Blessed by Meeting my Family

Over the course of the next days and weeks, Charlotte, Kevin, and I kept cyberspace hopping with our non-stop emailing. What delight I received from looking through hundreds of photos of my "new family" from my mother's wedding pictures, to baby photos of Charlotte and Kevin, to recent family outings. Within about a month of conversing with Charlotte and Kevin, I decided it was time to plan our first meeting. Originally, there was another reason I was supposed to be in the Edmonton area at the end of May, so I booked a flight for May 25.  YIKES -- this was really happening!! Would it be the fairy-tale ending I was envisioning, or would it be a train wreck I couldn't reign back in??

The three of us had umpteen conversations about who my biological father might be.  We all tried hard to convince ourselves that "Dad" (Charlotte's and Kevin's Dad) was my father.  Problem was, after a biology lesson from Kate on recessive and dominant eye-colour genes, it wasn't physically possible for blue-eyed "Dad" to be brown-eyed Yvonne's father. Who was he then??

Trying to convince myself, I argued that meeting my new sister and brother was enough -- that if I never got to meet my mother, that was OK.  In my brain, I understood the position Mom had stated to David 2 years previous that she could never meet me.  The last thing I wanted to do was crumble a 52-year marriage with one selfish phone call. In my heart, however, it was a totally different matter -- I wanted AND NEEDED to meet her! I do not remember conveying any of this to my siblings (correct me, guys, if I'm wrong) but, miraculously, Charlotte decided to talk to Mom on Easter weekend and tell her they knew about me.  Another "YIKES"!!! How would this walking-on-eggshells conversation turn out??

The long and short of it is this ... Charlotte's conversation with Mom went remarkably well. Mom confirmed that, yes, she had had a daughter two years before marrying Dad. I was the result of a rape that, understandably, she did not want to talk about. When I learned that fact I immediately burst into tears, fearing that she would never want to meet me -- a physical reminder of a horrific event. I couldn't have been more wrong! Mom was extremely anxious to meet me, but reconfirmed to Charlotte that Dad could never find out. A "Mission Impossible" plan was conceived by Kevin and Charlotte, that would remove Dad from the house, so I could "sneak" in and meet my mom.

Who among you does not believe in miracles?? I have yet another one to share with you :)

After living with a monumental secret for 52 years -- a secret I'm convinced was an albatross around her neck, weighing her down, and perhaps even affecting her health -- my Mom decided to tell Dad about me. THAT'S a miracle!! His reaction was also miraculous -- he couldn't wait to meet me!

Weeks, days, hours, then minutes were meticulously counted down between B.C. and Alberta. May 25 had arrived! After some extremely-frustrating delays (thanks Air Canada!!), I touched down in Edmonton to be greeted by my sister, brother, and niece. True to form of many movie scenes, I literally dropped my cumbersome suitcase in the middle of a busy airport, and ran with outstretched arms to my new family. Words cannot describe my feelings, so I won't try!

Edmonton Airport -- with Charlotte & Kevin at last!

We drove directly from the airport to Mom & Dad's home. Even though I thought my reserve tank of "happy tears" should have been empty after the airport experience, I blubbered my way to my Mom's home, and continued the happy-tear shower while hugging Mom and never wanting to let go. As I had my first hug from Dad, his heart-melting words were, "I just wish this meeting could have been sooner."

 My first moments with Mom.

Yes, that's my wig on my head --

I was still majorly bald at the time and didn't

want to freak her out!

Do you think we look alike?

During the next week, with Charlotte's home in Barrhead as home base, I was treated (princess-style, no less) to a tour of the entire area, including stops at old family homes, cemeteries, favourite 4-x-4-ing spots, picnics, campfires, and several return trips to Mom & Dad's in Edmonton.  It was a life-changing week of connecting with my siblings, meeting other relatives, and hearing story upon story of growing-up adventures.

Around the campfire with Kevin and Hub --

the man who, along with Maureen, 

assisted with this mind-blowing miracle coming together.

Charlotte & Dianne, Hub's wife.

Taffy (voted by Yvonne as Best Dog in the World)

joins us at the campfire.

Dad being goofy with a huge scoop

of delicious homemade ice cream!

  Outside Mom & Dad's house.

MY Mom and Dad -- my adoptive Mom & Dad, my incredible life-long Mom & Dad - were, and continue to be, so incredibly supportive of this entire process.  I wouldn't have, couldn't have undertaken this adventure without the encouragement and blessing of Mom, Dad, and Maureen.

My life-long Mom & Dad.

I'm sure if my heart was x-rayed, the radiologist would say, "You have an enlarged heart, Yvonne." My heart has mushroomed, expanded, and almost exploded with love for both of my families. There needs to be a word created for "more than love", because that's what I feel for all these precious people in my life.

I am, of all women, most blessed!!