Meeting My Sister
Posted by ListenToLeon on
July 2, 2007
Today’s entry is a little more heartfelt than what usually gets posted here at www.listentoleon.net, but don’t worry. There are some humorous moments to the story. Even when I’m being serious, I still find a way to keep it funny.
I have always known that I have a half-sister out there. A few years before I was born, my father had a daughter with someone other than my mother. I never really got a chance to know much about her, since my parents divorced when I was young, and she did not live in the Fredericksburg, VA area like most of my family at the time. Since my contact with my father is sporatic at best, I pretty much completely lost track of her. My last vague memory of my half-sister was from when I was around 10 or 11 years old, back in Fredericksburg.
Over the last couple of years, my mother has run into my half-sister a few times while out and about. After the first time, Mom tried to get my sister Leigh and I to look her up and get in touch with her, and told us that she was in the DC area. For awhile, I planned to follow through and actually give her a call, but each time I got close to trying, I stopped myself because it just seemed too weird or awkward. It was like part of me wanted to finally know her, but the other part did not know how to go about making the first move as far as closing the separation. I guess I worried about whether or not she would think that I was trying to create some kind of instant family out of nowhere. That, or maybe she would go through all kinds of emotions about my father and his tendency to dissappear into thin air. Either way, it seemed like a lot to take on, so I backed away every time.
Fast forward to last week. Mom told Leigh about running into our half-sister again. This time, she invited us all to a happy hour at her mother’s house, which happens to be a few miles up the road from where my mom lives. Unfortunately, Leigh, my mom and my grandma had already scheduled a “girl’s weekend” getaway to go shopping in Virginia. So that left the decision up to me, as to whether or not to take advantage of this chance to finally get to know my half-sister.
I decided that my need to know my sister outweighed my desire to avoid uncomfortable situations or awkward conversations. I called her on Thursday to let her know that I indended to come to the happy hour, and to also let her know why my Mom and Leigh would not be able to make it. After our conversation, I felt kind of good since things were not too strange on the phone, other than starting the conversation out by saying “This is Leon, your half-brother. My mom told me about the happy hour that you invited us all to when you spoke at the market. I wanted to let you know that I’m coming by so that we can meet since we haven’t seen each other since I was a little kid.”
Once the event approached, I felt out of place before I even got a chance to make it into the driveway. I rode up there with a really wonderful friend of mine(who probably doesn’t want to be famous/infamous so I’ll leave her name out). As soon as we saw the beautiful gated entry with a Bentley parked in the front, we both said “Damn” and kept on driving down the road. Once that initial poor folks coming to a really nice place shock wore off, we turned around and pulled into the driveway. It was a very nice spread, with excellent catered food, and an open bar. I saw a bunch of old school players out front in linen and suits, but not the type that you see lounging around in nightclubs trying to pick up 21 year olds. More like the type that own the building that the club is in. Despite being my phenomenally swagger-filled self, I felt slightly out of place.
We walked inside, and I called my half-sister and left her a message letting her know that I arrived. From there, my friend and I walked outside and I immediately saw someone I knew. Unfortunately, that was not a good thing, for this was someone whom I almost got into a fight with when I worked security for Republic Gardens nightclub. I won’t say his name, but he’s a tall elected official in MD who wears man-sandals. Rep. Man-Sandal tried to act like he didn’t see me, so I told my friend about the night that he started grabbing waitresses in the club and almost got a corona bottle upside his head from an undersized bouncer known for fighting dirty.
We laughed, because stuff like that only happens to me. Who else goes to an upscale party full of strangers, and still manages to run into someone whom they were this close to beating the living hell out of? Let alone, that someone being an elected official! Luckily, he must have been embarassed by his drunken actions in the club that night, because he tried his best to avoid eye contact and never made his way over to the side of the yard where I was. I actually owe him a debt of grattitude, because he helped me to relax by allowing me to reminicse on that night and crack jokes.
As we were about to leave, my half-sister called me and told me where to meet her at since she missed the first call and just got the message. I went to the front of the house, and we finally met again after all of these years. I can’t lie, there was a slight cloud of awkwardness floating around, but for the most part, it was great getting to know a little about the family member that had been such a mystery for so long. I called her again this weekend and left her a message thanking her for everything, but the next step is getting her and my sister Leigh together so that they can know each other, too.
Thanks for reading about my little journey of discovery this weekend. After what I did the the Roots photo on my “About Leon” page, I figured that it was only right that I get my Alex Haley on over here and share the events of this weekend. Mr. Haley, you can stop turning over in your grave now. Things are as they should be once again!
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20 Responses to “Meeting My Sister”
Congrats on the reunion. Thats great! I have a half sister as well. She’s 10 yrs older. I met her when I was 8. We wrote letters and promised to keep in touch. Naturally,her letters stopped coming. Last I heard she was in Africa. I have this fear she’ll pop up when its time to split my dad’s millions…I mean thousands. And,let the drama begin.
By meems on Jul 2, 2007
IT’S REAL GOOD YOU GOT A CHANCE TO MEET YOUR HALF SISTER AFTER ALL THIS TIME. IT’S GOOD TO FIND OUT WHO YOUR FAMILY ARE AND WHERE THEY LIVE. YOU NEVER KNOW YOU MIGHT NEED THEM FOR AN EMERGENCY SURGERY OR THEY MIGHT BE HERE TODAY AND GONE TOMORROW AND YOU MIGHT NOT BEEN ABLE TO SAY WHAT YOU WANTED TO SAY OR FIND OUT WHAT YOU WANTED TO KNOW. KEEP IN TOUCH EVEN IF IT’S JUST TO SAY HI.
