting her know I’d missed her message yesterday and no I hadn’t sent a message to Zoe and I was just getting to work and I would call her at lunch.
Then I spent the next four hours wondering what in the world she’d found out that would require me calling her. My imagination went a bit crazy. I admit it.
At lunch, I checked my phone and was dismayed to find she was at a lecture and would call me when she was done. I tried again after school but she wasn’t in a good cell coverage area and I heard every third word for about 20 seconds before service completely cut out. ARGHHHH
Finally at 5 o’clock that night my phone rang. She’d returned from her trip and wanted to let me know that she had messaged Zoe. Zoe was a new match that had showed up on Ancestry in both of our lists the last week. I don’t know all that much about DNA but my matching numbers with Zoe were double what they were with my cousin, Ann. She thought Zoe might be the granddaughter of the woman we think was my mother, and she asked her that in the message.
“Let me read you her reply.” She said.
Yes, I am Vicky’s granddaughter, though I didn’t know her well. I met her only twice in my life. My father is her only son, though she did have a daughter she gave up for adoption. We don’t know anything about her.
I don’t remember a word she said after that until at some point she said, “There it is. Plain as day. Confirmation. We were right, Vicky was your mom!”
After that everything gathered speed and information came fast and crazy. I had Friday off school and I asked Ann if I could start my family tree now, she said I had plenty of DNA to do so. After I added my mom, I started looking at my matches, searching for one that Ann didn’t share. I had to go down to 4-5th cousin matches but I found one. And I looked at his tree for one minute before I found a name I recognized. I spent five more minutes verifying my find then called Ann.
“Am I looking at this right?”
I was.
May I introduce to you, Vicky and John, my parents.
Over the course of the weekend I I’ve looked at hundreds of pages, records, clippings and family trees. This is the story I’ve built around those records, with no input from anyone who actually know them. Any mistakes are all mine. In coming years I hope to add to my understanding of them.
John was born in Chicago, an only child. I believe Vicky was born in California but I haven’t got my hands on a record to prove me right.
1968 – John was married with four children, Vicky, a single girl. In 1968 John divorced his first wife and Vicky gave me up for adoption, the day I was born.
1969-John and Vicky marry.
1971- John and Vicky divorce, John immediately remarried.
1973- John and Vicky divorce again (? still looking for accurate/missing records)
1974- Vicky marries her second husband and gives birth to a son.
1979- Vicky marries second husband again(? still checking)
1984- John divorces his third wife.
1994- John dies.
2009- Vicky dies.
2018- Their daughter finally finds them.
WOW [jaw drops].
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I know.
It’s just been crazy!
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The hairs on the back of my arm were standing on end as I read this! I’m so happy for you, Carly! So many hugs sent your way!
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It was pretty emotional, I kid you not. Now the information just keeps rolling in, bit by bit. It’s really fun.
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Definitely exciting!
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I’m surprised how tired I am this week. lol
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I think I’m happy for you. It is sort of a mixed blessing though. Kinda cool to discover a half brother and sad to find out both your birth parents are dead. But at least now you can hopefully find out medical histories and perhaps start some new family relationships!
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Yes, I have aunts and an uncle, a niece, cousins galore, several older half siblings and a younger. It could keep me busy for quite a while. I was a bit of an open secret in their family so there is a high level of acceptance, so very nice!
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My adopted sister found her family recently. She and her daughters visited them in the States and were accepted and treated so very well. Nice when families do that.
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It is. I know people where it hasn’t gone like that, it’s pretty sad.
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It’s a gamble but either way, isn’t it better to know??
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It’s important to know, but it may not feel better. Right?
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True. But until proven otherwise, why not look at things positively?
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Yes. True.
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All of a sudden it all came together! That’s great!
And to even find pictures! I can certainly see the resemblance to both of them. Must be really amazing to find the people you look like.
It sounds like you could have an opportunity to meet not only your niece, but your half-brother too. So cool. Well, and maybe four other half-siblings too!
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Yes, I’ll be able to meet them at some point. It’s interesting, the kind of relief it was to see a face and see bits of me looking back. Like a weight has been lifted, I didn’t even know was there. It’s rather hard to explain.
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My sister gave up a child for adoption when she was 19. Her daughter found her 30 years later. Seeing her was astonishing — she looked just like my sister did at that age! While they live in different cities, she has become part of my sister’s family as well as our extended family. She fits in so well with our whole clan. Nature over nurture in a lot of characteristics.
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I think I have more the look of my father. But there is some curiosity with those who knew my mom well, about who I might remind them off.
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Carly, I am so happy for you.
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Thank you! It’s really been wonderful.
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how amazing, the puzzle pieces fall into place. You resemble your mother, but you definitely have your father’s chin! It looks as if some questions are being answered and hopefully more will be as well. I hope you get to meet your new relatives and everything goes well.
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It would be a trip around the states but it would be fun!!
Lots of questions have been answered. Just today I spoke with my cousin again and was told my mom spoke about me often, sure I would be able to find her, looking forward to it. I was also told my brother has spend a lot of time looking for me. I know how helpless it can make you feel, that lack of success.
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Well I’ll bet that phone call to your brother (or vice versa) will be an amazing one! I’m so happy for you!
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Thanks Zee. He’s cute, my little brother. lol
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Spawn asked me to do a background search to see if I can find his sister’s number. I think he’s going to try through Facebook again, now that’s he’s friends with their mutual cousins. his message will show up.
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It’s an interesting renewal or relationship, brother and sister that have never met. Not quite like meeting mom or dad, but vital, necessary. I wonder how it will feel.
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Well, I pray that it’s a GREAT renewal!!!! Spawn has misgivings – his half sister has had a difficult time of it since her mother died when she was 11.
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I hope it turns out better than he expects.
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I do to. She seems to be a troubled young lady, but then considering her father and the stunt that he’s apparently pulled, no one can blame her.
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