I drove 21 miles to the mailbox today, hoping not so much for an unexpected treasure but rather for a simple reply from my birth mother’s son. If it weren’t for the prospect of reuniting with the woman who gave birth to me, I would not have taken the time to visit the Post Office. I’m still disturbed about the vandalism of our neighborhood mailbox a few days ago, and what I could have lost if the timing had been different. Fortunately, the break-in occurred late on Sunday night, after I had retrieved our mail. If my return flight had been delayed, I could have lost the pricey Broadway tickets that we ordered for Dear Evan Hansen in New York City, or had forever wondered if that still-expected reply had been answered and then stolen. The trip today was fruitless, as the wait continues for a the return of my self-addressed envelope. I will recognize the envelope immediately should it ever arrive, as I anxiously anticipate a response of any kind.

It’s now been over three weeks since the certified letter and documentation was received by the other Jerry Lee – actually 22 days – but who’s counting? (See Posts #393 and #404). It took 9 days from my home in Portland, Oregon for the letter to get in his hands in Seymour, Indiana as the specified recipient. Without being accused of stalking, I have not seen any updates on his Face Book page to indicate that his mom, and most likely my birth mother, is even still living. It was there that I found what I assume are pictures of her. However, all I have access to is his profile picture, since he has not responded to my friend request under the alias of Jerry Lee Bannister. He is Face Book friends with his cousin, who is the Banister family historian, and have been in touch with him through Ancestry.com. I am expecting a DNA kit that should genetically verify my relationship to both of them. Without making this too confusing, I had already done a DNA test through 23andMe, that initially put me in touch with the source of the birth and census records of my “second family.” (See Posts #391, #409, and #410.)  His Banister family research apparently does not include both sites, so this should substantiate my connection to his family. Or, prove me wrong? Perhaps he can help me make a connection to his father’s sister, and at least provide me with more information on his Aunt that I believe to be my birth mother? This is my back up plan, should I not hear back from the son. I guess I’m becoming hungrier, but hopefully not too aggressive in solving this 66-year-old mystery. It is a sensitive issue and intrudes on the privacy of these strangers that could be family. It wasn’t exactly a Valentine that I sent!

Meanwhile, to resolve the security issues on my mail and packages, I may need to look into a Post Office Box to receive any valuable items that I might order. Sadly, it just creates another hassle in trying to collect my packages, but I’m suddenly paranoid about mail theft, should my neighborhood association fail to add measures to prevent this from happening again.  It’s taken all the fun out of my daily postal treasure hunt, considering that the nearest Postal Annex is several miles away. (See Post #359). I guess I could start running to and from the Post Office everyday, hoping that nothing too heavy arrives.