So as part of this semester we were required to do our family tree. My father's side of the family I was able to trace back to the 1400's. The professor was impressed that I was able to trace back that far. Unfortunately on my mother's side I could not get past her parents. My mother died when I was a child and I do not know a lot of information aside from her siblings. Of the 13 only 4 are still alive. 2 are drunks one is in Germany and the other would not return my emails or phone calls.
During the course of researching I had sent out feelers to the various aunts and uncles trying to find information. My maternal grandfather died before I was born and my Maternal grandmother was an enigma - she had so many different aliases and left a trail of 5 dead husbands. It makes for great story telling but was a dead end - or so I thought.
It is now almost two months later and I get an email tonight. My aunt sent me a name and an email, a short message. "I'm not a phone person. Frank's second wife is still alive. He email address is 'x'. Ask her your questions." Short, to the point and kind of rude but ... I have a grandparent still alive? I am almost 40, how do you reconnect with someone you don't remember? Will she know who I am?
So after staring at a blank email for a long time I finally sent a message telling who I was and now I wait to see if she even replies.