I rented a car to start off on a 250-mile journey for a reunion with family members I had never met. Here is short recap of my story.

In 1998, six months after my dad died on January 1st, I learned in a courtroom, at the age of 46, that I was adopted at birth. This was a total shock. My birth records were opened via a court order.

A search was conducted by Sally File, an intermediary. Within six months, Sally located my biological mother living in Florida. From my mother, I had a half-sister and two half-brothers. Two years later, we all met. She was 16 when I was born, 15 when I was conceived. She was told the day after l was born by her mother and her doctor, that I was born dead, so she never looked for me, assuming I did not exist. She never told me who my father was. I traveled to see her a couple of times. We kept in touch on a cell phone mostly. She died two years after we met. I was able to be with her that night as she struggled to say, “Please forgive me,” at about 10 p.m. She later died at 11:30. I think she was finally at peace. For the next 18 years, l felt a void not knowing who my father was. Why did I have the personality that I did? So many confusing questions. So much to digest. Before DNA testing, I had no idea where to start to look.

I learned from the ancestry records that my mother was adopted also, in Maryland. Her adoptive father was from Colorado. He had married a young girl in 1916. In 1917, they had a baby boy. The mother died then in 1918, so he raised a young child until he moved to Maryland where he met a lady he would marry. They were in their 40s, so they adopted my mother. When they learned she was pregnant, they shipped her off to Albuquerque, where his son was living, attending art school. So that’s how I ended up in Albuquerque.

As soon as my mother got back to Baton Rouge after my birth in Albuquerque, she married an Naval seaman and had a baby girl who was born deaf. After an abusive relationship, she divorced him and later married a marine. She had two sons with him. Another abusive relationship, so another divorce ensued. She went back to her maiden name as she raised her sons.

Mid-November 2017, I sent in my DNA sample. I at least want to know what my heritage was. January 5, 2018, l received the DNA results from Ancestry. I sat for a moment at the computer, asking myself, how would my life change because of this information. I clicked the link. I learned that l was 48% European Jewish. I had one 2nd/3rd cousin named as a match. I sent a message. Within 30 minutes, l received a reply asking for my mother’s maiden name and birth date. I replied. Within 10 minutes, l received another reply. Probably best just to call me. This person supplied a number. I called. She said she had talked to her cousin and uncle already. It would appear that my father was the uncle’s brother. So within two hours I learned who my biological father was. So much to digest. I discovered he had died in 2013. He had two brothers. The older was still living. I learned I had two half-sisters. My dad’s wife was still living also. Many cousins.

The next evening, I spoke to my uncle. He has a clear mind and an amazing memory of when he grew up. When I returned his call, he told me that he appreciated my call. He said he really wanted to talk to me because he knew my mother Jerry. She had been best friends with his first wife. I knew then for sure this was very real. He shared many neat stories. My father had learned my mother was only 15, after having relations with my mother. He elected not to see her anymore, so he never knew she had become pregnant. My father had just started college and had plans to join the Air Force to become a pilot which he did. I am convinced more than ever that my mother knew who my father was. My dad, while in college, met his future wife, amazingly on a blind date set up by his friends. They married in 1955. He had three daughters.

My father also had what is called a “lazy eye.” It’s the result of a week muscle, which is easily corrected by surgery. He had this done before going into the Air Force. What’s interesting about this is that I had the same problem eye, which was corrected when I was 14. I also learned his favorite color was light yellow which has always been mine as well.

My two half-sisters put together a family reunion. l was off to drive to Baton Rouge to the reunion. My dad was buried in Abilene, TX, since he had been in the Air Force. That was his main duty station. He had retired as a Major and was a pilot who flew B-47s. His first child from his marriage died at the age of 2½ in a car accident. They were living in Abilene at the time. That is where they buried their daughter. When he died, he had wanted to be buried next to her.

My drive took me through Abilene. I wanted to stop at his grave site, perhaps for some closure. I’m getting shivers while writing this. The folks at the cemetery left a map of the grave location on their front door since l arrived after they closed for the day. Upon reaching the burial site, I walked up to the headstone. This was a hot, muggy Texas day. About five feet from the head stone, I experienced a sudden chill. Every hair stood on end. I felt a presence. As quickly as it came, it went away. I had a conversation with him about my life. As l looked down at my legs, I noticed I was being feasted on by the local mosquitos. This ended my visit, since I did not have any repellant. My visit was a great experience.

My cousin had arranged for three of us coming from out of town, some computed rooms at a hotel. The first evening, I met with a 1st cousin from NC and my 87-year-old uncle for dinner. That evening, I met with one of my half-sisters [see photo]. Later that evening, I met my other half-sister and my dad’s wife of 55 years. She was a very neat person. I felt very close to her. I learned a lot more about my dad. She talked a lot about how my dad had said many times that he wished that he had had a son. He just never knew about me. So, he became very close with his older brother’s son.

The next day, we went to the house where my dad and his brothers grew up. The current owners offered to let us go inside. They were very interested in the family story. It was interesting to hear my sisters’ stories and see areas where pictures had been taken when they were younger. I also went by the house where my mother grew up. It was about a mile away. A little later, we went by another cemetery to see the burial headstone of my great grandparents. They had come to the U.S. through Ellis Island. They were from Romania.

That evening, we all gathered at a cousin’s home. Twenty-five people came. All were part of the family. There was a lot of good food and conversation. A very memorable time. I felt very welcomed. I very much enjoyed meeting my dad’s wife. We had some good long conversations. We talk on the phone often now. All in all, this was a very successful reunion.

The next part of the story is in progress. I am trying to find out through the Maryland courts, my mother’s biological mother’s name on the birth certificate. It’s a process. I have many 3rd- to 5th-cousin matches on Ancestry, so I want to learn where we all fit in.

As a result of my life story, I have started a program for people called www.personallegacybuilder.com.

Best wishes to all those involved in searches.