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Blue_In_AK

(46,436 posts)
Mon Mar 14, 2016, 04:30 AM Mar 2016

I have to share something with my friends here that has nothing to do with photography,

but I'm just so excited about this and my husband is already in bed asleep.

I might have mentioned at some time that my mother was killed in a car wreck when I was 8 and that after my father remarried, I had completely lost my maternal family. This has been bugging me for a while, not knowing my heritage, so I took the Ancestry DNA test, and tonight I've been contacted by a first cousin on my mother's side who I didn't even know existed, since she was born in 1960, long after I had lost touch. She is an artist, and look at her - she's beautiful. I'm kind of choked up.



She has been working on the family tree and will send it to me. I'm kind of blown away by how this is affecting me.

11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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I have to share something with my friends here that has nothing to do with photography, (Original Post) Blue_In_AK Mar 2016 OP
How totally cool, Blue! mnhtnbb Mar 2016 #1
Oh, Blue! How wonderful! Solly Mack Mar 2016 #2
I am so glad for you, my dear Blue! CaliforniaPeggy Mar 2016 #3
And, oh my gosh, Blue_In_AK Mar 2016 #5
That is really wonderful! NV Whino Mar 2016 #4
How WONDERFUL, Blue! elleng Mar 2016 #6
This message was self-deleted by its author Elessiana Mar 2016 #7
I'm so happy to hear that. Elessiana Mar 2016 #8
Wonderful news. CC Mar 2016 #9
I am sure that it means a lot to find your roots, Curmudgeoness Mar 2016 #10
What wonderful news! 2naSalit Mar 2016 #11

mnhtnbb

(31,319 posts)
1. How totally cool, Blue!
Mon Mar 14, 2016, 05:42 AM
Mar 2016

I hope you get great satisfaction--and fun--from getting to know your cousin and discovering relatives on your maternal side.

It seems that the older we get, the more the family connections mean to us. I pestered my dad--for years--to send me a copy
of the family tree on his side that an aunt of his in Canada had put together. When he finally did, it burned up in our house fire
several years after he died. I wish that I now had it, because I'd like to try to track down Canadian relatives.

Your cousin looks like someone who would be fun to know!



CaliforniaPeggy

(149,308 posts)
3. I am so glad for you, my dear Blue!
Mon Mar 14, 2016, 09:31 AM
Mar 2016

Family is what connects us and when we're missing part of it, then we aren't complete. How wonderful that you and your cousin have reconnected!

And I see that you both have artistic tendencies! That's great.

Blue_In_AK

(46,436 posts)
5. And, oh my gosh,
Mon Mar 14, 2016, 01:06 PM
Mar 2016

she's "feeling the Bern" in Florida! This is too good. She commented on my FB page under my picture with the Bernie sign.

elleng

(130,156 posts)
6. How WONDERFUL, Blue!
Mon Mar 14, 2016, 01:34 PM
Mar 2016
A lovely smile, and an artist!

I almost understand, been somewhat out of touch with my maternal-side of the family as my mother passed when I was 8 too, Dad wisely remarried (my adopted family's great,) we moved (just to NYC suburb,) but we lost touch. Kind of in touch with some now, but not the same as having been in touch throughout.

Response to Blue_In_AK (Original post)

 

Elessiana

(62 posts)
8. I'm so happy to hear that.
Mon Mar 14, 2016, 04:10 PM
Mar 2016

I congratulate you can contact your cousin. I think it’s really a good news for you. By looking at your post, it also brought back my memories.

My mother died in a disease when I was 4 years old, although my father remarried later. I've contacted all of relatives on my mother's side. when I saw these cousins, I will see similarities with my mother in their looks, therefore, my heart will have a little comfort, it will reduce some of my pain. I heard you found out your cousin, so I'm very happy, maybe you won't feel too lonely.

CC

(8,039 posts)
9. Wonderful news.
Mon Mar 14, 2016, 04:50 PM
Mar 2016

Hope you connect with more relatives too.

You can download your DNA results from Ancestry and upload it to GED Match. And brief explanation is here http://www.yourdnaguide.com/upload-to-gedmatch/ It might give you more connections. I just found out about it a couple weeks ago so still confused in there but learning. My cousin and I connected with a Campbell that is related though she is having a hard time finding info on her great great grand so she suggested it as a way for all of us.

Oh and there is this group too http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1156



Curmudgeoness

(18,219 posts)
10. I am sure that it means a lot to find your roots,
Mon Mar 14, 2016, 08:54 PM
Mar 2016

especially since it was lost to you until now. Good luck finding more relatives from that side of your family.

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