A Big Weekend ahead...

[RockyRoad]

I'm back,
As I said before, I hope everything goes well. I know this sin't quite the same, but my cousin lives in Florida, and I'm lucky if I ever see her! She's still my favorite cousin, and even though when we first meet again we're kind of shy, but it all turns out good and we have tons of fun! I hope this helps, don't worry, I bet it will go well.

[Tina]

I just wanted to wish you the best of luck visiting your brother this weekend. I couldn't even inmagine not seeing my brother for 5 years. We have a pretty good realtionship right now. Of course my brother is 17. So who knows what will happen after he graduates from highschool which will be next year.

I remember about 3 and 1/2 years ago when I moved in with Rob. My parents hated it. They didn't talk to me for about a month that was bad enough. I couldn't even talk to my brother. I didn't even talk to one of my aunt's (she was more like a sister)for about 6 months after that. That is how mad she was at me.

Again I wish you best of luck and you will be in my thoughts and prayers this weekend. Hope everything goes well.

[popcornbird]

Good luck!

I've never even seen my aunt's youngest daughter (the one my dad has problems with). I think its been 10 years or more since I saw them but my dad saw her two years ago at his other sister's house. They talked but not like brother and sister. Its truely sad that I don't know my own cousin. Its just ridiculous.

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Good luck. I hope everything goes well and you end up on good terms again. It's hard mending relationships, but if you both really want it, it will happen. And it sounds like you both really want it which is why you're meeting.

Good luck!

[anna_66]

I hope you can patch things up with your brother.

I only have one sibling (a brother) and can't imagine what it would be like to not talk to him for 5 years.
It will all work out in the end, I'm sure of it because we will all have you in our thoughts and prayers

Take Care & have fun!
Your friend
Anna

[Cataholic]

Anna,
I don't know why you are meeting up with your brother, whose idea it was, or what created the gap to begin with. I hope things go well. But, more importantly, I hope you find peace or answers that will help you go forward with things, either with him or without him. Life is so hard, and while it is "too bad" you aren't or weren't in a close relationship, maybe there is a reason. I hope you get from this meeting that which you need, let go of that which causes you turmoil, and learn something about yourself.
Good luck,
Johanna

[primabella]

wishing you the best of luck! hope all goes well just relax and appreciate the chance your getting. some people never make up. take care

[NoahsMommy]

Anna,
I can feel your pain and apprehension. I haven't seen my brother in 2 years. He is 22 years old and lives in the same state. It was his decision to separate himself from my parents, thus leaving me as well. He didn't even come to my wedding. Its very strange, when we are together, we are very close and have fun. We understand eachother and I have no idea why he wont contact me. The pain I feel, as I'm sure you as well, really hurts.

I just know it will work out. You both care about eachother, and thats enough. I love what Rosebel posted, it really is true if you open your heart to forgiveness.

I'll be praying for you and your brother.

Take care.

[Cookiebaker]

Thank you so much everyone for your warm wishes and kind words. It was so weird...almost like greeting a long lost stranger or something! We stayed up pretty late last night catching up, and mostly we have kept conversation to the present...not going over those upsetting things that happened a long time ago.

Tonight we are also meeting up with my parents and my other brother...this is the first time the entire family will be together since June, 1996. It will be so nice...we used to be such a tight knit family...I've really missed it!!!!

And thank you, Rosebel for the poem...that is exactly what I needed and I am printing it out and posting it on the fridge.

[popcornbird]

I'm so glad things went well. That's great that your whole family will be together again after all these years! Congrats! I wish you and your family very close relationship in the future.

[HoRsELUvR]

I'm glad everything went well!

[Pam]

I am a little late here and I see now that I have read through the whole thread that everything has worked out well. It looks like you are back on the right track and I wish you and your family the best for continued healing.

My brother's wife and I went many years without speaking. She chewed me out on the phone one day for something over which I had totally no control. We were never really 'best buddies' so when she hurt my feelings I just backed off and it was pretty easy to do since we live 50 miles from each other. I always felt that if I should run into her I could be cordial but the relationship really took a big hit as a result of the tongue lashing she gave me. Well, about 2 years ago she was diagnosed with cancer and last year she told my nephew that if I would write her and apologize she would also since she wanted to set things right as a result of her illness. Even though I was the one who had been hurt I wrote that letter. Shortly after that she wrote me back thanking me and the hatchet has been buried. I have since spoken to her on the phone numerous times and, although we are still not close, it is a good feeling to know that we have put that all behind us. I wish you the best, and hope that your family can recapture that closeness! Rosebel, I liked that poem too.

[anna_66]

Anna, I'm glad to hear that all went well with your reunion. I hope you all have a great day together!

[Cincy'sMom]

Glad to hear things are going well. Hope it continues as your whole family reunites today!

[sasvermont]

Cookiebaker, such courage to get together and to confront something that has been on your mind for years.

I think family is very important, very, very important. I also know that sometimes fences (???) cannot be mended but they can be taken down. So, keeping the relationship at a certain distance until and when you feel comfortable enough to resume what we all think should be a "normal" relationship, is something that you must deal with. As long as you are at peace with your decision it will be good. If it turns out to be more work and trouble, then put the relationship in a place where it works for you. Not any brother and sister, or friend or relative HAS to be in your life. It would be nice, but not necessary to have a continued relationship if it is filled with pain and or guilt.

I truly hope you had a wonderful time reuniting with your brother and that it is one prgressive relationship from here on out.

I am not an authority on this topic - this is just my opinion.

SAS