How would you feel if you found out that someone you work with may actually be your relative?
A friend of mine from my high school job, Yael, who I wrote about in earlier posts called me a few months ago while I was shopping at Lowe's.
"Eric, do you know a woman named Debbie Meisner?"
I paused for a moment and then answered, "That's my first cousin. How do you know her?"
She went on to explain that she had recently done genetic testing with one of the popular genetic testing sites like 23 and Me and found that she and Debbie were closely matched."
"Wow," I replied. "That may mean that we are related."
We both laughed despite the fact that I felt a bit stunned by the news.
After the conversation I also did the genetic testing although this time I didn't match with her.
My cousin Debbie who lives in New Jersey is a big genealogy buff informed me though that Yael and I may be related on my mother's side.
On Friday I am meeting with Yael and Debbie at a Jewish deli in New Jersey to discuss the situation further. I am looking forward to the cornbeef, but especially the conversation, and maybe even news of how we may be related. Either way when Yael and I are together there is always a story. More to come. Hopefully good news.
Part 2: Well I met with Yael and Debbie at Harold's Deli in Edison, New Jersey after driving through Manhattan Friday traffic, and after a few near misses at exits finally arrived.
I drove through Manhattan because I have this thing about bridges. With my Jeep I always get a bit anxious that I might fall over the edge. Probably paranoid but you never can be too safe.
When you first arrive at Harold's they have these huge cakes in the fridge that Jackie Mason would probably compare to a birthday cake for an entire extended family. In a word huge. Actually, most things in the restaurant were jumbo sized especially the people eating there. The potato pancake reminded of a real pancake, but delicious, and lets not forget the deli. Big portions. Although to be honest I have a soft spot in my heart for Katz's deli in NYC. The best deli ever I believe. You can't argue with a 100 year old tradition.
Anyway, enough of the food. After Yael, Debbie and I gorged ourselves on pickles and I was dissuaded from getting the borsht we started talking about family.
Debbie knows a lot about family trees and she informed us that she and Yael are probably third cousins and Yael, and I may be fifth cousins. What we could't agree on what was the common link. Who do we have in common? If we are able to find that out then we can have some sort of closure/understanding.
We had a nice talk, and Debbie caught me up to speed about her mother's health status, her family, and I gave them copies of my latest book which they both appreciated.
We both gave Debbie a big hug, and agreed to get together again the next time she was in New York. Probably a time to visit grave sites and try to see if we can ascertain the connection between the families.
Life Lesson 132: Yael and I drove away from our meal with Debbie filled with good deli, good feelings, and bright prospects for future connections literally and figuratively. We discussed our lunch in detail, and as we munched away on rugelach and a large chocolate chip cookie we realized that life is good and should always be appreciated, and that time with close friends and family makes everything taste even sweeter.
