What will I say, what will I do?

I'll be going to Canada soon to meet a family I've never met - my family. Let me explain. My mother was Canadian. My father was American. I was born in Farmington, New Mexico. My mother died the day I was born and my father's American sister raised my brother and me.

I have only know the paternal side of my family. Don't get me wrong. They are a great family. But I have always longed for more. Maybe it's a female thing. I don't know. But I have always wanted to know more about my maternal family.

I have always know OF them. My maternal grandmother used to write to us and send us birthday cards and gifts, Christmas cards and gifts. I loved her homemade popcorn balls. :) My Aunt Bobby and Aunt Thelma wrote to us when we were kids and kept in touch with my Aunt Dolis, who was raising my brother and me.

I remember one holiday (not sure if it was Thanksgiving or Christmas) when my father was visiting us. We were going to make a call to Canada to talk to my grandmother. Now mind you, this was in the 1960's when international calls were not only expensive, but not the easiest connection. We didn't make contact that day, or any other day.

I have always wanted a relationship with ALL of my family. Before the wonderful internet, it was almost impossible to locate "lost" family members. But then came the internet, the World Wide Web and online geneaology. I found the name of a cousin and was able to find his telephone number in August 2008.

You never know how those things will work out. Would he hang up on me? Think I was a crazy person? Think I was trying to get something?? None of those fears materialized. He was so nice. After we talked, I began receiving calls from many of my cousins. Come to find out, they had been looking for me too!

We are making plans for a big reunion on the family farm. There will be camping, camp fires, and many many stories to be told.

Yet, I am still nervous about meeting them. What will I say? What will I do?? We have made arrangements for two of my cousins to meet me at the airport in Saskatoon and then travel to Unity. I will be there for 5 days. I anticipate that the time will fly by way too fast! But that's OK.

I hope my Mother knows about the reunion.

My First Blue Blog

This is my first attempt at blogging. I read alot of other's blogs and decided I wanted to do my own. Not that I have anything extraordinary to write about, but I do have plenty to say.

I chose "Blue Memphis" as my blog name since it describes my interests at this point in my life. The Blues? The music of the soul. Memphis? Where I am physically located.

========================

It is a cold, rainy February Saturday in Memphis, Tennessee. The weather suits my mood of the day just fine. I found out a little while ago that my 18-year-old cousin who lives in Michigan had a car accident this morning. Apparently someone hit her. She is now at the hospital undergoing tests. I hope and pray that she will be OK. Her relatively short life has not been easy. She has multiple medical problems that should never befall anyone, much less a young person.

She has the most wonderful little sister. Bri. I have just begun to get acquainted with Bri. Bri also has more than anyone's share of medical issues, but she is so beautiful and so full of life. She loves horses. And she rides and trains them. I can feel her love of animals when we talk about them. She told me that since they are in Michigan, she doesn't get to be with them much during the winter months. She is looking forward to spring when she can ride and train her newest friend.

Bri tells me that she wants to be a lawyer or doctor. I told her I thought she would be good at either or BOTH. I feel so good after I have chatted with her online. For such a young one, she sure has great vibes. I haven't been around her or her siblings much but hope that changes soon. I can see I've missed out on a lot by not knowing them better.

Her dad is in the Air Force Reserves, as well as being a commercial airline pilot. He is leaving today, I think, for two months in the Middle East. His duty to his country calls again. He has served his country well -- first in the Gulf War, now in Afghanistan and Iraq Wars. I can see where Bri gets her beautiful spirit. From her dad. He must be one of the best souls on God's Earth.

Her dad and I pretty much grew up together as kids. Those were wonderful times! He and his little sister spent a lot of time with us. They feel more like siblings than cousins.

Boy, am I rambling or what?

I am truly blessed to have so many wonderful family members. I will write about more of them in the days to come.