Nov 20 2008
The Thanksgiving Sign
I received some disturbing yet wonderful news yesterday. It was news that brought me to tears, and yet lightened my heart at the same time. But, just to leave you on a cliff hanger, to keep you waiting, bear with me while I fill you in quickly with the back story.
My grandmother who raised me had five children, 17 grandchildren, and 26 great grandchildren when she passed away four years ago. Her middle son had a daughter with a German woman whom he brought back to the states back in 1982. Well, they divorced, and we later heard that the daughter, my cousin had passed away. She was four years old and had been killed by a drunk driver as she rode her bike into the street. Last night, I received an email from another cousin of mine, one who joined the family by marriage. He told me that my uncles daughter called his house and asked for his wife, who just so happens to have the same first name as me.
Well, being the skeptic I am, I had high doubts about this person, until she emailed me, and had pictures of us all as children from those two years she was here!! I burst out in tears as I realized this beautiful young woman was my cousin. At the same time, I felt such deep anger and sadness to realize either my uncles ex wife had lied to him, or in his spiteful way, he lied to the family. It took me a while last night to get over those feelings.
Tonight, I sit here and write her back and forth to Germany, and realize her and I have so many things in common it’s uncanny. We both were raised by our grandmothers, we both had bad relations with our own mothers, (I havent spoken to my own in 8 years), we both have birds, we are both libra’s, and we look alike in many ways.
I was starting to feel sad just the other day when I thought about how much I miss the old days of huge family get togethers. Now, none of us speak, and if we do, its very rare. So, for me to get in touch with someone who used to be my playmate, my friend, my family this close to a holiday meant to celebrate that family, is a very wonderful thing.
So, I hope you enjoyed my little story, and I hope you pull out the dusty old albums to look at your own old pictures. Maybe it will motivate you to contact a family member you lost touch with yourself.
