What happens when two siblings, separated at birth and living just miles apart, discover each other 40 years later?

This episode of Family Twist is a heartfelt journey into the lives of Natalie and Ryan, siblings who discovered each other's existence after 40 years apart. Their story not only uncovers hidden family secrets but also explores the complexities of identity, family bonds, and the impact of unexpected relationships that form later in life.

Reunited After 40 Years: Siblings Discover Each Other Just Miles Apart

Listeners will gain:

• An insightful look into the emotional and logistical challenges that come with discovering and connecting with lost family members.
• Strategies for navigating the complexities of newfound relationships, including how to integrate these relationships into existing family dynamics.
• Inspiration from Natalie and Ryan's journey of reconnection, highlighting the importance of family, however it is formed, in shaping personal identity and providing emotional support.

Dive into this moving episode to understand the power of family connections and the profound impact they can have on personal growth and healing. Discover how reuniting can transform lives by listening now!

Guest link:

Natalie's and Ryan's story is front page news: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/living/article253205998.html

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This is Family Twist, a podcast about astonishing adoption stories and finding family via DNA magic. I'm Kendall. And I'm Corey. And we've been inseparable partners in life since 03, 04, 05, also known as March 4th, 2005.

adopted as a child? I was. I basically our father, you know, nine months apart, I was born first. And I was pretty much immediately like adopted by my what I call my dad. So like, and you know, basically 21 years later, literally on my 21st birthday, as I'm having a beer with my dad in the bar, he proceeds to tell me that.

you know, that he's not my real father, that he's, you know, my adopted father. And that, you know what I mean? Like my father's somewhere like a couple cities over. And I was like, yeah, so that was like my 21st birthday. You know what I mean? Like in a nutshell. And that was in Ohio. We both were in the Ohio area, like Northeast Ohio.

And we, yeah, like literally come to find out that, you know, essentially we lived like two cities over from each other and didn't know nothing about each other. Wow. And all kinds of other things to work together. And well, then Ryan wanted to meet his biological father. So then I'm on I'm getting a phone call from my dad, who in my eyes did not raise me, but was like kind of there.

And he said, I need you to come over because I need to talk to you. And I was like, oh, that was a red flag. I knew something was going on because he did not ever do it like that. So I went over there. He's like, I just wanted to tell you that you have a half brother. And I'm like, oh, OK. And he's like, he's coming over this weekend. Did you want to come over for a picnic? And I was like, oh, OK.

Wow, we determined that was in the summer. This was actually 20 years ago. We had an outdoor picnic. Yeah. So I go. So he Ryan knocks at the door. I go to answer the door. And when I open it, I'm like, hi, I know you. And that is why I realized that we had worked together when we were in high school. When was this summer? Like when Ryan turned 21. So, OK. Yeah. So my birthday is in January. And like that's like I said,

On my birthday, you know what I mean? That's what my dad told me. And basically somewhere in like the, I would say July, August timeframe was when, you know, my mom and my grandmother actually got in contact with my actual father. And I kind of was going talking and then he suggested, you know, coming to meet them. So we then realized that we'd worked together and.

We met, we don't really remember that much about that day. I know someone took a picture, but we don't know where it is. Brian brought his girlfriend with him. I brought my boyfriend. And then we had like a pic, an awkward pic, in which we were like, thank God we didn't date. And then it was like, I don't really, I know we exchanged our phone numbers, but then it was just, I don't know, you know, when you're that age and you're young, you're not, you're just not thinking about stuff like that. And like really how important that is. And so.

you know, shame on me. That was just, OK, well, we're kind of moving on with life. And then when I the year when we all turned 40, I was with one of my really good friends and she was just like, I just want to let you know, I think it's just like really messed up that you like have a half sibling walking around and you don't know him. And that is not who you are, you know. And I was like, you are right. And so right then I messaged. My.

my dad's wife, my stepmom, and I was like, I need you to tell me everything that you know. Well, she only knew his name, that's it. And I knew he lived in Ohio. So I was trying to figure it out. I could only find like voter registration information. So I thought, well, I guess I'm sending the letter in the snail mail. But then something said to me, now people, cause I could not find them on any social media. I'm like, now people that don't do social media, what do they do? They do LinkedIn.

So I had I've dusted off my account and I sent Ryan a message on April 9th. April 9th at like, I don't know. It was like, do you remember the time? It was like 908. Yeah, it was like 908. And I was like, hey, Brian, it's Natalie. You might remember me. We share the same DNA. Oh, I didn't say it like that, though. And, you know, I was just like to the point and he messaged me back within the minute, the same minute.

Oh, my gosh. Like, I've been looking for you and I didn't know how to find you. Here's my phone number. Call me or whatever. And then and that was pretty much it. You know, we just then started to like, you know, just get to know each other. And yeah. And so we have a ton of things in common. So that was like so that was April and then like April, May. You know, we're just kind of like, you know, getting to know each other again. And I'm a teacher. So school was out. My best friend was like.

