Page 41 - Sonoma County Gazette November 2018

What if you were able to have a brand-new family
practically overnight? What if you were able to have two sets of families? I have had the most incredible experience recently. I was adopted
at birth in NYC and I’m 61 years old. A family friend told me when I was a teenager that all she knew was that a young teenager from a well-to-do family became pregnant and her name was Edith Costello. She had to give me up for adoption. I had great adoptive parents and was loved and well provided for. My adoptive parents are now deceased. I always wanted to know who my biological parents were. All I had to go on was a very common name, Costello, either Irish or Italian, in NYC. A needle in a haystack.
Recently I took a DNA test through Ancestry.com. It came back with some cousins and we have been connecting mostly via email and Facebook. Can you imagine strangers who are now related to you asking you, do you mind if I send you a Facebook friend request?
I don’t know about you, but my Facebook page is more personally revealing than my DNA is. Their family lives in Cape Cod with some relatives in PA and FL. They are liberal and welcomed me to the family.
DNA testing is somewhat infectious, so they all took tests, and got the old folks to take tests too. A hit came back as a half-sister. I then was warned about “that” side of the family being too good to have fun and associate with the rest of the family, being strong Trump supporters, being anti-gay, etc. OMG. I heard my half-sister might be OK with my being gay, but she was sure her brothers wouldn’t be and didn’t think her mother would be either. She was also questioning the DNA results.
It is a beautiful fall day here in the redwoods! As I write from my airy cyber-hut, there is lovely light, with cool evenings and no wind. It is a bit hard to believe that I am writing this for November-another very speedy year.
With millions of people taking the tests what was the likelihood of her having a liberal Democrat gay half-brother living in CA of all places? She broke the news to her mother while crying. Her mother stopped her and said, “I’m sure I already know who his mother is, Edie Costello”.
Community Events: All are welcome to help plan events that benefit the entire community. Next up is the popular Cazadero Holiday Crafts Fair, to be held on Saturday, November 10 from 10-4 p.m. also at the Firehall. Featuring 18 booths with wonderful handmade items, including jewelry, cards and collages, soaps, wood items, ceramics, delicious homemade baked goods, fabric goods and more! The Fair Cafe will offer tasty snacks and a pleasant atmosphere to relax with your friends. FREE Admission.
My father was dating both and she gave him an ultimatum, it’s me or Edie. I presume that was the end of questioning the science of DNA. Her mother also told her she didn’t care if I was gay. What bothered her was that I didn’t know my family for all these years. She was also sure my dad didn’t know about me or he would have done the right thing being the man he was. She wanted my mailing address to send me a note along with family photographs. The worst part of the story is that my biological dad died so recently, only in April.
The Annual Old Time Christmas parade and celebration will be downtown on December 8th. Always a lot of fun, with special “snow”! Check out the Holiday Events listing in the Gazette for more fairs.
I added my spouse Patrick to my family tree. In the name of convenience, it pre-populates “Female”. You then get to enter First, Middle, and Maiden names! I was able to change it to Male, but I still only got to enter Patrick’s Maiden name!
The Cazadero Community Club meetings will be on hiatus until early March, 2019 at the downtown Cazadero Firehall. You may pay your yearly Club dues—only $10. Individual or $15 family rate, send to P.O. Box 3, Cazadero CA 95421. I think that the leadership and active members have done a terrific job in organizing the various events. Coming up in 2019 will be the fabulous Old Time BBQ. Please think about volunteering to help!
Seriously though, technology has come such a long way. Information is instantly populated for you. I’m learning history I never knew anything about. Next time a doctor asks me, does this disease run in your family, I can answer no, my dad wasn’t sick a day in his life, and he lived to 87 years old.
Call Raymond’s Bakery for holiday goodiess. Stores operated by Cazaderans include the very tempting Treats and Toys adjacent to the Duncans Mills Post Office. Caz Central offers local poet Sashana Kane Proctor’s newest book “Cave of the Casting Bones”.
In Local News - the Lower Russian River MAC is progressing.
Montgomery Elementary School students will be having their school pictures taken on Wednesday November 7th. The students will also be getting some time off from their studies in November. The MES will be closed on Monday, the 12th, Veterans Day observed. The school will also be closed from Monday, Nov 19th thru Friday, Nov 23rd for the Thanksgiving break.
I wish Very Happy November birthdays to Colin Kelly on the 1st, which was also the birthday of the much-missed poet Mike Tuggle, Angela Ferry on the 6th, David Orlando-Griggs celebrates on the 14th, and Jonathan Ritter and Irene Jackson enjoy the 17th. Logan Callister is on the 18th and Emily Sumner has her day on the 25th. Happy 3rd Anniversary to our wonderful Gazette Editor/Publisher Vesta and her dear husband Alan.
I am very happy that the Pole Mountain Fire Lookout is once again in service. Many thanks to all who helped make this happen, especially Jim Campbell.
Ballots will be mailed out in early November with a caucus and ballots due on November 17th. The winning representative for Monte Rio will be announced November 21st.
Let’s just say if you are looking for representation that has intelligence, a fighting spirit, perseverance, along with a smidgen of humility, it’s all in the genes. I would be honored to serve you and appreciate your vote.
Let’s hope for great results in all elections this month. From sea to shining sea. From the NY island to the Redwood forest. Vote, and then get your DNA tested and find out your family ancestry. When Irish eyes are smiling all the world seems bright...
So much to give thanks for this Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
Vacation Wonderland, we just keep getting better.
Enjoy Thanksgiving, turn back the clocks on November 4th
We appreciate the new paving on Austin Creek Road and hope that the remainder of Caz Hwy will be done soon!
and call me at 632-5545 or email mayawrld@sonic.net with info for your Cazadero Column!
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