Waiting paid off today

Well, HOLY CRAP

I heard from my father's cousin, Alice. She is SUPER nice. Sounds like a sweet aunt, which she sort of is, although technically a cousin. She grew up with my father, so she knew him well. We were on the phone for almost an hour and a half. I found out I have at least nine siblings. Apparently my father got around. That isn't even counting my sister Cate, who I share a mother with. But these kids from my father range in age from 36ish to 9. Putting me smack in the middle, although toward the older end.

My grandfather received my letter, and showed it and my pictures to Alice. She says I look like my grandmother. I also had an uncle, who died in 1973 when he was 21. A car accident. she thinks my father died of an aneurysm. Which scares me, because I was in the hospital in Feb? of this year with a HUGE headache, and they thought that might be the cause.

Here's the part I'm not so happy about. She tells me the entire family had two reunions this year, and the second one was just last weekend. If you've been following my saga, I called her ex and her daughter two weeks ago. So I could have been there. So I'm a little bitter about that.

But Alice tells me I look like my grandmother, Susie. She died when she was 32 of a blood clot after a surgery. And she tells me I look like Stacy, the only other sister I had previously confirmed existence of. So that's cool, I guess. I'm completely overwhelmed right now. It's 9:00 as I compose this, and I seriously doubt I'll be able to get any sleep for a while.

Now I guess I'll wait and see if my grandfather decides to call me. I don't want to push him, but he is 88. I'd like to meet him before he gets much older. He has custody of my youngest brother, because that mother is, get this, in PRISON. And when something happens to my grandfather, custody goes to Alice's daughter. I'm wondering what about the other siblings? I may be going to Columbus soon to meet this family. It turns out I've got quite a big family...EEEK!!! So neat! So crazy! So overwhelming!