Do you want to go up there? I'm like, yeah, I want to go. Come on, let's go. And so right as school was out, we drove up to Ohio from North Carolina. And I still have, you know, friends and family up there, too. So then we all just kind of like reunited, like for real the right way. And it was went awesome. It was amazing. I will tell you, though, I lost probably 10 pounds because I was so nervous to meet him and his wife. I was like just.

You know, I mean that could go so many ways, right? Right. And I mean, I knew that, you know, because we talked like every day, so I knew that that was going to be good. But I wasn't sure like things that come in to play. Right. It's like he's a man. I'm a woman. And then and we're married and and you don't know like how everyone's relationships are going to like play out and how they're going to work and if it's going to work. So there was just a lot going on in my head.

And everything just went perfectly. Like you could just make it a Hallmark movie, I think. Have you guys ever seen that movie called I think it's called Three Identical Strangers? Only thing that I watched that I kind of like felt validated, you know, because those three men who were identical strangers, they were raised separately. And then when they all met each other, the things that they were saying, like when we met, we felt this way, we felt this way. And I was like, oh.

OK, because that's how I felt. Right. You kind of like felt like you I kind of felt like I was like like something weird was like I was like something's weird. Happens to me. Or am I reacting weird or is this wrong? You know what I mean? It's just how many people do you know this happens to? I mean, not that many. Right. Right. Playbook for sure. Yeah. And so that trip went great. That was in June. And then in August, Ryan flew here.

and met my family and that went amazing. And I have a four year old and a 13 year old and they love him so much. And then that was August. And then I think in September, I went back by my, I flew by myself there. And then in October, my cousin got married. So me and my daughter, we flew there.

And at this time is when like Ryan and Sarah were coming and like hanging out with my family, like my mom's aunts and or sisters, my aunts, you know, like my family and like they just fit right in. Oh, you have been here all along, you know? And that also just like blows my mind, like when I just really sit and think about it, because we know there's all different types of people. I don't know. It's just crazy because, you know, I was having a really hard time with like I was really mad.

that like we didn't grow up together because we were both only children. And I always wanted a sibling. I knew I didn't want a sister, so I always wanted a brother. And only nine months apart too. So it wasn't like we were in completely different sandboxes. You know, we were a grade apart, two cities away. There's just so many similarities. It's just crazy. And my husband is like 10 years older than me, which...

doesn't really matter on a day -to -day basis, but sometimes you're like talking about a song or you're talking about a movie or a popular culture of some sort. And he'll be like, I don't know what you're talking about. And I'm like, what? And then walks in Ryan and we're just like, oh, you guys came down for my birthday in January. They brought a snowstorm and literally my son thinks that uncle Ryan literally brought the snow. Like he really thinks it.

So, yeah, there was a snowstorm. They came and and then it was just like all of a sudden it was like, you guys should move here. Yeah, we always wanted to move to the Carolinas. Like, yeah, who doesn't want to move here? And then it was like, yeah, I think we're really going to do that. Like, what? Really? And then it just happened. And then like in August here, they just moved. Wow. Cool. Yeah, that's awesome. You physically live pretty close to each other now. Yeah, he actually lives closer to my work than I do. Yeah. My my brother here.

thought we were crazy when you know, we had been back in California, maybe two weeks after meeting them all for the first time. And we had just been talking about nothing else other than like, trying to figure out how we can move out here. And I remember when I called him, he was like, what did what did what did you say? You're gonna, you're gonna leave paradise in San Francisco, and you're gonna mean nothing. New England's not nice. But you know, he was really

anxious for us. You know, he worried that, you know, he and his wife have three children. He, you know, said, my gosh, we're always moving in 20 different directions. I think he worried that we would expect too much. You know what I mean? Like, yeah, get here and be all sort of alienated. But we were not those people anyway. But he didn't know us that well, you know. So I was like, Chris, I'm a big boy, I can

by my own shoes will be cool. Well, because I just thought, you know, if we had stayed in California and tried to figure out when we could come out when they were, you know, free, it's like maybe you would see each other maybe twice a year at the most. How well are you gonna really get to know somebody when, you know, you're physically on completely different parts of the country? So, you know, a three hour time difference with phone calls and everything, it's, you know what? I've always been really close with my family and I thought, well, Kendall will throw himself too. You know, he deserves the opportunity to get to know siblings.

Yeah, I don't think we have regrets. I can relate to how your brother felt because I felt that way too. I was like, although I wanted them here a hundred percent as it was happening, I'm like, oh my gosh, what if they don't like it here? It gets really hot, you know, like, oh. And that's part of like what I think is a little wild too about after we like got together and started talking like.