By SHANTAE on Jul 2, 2007
at least she aint ugly and look like a linebacker…
By diva527 on Jul 2, 2007
Hey! I’m glad you finally reunited with your half sister. There are a lot of things we want to do in our lives, but always find an excuse to not do it, or just avoid it. It must have been an awesome feeling. Also, did you find out who owned the Bentley? LOL just kidding!
By Joy on Jul 2, 2007
Congratulations man.
By J. Dakar on Jul 2, 2007
OK, you had to CALL each other to find out WHERE to meet in the house? She got it like that? Get to know her REAL well!! LOL I should have known something was up when you said she invited you to happy hour at her house. Who has a happy hour party at their house?
By Hypmommy on Jul 2, 2007
Damn I guess you learn something new everyday. All these years and I never knew you had a half sister. Glad it went well for you.
Pulling up to that house must have brought back the memories when we bitched out at the party last fall. LOL!!! Felt like Martin walking in Michael’s crib “oh my goodness this is soooo nice!” LOL!!!
Damn I hate being poor!!!! LOL!!!
Play Loto!!! LOL!!!
By Jimmy on Jul 3, 2007
There’s a “human” side to Leon? LOL! I’m happy you and your sister (I dislike the half prefix) reunited…at least it wasn’t a crack house. Maybe your sister knows some writing contacts. I hope Leigh meets her sister as well.
WL
p.s. Thanks for the myspace add..I mean…finally dude….I visit this site more than I check my online bank balances….so click on a spnoser already! I’m clicking! I’m clicking, man! Dang!
By WonderLove on Jul 3, 2007
I know that cloud of uncomfortableness oh to well. I have it with the entire side of my fathers family. I sometimes feel like the illegitamate love child when I visit him and my little brother and sister and wife. On top of that, the bulk of my dad’s family is in Africa. I plan on visitng, but I’m dreading the whole inital akwardness like a mug! Happy to hear it is possible to get through although I doubt I’ll have the aide of an elected official that I was about to beat down for comic relief :)
By Mahogany Brown on Jul 3, 2007
I am glad that you reunited with your half sister. I would of done it as well. I would want to know who my family is and meet the ones I haven’t seen awhile. No doubt will cross my mind. That is family.
Next up is the son you neglected..he is out there. Find him or he will find you
By Big Homie on Jul 3, 2007
Damn. This is good. I have a half brother allegedly floating around too. Got close to calling his mother to get information about him but didn’t. However, knowing his approximate age and where he’s from, I have steered clear of every man 16 months younger than me from Boston. :-)
By Hostess on Jul 3, 2007
Congrats Leon :) :)
By KraZy34th on Jul 3, 2007
that was a nice little story, it is always good to get back in touch with family..hopefully you two call each other more often…
oh..I was dying at the man-sandals…when will we get that story?
By jan on Jul 3, 2007
aaaaaaaaaw how SWEET! My cousin just went through the same thing. Except she JUST found out she had a 16 year old sister. She didnt seem to feel awkward at all. She went strait to Missouri to meet her. Did I spell that right? Anyway, contgrats on meeting your sister or…getting to see her after so long :)
By [peach] on Jul 3, 2007
Good for you Leon! I am happy you got to meet up with her.
By Candace on Jul 3, 2007
Good blog dog. It was so good I actually clicked an ad 10 times…I think it was 10.
By Jabari Talib on Jul 3, 2007
I recently had a similar situation. However, there was no one that encouraged it, I did it all by my self. I have an 11 year old brother and 21 year old sister. My little brother is the shit, my sister is a piece of shit. Can’t win every time.
Wonderful post, I hope it works out great for all three of you.
By valentine on Jul 4, 2007
You know, I haven’t commented on your blog in what seems like forever… but I had to comment on this entry.
Believe me, I know the feeling of not knowing exactly what to say to a half sibling you’ve never met or only saw once in your lifetime. I have a younger brother who lives in Philly, and I had never met him. I got his address, and decided to write a letter. It took me 45 minutes to write the first line. But I got thru it, and he and I are closer than ever!
So, congrats on getting to know your sister. You never know what could happen.
By Miss Jessi on Jul 5, 2007
HOW SWEET! I have a half sister too.. but DUDE she is creepy! she is 6 years older than I am and she is like a doppleganger (sp?) or something.. she is trying to BE me! I mean she has starting writing songs/poems, changed her stlye of dress.. become more patient with her son.. embracing art and music.. and is even trying to go natural like me.. (which she shouldn’t do because her hair looks like a sweater even when she has a FRESH relaxer!) she is using my phrases and made up words! bought the SAME Ford Explorer I did.. I mean REALLY! but I digress.. it sounds like your daddy’s daughter has her head on straight.. good luck with building something with her.. speak easy!
By GOODENess on Jul 6, 2007
Congrats on meeting your other sibling. A friend of mines finally met her older sibling and I admire how the entire family has embraced her. I also have an older sister out there, but after several attempts, I still have not been able to locate my natural father, which makes me wonder if he is still around or just does not want to be found. I commend your mother for encouraging you to meet your sister and I hope that great relationship flourishes.
By Sage on Jul 7, 2007