The Baby, Part Six

Hey, Jann, you've found your sister!  What are you going to do next?

Stacey and I had texted throughout my five hour drive from Seattle to Hermiston.  I had stopped at every rest area to text.

I was physically and emotionally exhausted when I got home to Oregon.  In her home, Stacey was tired too.  She hadn't gone to work that Monday morning because she was ill.  (Another way the universe conspired for us to find each other.  If she hadn't been home, she wouldn't have received the phone call from the search angel.)  By 7:00 PM she was ready for bed and texted me that we could talk the next day.

I tried to coherently tell the story to the spouse.   I was a roller coaster of emotions and the spouse was smart enough to leave me alone and let me work through it.

I woke up on Tuesday thinking about Stacey...and texting with Stacey is about all I did that day.  I didn't want to bother her at work, but she texted between students and at lunch.  Finally,  that evening we spoke on the phone.  The spouse fended for himself for dinner.  Stacey and I talked for for almost two hours.  We have a lot of things in common.  We have a lot of years to catch up on.  

In late October I went to Greece to volunteer at the Oinofyta Refugee Camp.  I had limited access to wifi and no phone.  Stacy and I communicated a few times through Facebook.  This week Stacey is at a retreat and she's the one without phone and wifi.  

This is the last "Baby" post I will make until after Thanksgiving.  The spouse and I are leaving Sunday to spend the holiday with our grandchildren.  When I booked our flights several months ago,  our return trip on the Friday after Thanksgiving was routed through Los Angeles.  As many times as I've flown in and out of Austin in the past eight years, this is the first time I've been routed through LA.  Everything happens for a reason, and sometimes the stars align to open up possibilities.  Stacey lives near Los Angeles.  I'm getting off the plane in LA and Stacey and her boyfriend will pick me up at the airport.  We're going to spend the weekend with our brothers in San Diego.  

I hope there will be pictures that I can share when I return.  I have much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.  Thank you all for your supportive comments as I shared our journey of discovery.

And now this is the part of the story where I reflect...

In hind sight I realize that I had not thought through the possible consequences of searching for my sister.  It all happened so fast.  I hadn't consulted with other family members.   I was searching for MY sister...with the emphasis on my.  I envisioned a joyful reunion and a happy ever after.  I still hope that is the outcome of our story, but I also know that our family dynamic is forever changed. We can't change the past, but I hope we can go forward and build relationships.   I'm trusting that love will win.