History Schmistory, Check Out This Twist – Jim Weaver DNA Stuff
OK kids, let's review... My DNA results came back early last week. My ancestors hail mostly from Great Britain; 73.9% British & Irish, 6.7% French German, 2.3% Scandinavian. I am predisposed to weigh a little more than average, not likely to have a unibrow (thank goodness) and, oh, did I mention I have a sister?
So I'm reading through all the materials that come with this DNA report, some fascinating, some not as much. While giving it the once-over I came across a menu item titled "DNA Relatives." Right under that title, it said I had 1,174 relatives! 1,174!? That's a lot. Then the thought hit me like a ton of bricks... I have no idea who any of these people are. Admittedly, I was a little excited and just a tiny bit apprehensive to open this section - it is like jumping into the complete unknown. Did I do it? Of course, I did. Geronimo!
Most of what I found were 2nd, 3rd, 4th and up cousins with very small amounts of shared DNA, but right there at the top of the list was someone who shared 23% of my DNA. Right above that alarming number were the words "Half-Sister." My brain went into "DUH" mode for a few seconds, "Half-sister? Me, I have a "half-sister?" Her name is Renee and there was her picture staring at me... staring! It was then I realized I could click on it and get more information, so I did. While reading the paragraph that was next to her shared information, I read this:
I'm searching for a brother (or half brother; I'm not 100% sure which) who was born in Dallas, TX, in the spring or summer of 1962 and surrendered for adoption.
I snapped to the fact that she knew about me and was actively looking for me. Crazy, huh?
I sent her a message through 23andMe stating, "I think we have a match" and we were on the phone later that afternoon learning about all new parts of each other's and now our own families. My big half-sister lives in California, her name is Renee, she's a year and a few days older than me, was raised in the Houston area and has a son that still lives there. We have tentative plans to meet each other in November of this year.
During the getting-to-know-you thing, I also found out she has been searching for me for about a year, ever since she met our birth mother last year and found out that I existed. You read that right, she has met our birth mother. Just WOW.
Happy birthday to me. The best birthday present from my wife ever. She gave me a sister.
Thanks for reading.