Day Two - The Dinner
Later in the afternoon Jeff and I went to see Andreas again. My sister Susan wanted to go to dinner with us. We agreed to meet her at Chili's. Our Dad couldn't go because Solange had made dinner.
When we arrived, both my sisters were there. Janyce and Susan both warmly embraced Andreas. They had so much they wanted to tell him and poor Andreas had only me for an interpreter. I did okay but we had to look up a couple of words.
Susan at one point became quite emotional, which was a surprise for her. She told Andreas that she had waited for her sibling for so long, that as the oldest it was a relief to know that she had an older sibling. Janyce told him that he was our family now. They hugged and kissed.
Andreas said that when he saw all of our photos he had such a good feeling that he knew he must come to look into the eyes of his sisters. Suddenly, my brother David arrived with his son Jesse. David had earlier told the story of first finding out about Andreas from some canceled checks he found in a drawer. Susan claimed that she was the one who had found the checks. Sweet, sibling rivalry. Everyone of us sees things a little differently.
I had to leave early to take Jeff to the airport. We made plans, except for David, to meet back at our father's house. I don't think us American siblings have ever spent time in our father's house together.
The get together at my father's house was more momentous that I could have ever imagined. My sister Susan was able to express how she learned from our father about hard work. She even cried and hugged him. Solange cried out to our father, "See, sweetheart, see", and then run to embrace Susan. Our father cried and told her how much he missed his little girl with the long hair.
Janyce sat next to Andreas and they discussed how they are both interested in the spiritual world, that they have visitors from the other world. Janyce especially wanted to discuss how superstitious our family is. Apparently, she remembered a story where a witch asked our grandfather to sell his soul. There were ravens. It was quite dramatic.
I told Andreas that he represents hope for this family. What I mean by this is that he doesn't have the same history and views our father differently than we do. He can show us something new about our father and his family.
Later, when I went back to my sister's house, my sister and I talked about forgiveness.
When we arrived, both my sisters were there. Janyce and Susan both warmly embraced Andreas. They had so much they wanted to tell him and poor Andreas had only me for an interpreter. I did okay but we had to look up a couple of words.
Susan at one point became quite emotional, which was a surprise for her. She told Andreas that she had waited for her sibling for so long, that as the oldest it was a relief to know that she had an older sibling. Janyce told him that he was our family now. They hugged and kissed.
Andreas said that when he saw all of our photos he had such a good feeling that he knew he must come to look into the eyes of his sisters. Suddenly, my brother David arrived with his son Jesse. David had earlier told the story of first finding out about Andreas from some canceled checks he found in a drawer. Susan claimed that she was the one who had found the checks. Sweet, sibling rivalry. Everyone of us sees things a little differently.
I had to leave early to take Jeff to the airport. We made plans, except for David, to meet back at our father's house. I don't think us American siblings have ever spent time in our father's house together.
The get together at my father's house was more momentous that I could have ever imagined. My sister Susan was able to express how she learned from our father about hard work. She even cried and hugged him. Solange cried out to our father, "See, sweetheart, see", and then run to embrace Susan. Our father cried and told her how much he missed his little girl with the long hair.
Janyce sat next to Andreas and they discussed how they are both interested in the spiritual world, that they have visitors from the other world. Janyce especially wanted to discuss how superstitious our family is. Apparently, she remembered a story where a witch asked our grandfather to sell his soul. There were ravens. It was quite dramatic.
I told Andreas that he represents hope for this family. What I mean by this is that he doesn't have the same history and views our father differently than we do. He can show us something new about our father and his family.
Later, when I went back to my sister's house, my sister and I talked about forgiveness.
posted by Conrad at 8:36 AM
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