Daryl Wood's Blog

Again today I was reminded that I have some unfinished business in my life. There is a woman somewhere who shares my DNA. She is my half-sister and I have very few clues to help me find her. Periodically I go looking; making phone calls; searching on line; asking questions; re-reading my father’s notes … notes from the father we share.

There is so little to go on and, if I am willing to invest thousands of dollars, there are people who think they can track her down.

I haven’t seen Ann in nearly 50 years. I’m curious. How are we alike? What kind of life has she lived? Has she ever thought of us as I’ve thought of her? What kept her away? What does she remember?

Since my mother and grandmother passed in the last several months I’ve found myself wanting to connect and reconnect with the women in my family. In particular, the ones who have gone before me and shaped the path I now walk. Ann is one of them. She has lived in my heart and mind for almost five decades. I have this small photograph, some grainy images on an old home movie and just recently a picture of her parents – my father in his military uniform and a smartly dressed young woman.

What I don’t have is my sister. And since I am in the process of clearing up unfinished business, I start looking … again.