Don

Over the past 4 years, I have continued to enjoy my relationship with my maternal siblings through emails, phone calls, and social media.  Because Ava and I live in the same state, meeting in person was simple enough to arrange, but with Ron and Don both living 3 states away from me in both directions, I didn't see any possibility of meeting them in person in the near future.  But during one email exchange, Don informed me that he had a weekend trip to Colorado planned down the road for a Spartan race he was planning on participating in.

**Side note:  Whatever gene it is that causes people to want to run for enjoyment---I didn't get that.**

Don's race was scheduled to be held about 2 1/2 hours from me, and my original plan was to drive there and cheer him on, and possibly have dinner together afterwards.  But after discussing the logistics---no place for me to really "watch" the race except the starting or finish line, his exhaustion afterwards not lending itself to good dinner conversation, etc....he decided that he would drive to meet me the day before the race, and he and I would go out to dinner here and spend time visiting.

When the day finally arrived,  I was giddy.  My meeting with big sister Ava had been incredibly sweet, but I had been a little nervous since we had only been in communication a short time beforehand. In contrast, Don and I had been chatting for over 3 years, and had quite a foundation.  I wasn't nervous at all. I felt like one of my oldest friends was coming to visit.  He gave me a big bear hug and we spent the afternoon visiting at my home, running by my parents house so they could meet him as well, and then laughing over dinner.

When it was time for him to head out, my husband took a photo of us together, and I got a little teared up as we hugged goodbye.  Its hard to express how surreal it is to have a birthmother that literally wants no contact with you, yet her children accept you unconditionally as their sibling.  Its honestly more than I could have hoped for.

Two down, one to go!
Right?