Great, Wonderful, Fantabulous NEWS!!!!!!

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
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Brief background: The last time I saw my ‘little’ brother was in '88. Long, painful story, not to be told right now. He and my older brother had a major falling out, and we all parted on…not the best of terms.

Long years between then and now: I tried, off and on, to find him, ads in papers, posters, everything I could think of, or could afford to do. No luck, not even a nibble. Left an ache deep in my heart that nothing could erase. Since losing our parents, we were all we had left, and part of our core family was missing, and my other brother refused to even talk about it at all.

Approx. 1 month ago: I was chatting on AIM with The Nerd, and he happened to mention that he had had some luck in finding someone for a friend, via the 'net. I asked him if he thought he might be able to do anything for me. After giving him the pertinent info, he came back 5 minutes<!!!> later with this website: <praying this link works> http://sites.netscape.net/pennyhammack
I pulled it up, took one look, and started screaming “THAT’S HIM!!! THAT’S HIM!!!” <we won’t talk about what my pets thought of that!> I thanked Nerd profusely, embarrassing him, no doubt, and put a message in the guest register. Then waited. And waited. And waited…

Saturday, Sept.2, 2000, 2:30p: I get home from picking my son up from college for the weekend <UTAustin>, hop on to check my email, and there it is! a reply from my ‘new’ SIL, with a phone number! So, I started screaming again “I WAS RIGHT! I WAS RIGHT! IT IS MY BROTHER!!!” Kids came running to see what I was screaming about, pets ran and hid, and when I showed them the email, they got all excited too.

I called them, talked to my SIL :D, and we went right over there. Turns out they live in a small town not too far from here, the phone number’s even a local call! We didn’t get home till 2a, and we did lots of talking and laughing <and we won’t mention how bright and damp my eyes were much of the time> <insert overflowing with joy smilie> We’re getting ready to head back over there for a bbq this afternoon, and we’ll just take it one day at a time. Still need to have a big talk, but there’ll be time for that later.

Oh, yeah. Everyone I called asked me when I was going to go see him, and my reply was “As soon as I hang up from you!” When I called my older brother in Wisconsin, he was happy, and said he’d like his phone number, and would call his brother when he got back from his trip; that he was ready to talk.

<all choked up> I don’t have the words to tell you how it makes me feel to know that my two brothers are both ready to talk to each other again. Sniffles

Anyway, that’s my news! I wanted to share this with my online family, and also to thank, once again, The Nerd for finding my brother for me, for us. Thank you, with all of my heart, my dear friend. Kiss! {{{{{{{{Nerd}}}}}}}
Forgive me this once, Chief:

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

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I can’t imagine being part of that-my eyes watered just reading that. That is fantastic to hear…congrats. :smiley:

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Congratulations, purplebear! I always secretly enjoyed the “family reunions” on Unsolved Mysteries–it’s wonderful to hear it has happened to someone from the SDMB “family”! Hope there were smiles all around, as they say here.

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PB… I’m so happy for you. I think the ragpicker had his hand in it too, don’t you? Here’s a BIG!!! hug my friend. I’m so glad the sun was shinning down on you…

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Congratulations, PB. It’s nice to see some good news floating around the boards for a change. I can’t exactly know what’s going on, but I can relate. When I was stationed in San Antonio, I looked up my grandparents who lived there at the time. When I stopped by their house, my Uncle Butch happened to be there visiting. My father and uncle hadn’t spoken for over 10 years, and seeing me show up there prompted him to call my dad. They patched up whatever the fued was and have been friendly ever since. Butch visits St Louis when he can, and my dad will fly out to Monterrey CA to visit Butch whenever he has the extra time (Dad works for TWA, can fly for free).

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Wow, Purplebear, that’s a great story. I agree with Duke, the family reunion segments on Unsolved Mysteries were always my favorites. 12 years is a long damn time to go without seeing someone you love, and I can’t even imagine something like that.

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:smiley:

Wow I’m so glad you were able to find your brother and everything is patched up now.
{{{{{{{{PB}}}}}}}}}]

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((((purplebear))))

My mom gave up a daughter for adoption in 1966. We were reunited in 1988. While it’s not quite the same as your story, the memory of that reunion still warms my heart, and I feel such joy when I hear that others have experienced that same feeling.

I am SO happy for you! :D:D:D:D:D:D

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Thank you so much, Lsura and Duke. Yes, I’m still on cloud nine, and won’t be coming down for a while, no doubt! :slight_smile:

GBS, my dear friend, thank you. Yes, I am absolutely positive that the Ragpicker had His hand in it. And, the sun is truly shining on us right now. After all the sadness, sickness and worries that are going on in our families right now, this news has been even more precious and welcome.

Thanks, Brat, my friend. I think it’s so wonderful that you have a similar story to share! We sure have needed something to smile about around here. I wanted to share it yesterday, but also was too excited to stay and do it, I had to rush right over to see him, and meet my new family.

Thanks, Joey, and welcome to the board! I’ll drop by later to properly welcome you. You don’t want to imagine it, believe me.
Sure you understand if I rush off now. :stuck_out_tongue: :smiley:
So much has gone on in my life, and our lives, that I have learned a much deeper comprehension of the many levels of Bittersweet. After many weeks of very bitter, comes the sweet to balance it. I want to share this story so that others can smile and laugh, and be happy for a while. Please, everyone, go hug someone you care about. Make this day count.
<rushing off to go to a BBQ with her family, purplebear blows everyone a kiss of love and gratitude> Catch ya laters my friends! Kiss!

{{{{{{{{Dopers}}}}}}}}
Thanks, Persephone! {{{{{{{Cristi}}}}}}}
Not completely, TS, but well on the way. We’re talking, and laughing, and sharing memories; and that’s enough for my heart for now. Thank you.

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geez…right out of a “Movie of the Week”
I’m happy for you Purple…it’s nice to hear good news.

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Thanks for brightening all of our lives with such positive news, PB. I’m very happy for ya, and hope things work out between your brothers as well.

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Good for you, at last, a reason to smile for all dopers :smiley:

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Congratulations, purplebear!!! I’m glad your search had such a happy ending ((((purplebear and family))))

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Congratulations! What great news. Good luck with the future. :slight_smile: {{{PB}}}

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Congratulations, purplebear! We’re all so happy to see you so happy! :slight_smile:

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I see my own bro about once/year. Our mom died, so I know what you mean about “we were all we had left”. Your story brought tears to my eyes. Congrats.

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:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

A few years ago my uncle, who had been missing (and I think legally dead) since 1979 or so, “came back” . . . he had known where his parents were. Very unhappy childhood/teenhood. Some relatives have problems with him. I don’t see them. Whatever. You’re happy:)

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Congrats, purplebear. I’m very glad you’ve had some happiness float your way.

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:):):):):):):):):):):slight_smile:

warm fuzzies
happy sigh

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I’m so glad for you, Purple!

Shakespeare had a line somewhere about how one ought to grapple their loved ones to their hearts with hoops of steel. I think that really applies in this case. Don’t ever let him escape.