I had always wanted to know where my brothers and sister were. I started looking for my sister when I was very young; going to schools looking for a blond, blue-eyed girl.  Thankfully, I did know her first name. I met her when I was 14. I met my 2 brothers when I was 15. My half-brother lived next door to me and we played outside in the backyard, went to the same school and he never knew I was his sister.  I was told not to tell him, so I never did. He was told who I was when he was 15 years old.

Once, when I was 20 years old and at the Legion playing euchre (a card game) at the table, the winners and losers sit down and put their name card down. I saw a name I recognized.  I asked her, "what is your name?" and she told me. I said, "I am Lori Anne." It was my grandmother.  She started crying and said she had not seen me since the day I was born.  I was 20 at the time.  So that is how I met my grandmother.  I was 8 months pregnant with my son.  My grandmother lived in an apartment, 2 buildings over from me.  I am not sure why or how this would even happen.

The next day I got a call from my birth father.  He had just moved kitty-corner, across the road from me. Obviously, my grandmother phoned him and told him about our exciting encounter the night before.  Fate?  What were the chances?

Then the questions I had were the basics, everyone takes for granted. Who looks like me?  What diseases are in the family?  As you get older you want those questions answered.  Are there other brothers and sisters?  Are there other family members alive and somewhere? Why was I given away? Was I not wanted?  These are all valid questions you may have.

Where was I born? What hospital?  How much did I weigh?  Who was the doctor that delivered me?  Was I baptized?  There are no baby pictures of me until I was with mom at 13 months of age. The same as my brothers and sisters.  There are 2 pictures of them when they were small together.

My next sister to me in my adopted family is now 78, and there is 20 years difference between us.  My other brothers and sisters have since passed.  My oldest nephew is now 71.  He has been like a brother to me my whole life.  Being raised the way I have, I never noticed the difference in the age of my siblings; but others who were not family seemed to always point that out to me.

There is too much detail to go into, but tracing the family tree has been a passion of mine.  Asking questions, pretty much my whole life. I have pictures on Facebook so that my nieces and nephews can see pictures of their parents and grandparents.  I have organized 2 family reunions from Alberta.  I took everything with me on a plane to Ontario, for the reunions.  They were both a great success. I can't tell you how many people have now passed, who had come to those reunions.

Always treasure the moments with family and friends, and ask questions today.  Don't wait for tomorrow - it may not be there.