My grandmother's parents split when she was 2 and she never knew her father - she only saw him one other time after the divorce (that she recalls).  She never knew her half brothers and sisters, or anyone from her father's side, really.  Up until this point, his side of the family have just been names...no stories, no memories...nothing.

Today I got an email from my grandmother's cousin (first, once removed?).  She is the granddaughter of my great grandfather's eldest sister.  She is 77 and lives in Texas and I don't know where she found my email address, but she did.  We've exchanged several emails today and I think she is just as excited as I am.  She also said she has some photos that she wants to share with me and I'm hoping she is able to do so.  She wrote very fondly of her great uncle and with regret about not knowing my grandmother and great grandmother. 

I'm so excited!

My grandfather died in August of 1999 and I'm not sure where he is buried.  I've been trying to find out the information on my own and was looking his name up in a cemetery in the city he died in.  He wasn't there...but one of his children (my aunt) was.  All I've ever known about my aunt Mary is she died in a car accident when she was young.  No one in the family really talks about it much - especially my dad.  She was closest in age to him, and I believe they were kindred spirits - she was the wild child/rebel in the family and my dad is not a wild child per se, but he is definitely a free thinker and very unlike most of his siblings.  I think he was hit hardest (as far as the siblings go) when she died.  I had no idea she was buried in the same city my grandfather is buried in.  I've requested a photo from Find A Grave...and next time I'm in the area (it's a 3  hour drive from here), I can leave flowers.  I'm going to have to ask about my grandfather...perhaps I can leave flowers for two.