This year we had Roger’s mother’s triennial reunion. Only one of her 10 siblings is still alive (she’s 104), but the multigenerational numbers are growing through marriage, babies, and adoption. We recently and suddenly added Vivian, who at 79 discovered that she and Roger’s cousin, Carla, were half-sisters through 23 and Me.
23 and Me provides a genetic testing service in which customers provide a saliva sample that is laboratory analyzed to generate reports relating to the customer’s ancestry and genetic predispositions to health-related topics. It is named for the 23 pairs of chromosomes in a normal human cell.
Vivian is considerably older than Carla, whose father married late in life and had three children. Sandra’s origin was unknown to both families. Naturally, both sides were shaken up, but also intrigued.
Our reunions rotate around the country – this year in Bend, Oregon, surprisingly not far from where Vivian lives, and her stepdaughter actually lives in Bend. Carla’s siblings are still divided about the whole situation, but Carla sees it as a God-thing: They were meant to meet.
At the reunion, Sandra met two of her half-siblings and several first cousins. She was overwhelmed, but Carla came prepared with albums and journals. Vivian remarked about how much she looked like one of the aunts when she was the same age.
Vivian and her husband were amicable and we were gracious and welcoming. Carla’s Dad died many years ago, but his son was certain his father would have provided for Vivian if he’d known about her.
23 and Me will change the landscape of some families in surprising ways. It’s a good idea to decide beforehand whether we want the answers to certain questions. In this case, I’m glad that this warm, petite woman is now a part of ours.
