Today my cousin Terri and I met on Yahoo Messenger. We have not been officially introduced, only talking on the phone, facebook, Yahoo and today Yahoo Messenger with our webcams. I remember just the other day (Friday) being terrified at Terri wanting me to give her my phone number so she could call me after chatting for two days online. What if it really wasn't her? I braved it and gave her my phone number and guess what, it really was her! We talked for over an hour that first night and I remember it as if it were yesterday - because it almost was! We didn't talk at all yesterday, facebook, yahoo or on the phone and it felt almost strange because we'd seem to connect so well on Thursday and Friday, so I had begun to wonder if I'd said something that might have made her upset. I talked to her friend Marla on facebook for a little while yesterday and asked her if she'd heard from Terri. She said 'No' and was concerned because of Terri's accident this past September. I told Marla that I didn't know of anything being wrong with Terri, as far as I knew she was fine and that I didn't mean to upset her, just that I was concerned because I didn't see her online and haven't heard from her. Of course, I was not online much myself yesterday just because. I knew Terri would call me sometime Sunday, as she was off work and had promised she'd call. I got up at 9 a.m. knowing Terri wouldn't call right away at that time, because she knew I wouldn't be up yet. About an hour later Terri called and we talked for over an hour and then we set up Yahoo Messenger (thank goodness my computer has a built-in webcam) and she has a webcam too, and talked to each other for a couple of hours (for free) online! It was wonderful because we got to see each other and actually talk face-to-face, sort of, and see what the other looks like. It was cool because she and I share alot of the same facial features and we have the same sense of humor. Which is nice. Then after about an hour or so into our conversation, Terri decided she would get her mom on the phone and do a three-way phone call. It was wonderful talking to another person who remembers me from when I was really little. Aunt Jean was able to give me some more information and answer questions Terri couldn't. We talked for about 20 minutes or so, got her address also got my father's address and phone number so I could reconnect with him and my Uncle Vern. What a whirlwind weekend this has been. Not only for me, but I'm sure for Terri too. To finally be reunited with a cousin she watched get stripped away from her Aunt's arms and put into a car, not knowing why her little cousin was being whisked away or where to. After the three-way, we got back on line with each other on Yahoo Messenger and continued our conversation for about another 20 - 30 minutes and decided it was time to hang up and say goodbye. It wasn't easy, but we finally disconnected and ended up talking to each other later online (yahoo instant messaging and on the phone). It was/is wonderful having a biological family member in my life again. I was even able to reconnect with my father on the phone for about 5, maybe 10 minutes. He's ok. He remembered my daughter and husband, asked how they were doing. Now that I have his number and address, there is no way I'm ever losing contact with him again. I missed him terribly and I don't have to suffer anymore.
