I'm not sure how to start; I miss Ron so much! He and Hal are sons of my Aunt Melva and Uncle Harold, who once spent two months with my mom, my sister, and me in our two-bedroom house in southern CA. I was about 15. As I recall, Uncle Harold had been sent out on business and they just lived with us for the duration. Cozy, yes, but it was good. A year later, they moved out about an hour away from us. We didn't see them often, but now and then, they arranged to come in and take us to dinner. They even attended my high school graduation, in '63. And when Aunt Melva was nearing heaven's gate, I joined my mom in visiting two or three times. But I did not get to see Melva; she was just too sick. Anyway, I learned to love my aunt and uncle, but back then, I didn't know how to tell them. And we never met Hal and Ron.Fast forward to around 2018, maybe March. I was registered on 23andMe and sometimes received notice of people who share bits of my DNA. I had given up looking into them, because they were mostly 3rd cousins or 4th; most posted no family names or other information, leaving me virtually nothing to go on to establish a familial relationship. But one woman was persistent. Still, I ignored her, until one time I received a long note from her that included the names of Melva and Harold Poe--her paternal grandparents! I couldn't respond fast enough. Not long thereafter, she was visiting her family in AZ and called me, when they were all together. When Ron took the phone, I greeted him with, "Hi, Cuz'!" and of course, he laughed. About a year later, Ron and Hal came to Tucson to meet me for lunch. I fell in love with both of them during that marathon lunchtime. After that, from time to time, Ron called, as he did until sometime during his final rounds of hospitalization. In every call, he'd say, "Well, I'm going to come see you." He and Jan did just that, at least twice, and seeing them was always a joy. Just talking to him and to Jan, usually in the background, was always a joy.In almost every call and during every visit, he expressed his regret--which I shared and still share--that he and Hal didn't know I was so close, and I had no idea they were in AZ. So many more years, we could have shared fellowship, joy, and love. But I am so deeply grateful to our Father in heaven that, because Dorene finally got through to me on 23andMe, those relationships were born.Meeting Ron and Hal began to heal a hole in my soul that I had been aware of, but mostly ignored because I had no way to find anyone on that side of my family. I had tried. God worked it out. And before His throne, through the grace that is ours in Christ Jesus, I will see them and all of my loved ones who know Him. One day.
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