My grandfather William D BondThis Blog post is the culmination of a long search for my biological grandfather, and the results are so wonderful. For those that have not followed this story of my search for my mother's biological father, you can read the full series of 11 Blog Posts here. As you have read, Marie Flirt had contacted me after reading my blog posts about my search. Marie saw the evidence I had collected and agreed that she had a half sister. Maria thought that since my mother had done a DNA test, she would also do a test to have the scientific proof to go along with the documented evidence that was collected. Maria requested that I postpone any announcement of contact with my mother's new family, until she got back the DNA test results and would have the final piece of evidence prior to informing her siblings that they all had another sister. Maria's DNA results came back and they confirmed that she and my mother were in fact half-sisters! Now it was time to tell her siblings (my aunts and uncles) that they had a half sister.
The news was reported to my mother's half siblings and a flurry of activity has ensued. Already, I have had phone conversations with anumber of my relatives, and there has been a whole new batch of friend connections on FaceBook. I have been so excited to hear stories and learn about my family. A big thanks go out to those relatives that are sharing TONS of old photos. It has been wonderful to see what my family looks like.
My Great Grandfather Charlie BondIt is wonderful to see the excitement in the family due to learning they have a new relative. Everyone is pulling together to welcome us all into the family. A DVD of family history and photos is being assembled, which I can not wait to get my hands on. It will be like Christmas when that DVD arrives! They all seem like such a wonderful bunch of people. One of my uncles (Uncle Santa) from Alabama would like to take a trip up my way next year and spend some time at my camp to get to know each other better and to just have some fun. I look forward to a new visitor to my camp.I have to use a family tree supplied by Maria in order to keep track of everyone, there are sooo many new family members. I do not know if I will ever be able to keep it all straight. I will be referring to it for years to come. Words just can not express how exciting this is. I have solved mysteries before, but when one finds totally unknown close relatives, it makes it that much more special.
My mother will be traveling to Wisconsin in September and arrangements are being made to have her meet many of her other siblings during a stop in Georgia on her return drive from Wisconsin.
The Bond family has a reunion every Memorial Day, and I plan on going next year to meet my new family. I look forward to each and every future meeting.
THANK YOU BOND FAMILY!!!