Dave Schwartz
08-02-2006, 02:40 AM
My father's side of the family was from Belfast, Northern Ireland. I lived there for awhile when I was 17 or so to attend school. (1969)
About a year after coming home I joined the military and lost touch with them. Then my parents died and I had no idea where any of the family was.
When the internet became the communication medium of the '90s I began searching for them periodically. The cousin I was closest to was the one I always searched for and always without success.
I would try different variations of his name in many different U.K. cities - anywhere that I recalled him mentioning that he would like to live, work, go to school, etc. Never any luck.
Last Friday I got an idea to search for one of the family's business names (a search I had tried previously without success). This time I got a hit. Of course, the link was outdated and the telephone number was wrong but I got the name of a different cousin and followed his trail over the internet for several hours.
Eventually, I found a good telephone number for the business. Early Monday morning (and I mean like 12:30am early) I called and located my cousin. "Where have you been these last 37 years?" he wanted to know.
Anyway, he tells me that the cousin I have been looking for is living in Seattle but he will have to send me the number.
In the morning I search for the cousin in the Seattle area and find him. I call his house and his wife answers. She tells me that she will have him call me. (Remember that we have certainly never met - my cousin and I were both 17 when we last met.)
Ten minutes later my telephone rings. Here comes the real kicker...
It is my cousin. And he is calling from Carson City, Nevada where he is working - a 25 minute drive from my house - and where they are planning on moving.
In addition, his wife was flying in the same night (last night).
Beth and I spent the evening with them tonight. What a joyous time.
End of story.
Regards,
Dave Schwartz
About a year after coming home I joined the military and lost touch with them. Then my parents died and I had no idea where any of the family was.
When the internet became the communication medium of the '90s I began searching for them periodically. The cousin I was closest to was the one I always searched for and always without success.
I would try different variations of his name in many different U.K. cities - anywhere that I recalled him mentioning that he would like to live, work, go to school, etc. Never any luck.
Last Friday I got an idea to search for one of the family's business names (a search I had tried previously without success). This time I got a hit. Of course, the link was outdated and the telephone number was wrong but I got the name of a different cousin and followed his trail over the internet for several hours.
Eventually, I found a good telephone number for the business. Early Monday morning (and I mean like 12:30am early) I called and located my cousin. "Where have you been these last 37 years?" he wanted to know.
Anyway, he tells me that the cousin I have been looking for is living in Seattle but he will have to send me the number.
In the morning I search for the cousin in the Seattle area and find him. I call his house and his wife answers. She tells me that she will have him call me. (Remember that we have certainly never met - my cousin and I were both 17 when we last met.)
Ten minutes later my telephone rings. Here comes the real kicker...
It is my cousin. And he is calling from Carson City, Nevada where he is working - a 25 minute drive from my house - and where they are planning on moving.
In addition, his wife was flying in the same night (last night).
Beth and I spent the evening with them tonight. What a joyous time.
End of story.
Regards,
Dave Schwartz