Good Grief!!!

Friends,

I feel like I was just hit over the head with a ton of bricks.

There has been a geographical separation between my niece and me ever since she was born.

I had tried to renew the relationship this Christmas by sending gifts to her and her daughter. They both have February birthdays, and I sent gifts then as well.

My niece works full time, has a husband, ex-husband and a 12-year old daughter.

Last year she told me don't call -- she didn't have time to talk. Now yesterday, I receive an e-mail, saying she really doesn't have time to e-mail either.

I feel like slamming the door in her face, saying, "Thanks, but no thanks!", but I have very little family.

Feedback please.

A slightly devastated EJ

Doesn't look like she's interested (understatement of the year). How sad. I'm sorry she appears so insensitive to you; I like you so she should!

Is your sibling still alive and do you get along with them? I have a lot of nieces and nephews and am afraid to contact them as I fear what you are experiencing. I think you're very brave and thoughtful.

{{{EJ}}}

Hi Perna,

Thanks for your sweet note!

She stayed interested long enough to collect four nice presents for herself and her daughter.

My brother, my only sibling, her father died when he was 38 -- 33 years ago.

EJ

It's possible your grand niece will look you up later. Doesn't sound like they have a lot of relatives either. Some people are like that I supposed.

I have an aunt whom I've enjoyed all my life (she'll be 87 next month) but neither she nor I are very good correspondents. But I think we enjoy each other. Just knowing friends and relatives are "out there" and would, if they had time or whatever, enjoy one and one would enjoy them can make all the difference.

(((EJ)))

Sorry she is acting the way she is...sometimes people are needier than we ever are...

Sorry she's being that way towards you...only using you when she wants or needs things.

Hi (((((EJ)))))

we have very little immediate family, & to our great joy, we discovered when we were in our 50s, that we had a half-sister.
we tracked her down & contacted her & she was extremely rude, she called us names & she called our mother names & she said she'd always known about us but she didn't care to speak to us. what can you do ?

this is only meant to illustrate that we know that feeling, like being hit with a ton of bricks

Perna is right, the family may contact you later, we still have hopes for that, but family isn't everything luckily

Zorah,

Thank you for sharing your family story with me.

EJ

Similiar things ?? Feed Back ??

Shoot my mom has it played out so My 2 sisters and I have not 1 bit of communication .

For then if we compare notes <<<. .>>>

Sometimes it is better to let it be ,,,, ,, Then to Worry it Daily ,, or ,,, give it more weight that it deserves.

we think you got it on the button there ((((((wmd))))))

if us & our half-sister could have compared notes, we could have caught all that RUBBISH we'd been told

they told HER that our father had died during WW2
as we weren't born 'til after the war this was plainly crap, anyway he lived til 1969.

even our first cousins, they made sure we couldn't compare notes (they from the other side, maternal)

ya know, we just decided to forget the lot of them ? it's not worth a moments thought, we gave it far too much thought.

oh hon I am so sorry. she doesn't deserve you!

Thanks to everyone who provided support.

I am feeling better about the whole thing today. The whole thing caught me by surprise.