War Babe Adoption Journey - Part 18

I haven't written in a while.  I guess because there hasn't been any new developments in my story.  I continue to talk to my Uncles, Don and Rick, as well as my brother, Tim, and several cousins.  I am enjoying getting to know them but really won't feel like I know them until I am actually there talking to them.  You that are adopted will understand that. I need to look into faces and see resemblances.  I need to be around them and see if I might have some nuances in my actions that they have as well.  I need to see if we have unusual interests the same.  It is just a THING with us adoptees.  People who aren't adopted don't really understand that.  They have always had "Aunt Sally's nose," or "Uncle Joe's feet", or even "Cousin Bill's way of wrinkling their noses when they laugh."  I have never had that.  My daughter has many of my physical characteristics and nuances, but that just isn't the same thing. I know where SHE got those, but I don't know where I got them from.  As I said after I met my cousin, I was thrilled when he said I looked like his Uncle Russ (my birth father) in the eyes.  

I still haven't purchased my plane tickets to go to Kentucky yet.  I am planning to go in August and take my daughter with me.  She and I need to have some girl time as well as meet our blood relatives!

My daughter, Stephenie above and my picture below.  

War Babe - Adoption story continued - part 17

It is Friday the 13th of April.  On Wednesday, I received a text from my bio-Uncle Rick to say that his son would be here in San Antonio on Wednesday afternoon until Friday morning.  I have not met any of my bio father's family, and as I have said, all have welcomed me with more than open arms, still a bit overwhelming. 

 So Rick gave his son, Gary, my phone number and Gary contacted me when he arrived in SA.  We decided to meet up on Thursday.  I got a text yesterday (Thursday, April 12th) to meet them for lunch.  He had come here to pick up his son from basic training that was done here at Ft Sam Houston.  

I drove up and Gary was waiting on the curb of the restaurant for me!  I met him, his wife, his little girl, his son and his son's girlfriend!  After we sat down we started talking and kept talking until it was time to go.  It was family day for his son and he had planned to spend the afternoon with him, and also letting his daughter swim in the hotel pool.  

I felt so excited and happy to meet my first cousin!  His dad has been the person I have talked most with mostly on Facebook Messenger. The most giddy I felt was when he said that I reminded him of his Uncle Russ (my birth father), especially around the eyes!  If you arent adopted, you may say, "I don't know what is so exciting about that!"  But believe me, I was thrilled beyond belief to hear that.  

I feel that we still have so much to say to each other, he has many memories of his Uncle Russ, as he was his favorite relative.  I want to tell the whole family my story and I want to hear theirs.  The one thing I really regret, is that I didn't take any pictures!  I so wanted a picture of Gary and I together!!  Well, hopefully, I can get those pictures this summer.  So here is a picture of him that I had.  Isn't he just the cutest!???  

We are still sort of planning a trip to Kentucky in August, however, two things have occurred in the last couple weeks.  First we had to pay way more IRS taxes than we thought and may not have the money to make the trip. Second, my husband is encouraging me to go alone.  He wants to meet them, but doesn't really have interest in sitting around listening to us just talking away  I also am dying to go fishing with them and my husband isn't even interested in that!  So it looks like I may be going alone, flying up there and staying with some of my birth family.  That way we would not need as much money.  Although, it is sad to go way up there and NOT attend the Bristol race which occurs Aug 18th.  I guess we can plan another trip up there next summer and attend that race then, God willing!