Today's post is by my mom. This is definitely one of my favourite blog adventures that have come to be because of something that was posted in 2011 and 2014. Read on to find out more...
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I have always been intrigued with family
history. As as kid, I loved hearing
stories about my ancestors and with my vivid imagination, these people always
seemed so real to me. I especially loved
talking with my friends about the past and took part in the usual childish
bantering back and forth about family tragedies, where my ancestors came from,
how longed they had lived in Canada, etc.
You probably did it yourself as a kid, always wanting to go one better
than the next kid … “Yeah, well, you think that’s something, I had a great
uncle that once was … ” Yes, you did it
too. So every Remembrance Day, I had my
bragging rights – I did have an uncle that was killed in World War II. Not many kids could have that claim! And like the broken record I was, I would
have to retell his whole story every year!
And that would lead on to increasing the sadness of the story by my
telling the tale about how years later his widow (my dad’s sister) died
suddenly in her early 40’s from sleeping sickness acquired from a Saskatchewan
mosquito bite (or so I was told). But back
to my Uncle Mike …
Last year on Deena’s Remembrance Day blog (you can read it here),
she posted Uncle Mike’s military photo and his story about being killed in
action during World War II. Sometime
later, she received a comment from a reader who was researching Uncle Mike (her
grandfather) and came across Deena’s blog.
It didn’t take long to put things together and discover she was my
cousin’s daughter!!
So my cousin and I have spent the last past
year exchanging family information, photos and memories. It has been wonderful getting acquainted with
a relative whom I had never met who also was so interested in finding out more
about the family she never knew.
When I would read her emails to my 87 year
old dad and share her photos with him, it was really moving to see the feelings
that came to him, and painful too to know that he was recalling his dearly
loved sister who passed away so long ago and her family who he has lost touch
with over the years. So, an idea was
planted in my brain. I was thinking how
neat it would be if my dad could actually meet this long lost cousin and share
his many stories with her. I didn’t want
to get my hopes up too much, after all, dad is 87 and he would have to travel
all the way to the west coast to meet her.
But things all worked out beautifully and we made a wonderful trip to
the west coast in September. I was so
nervous and excited to meet my cousin in person – it was like going on a blind
date I guess! I saw this lady drive into
the parking lot of the restaurant where we were to meet, and I knew at once
that it was her! It was just a natural
thing for both of us to hug and smile from ear to ear! I felt an immediate connection to her and knowing
all of my dad’s brothers and sisters, she was clearly one of the clan to me!
My cousin brought along her photos to share
with me and I carried my little package of keepsakes to turn over to her. You see, my mom was never an
overly-sentimental person and she never held onto to very many things, but she
did have what my sister and I called a wooden “treasure chest.” And in it, she had the oddest assortment of
items that must have held much meaning and importance to her.
Whenever we could sneak into it, my sister
and I would sift through everything in this treasure chest. I’m sure I was the one more interested in the
paper contents; my sister was only after mom’s costume jewelry she wore for
square dancing.
Mom had kept two particular greeting
cards: one from my aunt who had died so
suddenly, and one from my newly-found cousin’s mom. Both were get well cards to my dad who had
broken his leg back in 1963 while they had been out for a Saskatchewan
visit. My mom must have kept the cards
because just a couple weeks after they were received, my aunt died. Also saved in the treasure chest, was a
Christmas greeting card received from my World War II uncle Mike way back in
1942. I really thought it was important
to return these original documents to my new cousin so that they could be
shared with her family. Although just a
small thing, I knew that seeing a deceased loved one’s handwriting can be a
very powerful experience. I am so glad
to have been able to fulfill this dream idea of meeting my cousin and also
having the terrific experience of seeing her have the chance to hug and visit with
my dad, her grandmother’s favorite little brother! And all because of Deena’s blog and a chance
hit on a search! Wow!
-Marlene
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Marlene, Willie and Kim, September 2015 |
20 comments
So cool!!
ReplyDeleteWow, just wow. So very cool!!!
ReplyDeleteThat is just an AMAZING story!! Thank you so much for sharing! I totally agree about seeing someone's handwriting...i have all of these old recipes from of grandmother and everytime I pull them out, I feel like she's back with me! It's very special :) XOXO
ReplyDeleteSo amazing and wonderful. I also love to see the handwriting, it really brings it to "life!"
ReplyDeleteThank-you for sharing this story, Marlene and Deena! I am the "long-lost' cousin, Kim - the granddaughter of Michael Patrick Kimber. Our meeting was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life - connecting with Marlene, Don and Willie (my mom's very favorite Uncle!). As my mom has passed away, it was as if I was sharing a part of her as well as meeting new (and wonderful) family. Marlene, the treasures you gave me have a special place in my heart and home and I appreciate them more than I can say. Thinking of all of you today and remembering all of our veterans.
ReplyDeleteLove Kim
So so cool. What an amazing story and what a connected little world!
ReplyDeleteThis is the best story, and I'm so glad you shared it with us Marlene! Another reason why the blogging world is so wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this beautiful story...family is
ReplyDeleteWow - that is so crazy! Such a lovely story on such an important day. Thank you for sharing your story Marlene.
ReplyDeletewow that's such a crazy and beautiful story. Funny how the world works sometimes. So glad you found another piece of your family. xo
ReplyDeletewww.confessionsofafrumpymommy.com
It is a very neat story!
ReplyDeleteYou should frame those recipes and put them up in your kitchen!
ReplyDeleteNeato, hey?
ReplyDeleteDefinitely the coolest thing to happen to this blog
ReplyDeleteI agree!
ReplyDeleteIt's crazy how it can bring a person back to life in a way.
ReplyDeleteVery crazy! I have since received more communication from people searching our Great Uncle!
ReplyDeleteAgreed, so very neat!
ReplyDeleteSo glad that you reached out! I have loved being witness to this story as it unfolds.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite story of the year!
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely day!