CLEAN-UP

Cleaning up a mess isn't much fun..... especially if you didn't have a hand in making the mess.

Yes.... I have been involved in untangling a mess that I was thrown into. Me, and several family members. It has been like this for years. I have finally, thank God, been put into a position to where I can start undoing all the cr@p that was done years ago.

I'm not angry about these decisions.

Strike that.

I am.

It totally sucks. But, I'm not bitter about it. I understand, kind of, why it was done. I don't agree with it AT ALL, but I understand. I'm just very thankful for a recent turn of events.

I was raised an only child. RAISED an only child... I'm not an only child. I have a half-brother.

A half-brother who I saw more in high school (his senior year, my freshman year) than in all the years before and since.

Oh, I knew who he was. And he knew who I was. We saw each other on Christmas Day.... at my grandparent's.... correction - at OUR grandparent's house. I don't know how he got there. I don't know how he got home. I just knew that on Christmas Day, we would go to my grandparent's house and T would be there.

I was closer to the neighbor's dog than I was to my own brother.

Sad, huh?

Not my doing..... not my choice.

I don't know of all that went on. I know a little. Some I will share... some, I won't. I don't know who all reads and some who do, know a little bit more. For the sake of ALL involved, this will be a *nutshell* version.

My dad was married before he met my mother. He, and bride #1, had a child - T. They split. My dad got with my mother and out popped ~LL~. They (my mom and dad) are still together. Bride #1 and her family still live in the same hometown.

Basically, bad blood won out. A woman seemingly scorned didn't want to have anything to do with my dad, his family and especially *the other woman (my mother)* or their spawn.... me.

*sigh*

I basically got gipped out of a brother.

It sucks.

I have a brother, a sister-in-law, 2 nieces and a nephew.

The nephew is 25 and the nieces are 21 and 16.

Up until just a few days ago, I didn't even know if those kids knew who I was. Meaning, I didn't know if they I was their aunt.

Well, my nephew has just moved to the town I am currently in. And my older niece is dating a guy from here.

PERFECT OPPORTUNITY!

Called my niece and she agreed to go to the zoo with us. Such a sweet thing. I'm so happy to have spent time with her. She talked to her brother while we were together and he expressed interest in having dinner and meeting the boys. I'm SO SO excited. (The picture above is of my niece.... see? She even looks like me. :) )

So, now comes a time of getting to know each other. Something that should have started 39 years ago. I am no longer going through "the adults" in our lives.... I don't think they got this quite right. So, I will work through the other adults who, I hope, have clearer heads on their shoulders.

To my nieces, nephew, sister-in-law and brother, we love you and are excited to have this opportunity to get to know you better. To the others..... watch and learn.