The Family I Never Knew I Had

The back story of this whole thing, is long and complicated, and to protect my family, I won't reveal all the details. Basically, my mom has known for years about her half -brothers (Mark & Ben), and her Biological father (J.B) but did not want to contact them until Mark & Ben's Mother had passed, for the sake of her feelings. My mom contacted Ben somewhere in the Mid- 1980's and they exchanged letters off and on, but Mark still had no clue about my Mom, until Ben had passed away - from an infection he had gotten after he became paraplegic when he was 16 from a car accident - (but he dodged death and lived for many years after that.) After Ben passed, Mark found the letters my Mom and He had exchanged, and then a few years later my mom grew bold, and finally contacted Mark. Mark knew exactly who my mom was once she said her name over the phone. And then a few months after that, we made the trip down to Oklahoma City to meet Mark.

They were both pleasantly surprised to see how much they looked alike, and Mom loved having someone else to look like! After keeping in touch for a few years, we both learned of the news that Mark and his girlfriend Cynthia had gotten engaged! (after 10 years of dating! ha ha) We planned to attend, both not knowing what to expect or who to meet.

The weekend finally arrived and we headed down to Hugo, OK to meet a few relatives I never knew I had, and Cynthia's family that would soon become ours. There we also met a life long friend of my Uncle Ben's, Brian. Brian took care of Ben many years, and had all sorts of great stories to share with my mom and I. Everyone had the nicest things to say about Ben, and how he was such an amazing individual.

This next comment took me by surprise, and I never expected to happen at all, Brian said

"The first time I saw you, immediately I thought you looked like Ben."

Even Brian's parents said that same thing almost as soon as I had met them.

I looked like an Uncle I had never met, or seen a picture of. Going into that weekend, I had never expected anyone to tell me that. There was a picture of him at the wedding, and it was confirmed. As the stories poured out of Brian's mouth about Ben, I was more proud to look like him than I ever thought I could have been. He was a truly honorable man, and has lived longer than any other person with the same conditions as him. "They should really do medical studies on him", Brian said.

If you know my mom, even a little, you know she was crying her eyes out that day. Both her and I felt so at home with all of those people - both family and not. I think she finally feels whole inside to have siblings that are so proud to call her their sister. And I feel very proud to be called Mark & Ben's niece. (although I'm still getting used to the whole calling them Uncle thing, as I'm sure you can tell)

So the weekend overall was a huge success! (despite the disgusting motel we stayed in) We've been invited back for the family reunion in September, and to visit Ben's grave on the anniversary of his death in August. But most importantly, Cynthia & Mark are husband and wife, and I am so thankful to them for inviting us, and to let my mom and I experience the family we never knew we had.

Brian, My Mom, & Mark