When we learn, like for instance, one city up in Cornelius, my wife has an aunt who is like a half aunt basically. It's a, it's a stepsister of her mother and or a half sister, I'm sorry. And we would come down here like before we got back together literally. And the wife has family in the Savannah or the Charleston area. So we would come for a couple of days, stay in Lake Norman.

which is like I said, a city away from where we're at now where she's been. And like we weren't connected yet, you know, and then like we talk about, Oh, you know, yeah, I went to Kent, you know, for in college. And it was like, well, we used to always hang out in Ken, you know what I mean? Like, well, yeah, we used to go to the bar over the board. We used to always go to the bar and like, we're just thinking like, wonder how many times we like bumped into each other or walk right past each other and didn't even think anything like that. So it's just wild.

Yeah, it is. So let's go back. Your adoptive father, did you ask him why he waited so long to tell you that you were adopted? Well, yeah, I mean, like that was how he presented it, right? Like he basically told me, look, you know, I'm for lack of a better term, not going to be a I'm basically in the doghouse for telling you this. But it was a situation where like that was like a point of contention between him and my mom that I didn't know about.

where he wanted to do it like when I was like eight, 16, 18, you know what I mean? It was like every birthday, basically it would come up. He'd be like, okay, now, you know what I mean? And she'd be like, yeah, no, no, no, we'll do it. We'll do it. You know, and like, basically it just went too long for him. And like I said, we were, he met me at a bar on my 21st birthday. And as we were drinking a beer together, he was telling me the story and like, and that's what he said, you know, he was like, I just, I can't.

keep it from you anymore, you know what I mean? And like basically told me the story about how it all come together. So when I was like, like I said, not even, you know, three months old, it was like my actual father, you know, wanted to have like blood tests and no, no, it ain't mine. And, you know, like, and then my mom went and had the blood test done. You know what I mean? And he,

like tried, I will say, you know, he come, my mother tells a story that he come over and basically didn't pay any attention to me. And then like the next week he was supposed to come and see me was, Oh, I can't make it. Or can we switch a day? And she was like, you know what? It's this headache is not worth a hundred dollars that you're paying. So she said like promptly the next Monday, her lawyer called was like, well, we're not going to pay a hundred dollars if we can't visit him or whatever. And she was like, that's fine. It's not worth it. And then,

you know, cue my dad, they started kinda together and you know, 21, even longer than that, but 21 years later, he's telling me the story about how he came into my life. So let's talk a little bit about the picnic with your biological father. Like how was he, what was it like interacting with him? What was he like that day? I mean, I guess he's, I consider him an acquired taste, you know what I mean? Like,

I went basically on the thought of medical conditions and previous this and just knowledge. Let me see. The only thing that I took out of it was, oh my God, I have a half sister that I live this close to. I think I got a birthday card the next six months after that, close to my birthday, and then like...

Oddly enough, like in September, I got a birthday. My birthday is in January, so they got it right shortly after. But like he kind of swung and missed the next time, like September or something. I got a birthday card and then it was like no more contact. And it was with me and her. It was a situation where like, you know, she's still going to school, working on her degree. And I just got out of school and I'm starting my career. You know what I mean? So it was like it wasn't that we were like, we don't want to.

do with anything, but like it was just fast pace. You know what I mean? Like life was starting. The timing was off. Yeah. But we are super thankful that we inherited our dad's looks. And then that that's all. Oh, that's not other things. Not other things. But we did. I did take one of those family tree DNA. I took I did take one of those, but I only took one.

Like it had nothing to do with this. It was just like, oh, I wanted to know, you know, whatever. And I get it back. And my mom's side of the family is Ukrainian. And obviously, I mean, I know like what my dad is and I get it back and I'm seventy five percent Welsh, which is what my dad's dad is. He's from Wales. So then when Ryan came, I was like, I'm buying it. I get you that for your birthday or something. I'm like, here, I'm getting you this for your birthday. I need you to do it. And so then he does it. Which reminds you, like we are half.

I mean, we don't ever say that, but you know, it is what it is. And he is also 75 percent Welsh. I'm like, wow, this is like the DNA stuff. Like it's just real. And Ryan, he really does look a lot like. Like our dad, my dad, his mannerisms and everything. It was it since he's lived here, it's been a little bit like I've had to get used to that a little bit. Yeah, because I don't talk to him. I don't I don't talk to my dad ever.

since my wedding. And my wife has even confirmed like, like she said, I think they put on like an old like homecoming video or something where he kind of like showed up and took some pictures or something. And I was in the kitchen or they were watching this video in the other room and I hear my wife exclaim, oh my God, he does that right there. And I'm like, what's going on? And I come around the corner and there's my father and she's like, no, you got to see this. Look,

You stand just like that, man. And I'm like, you know what I mean? So like it then, like she said, I guess there is some, you know, as they say, the apple doesn't fall far. Yeah, it's really crazy. It's really crazy. But I can relate to that. You can't like you just can't help. And it worked out kind of a situation where like, you know, my dad had like darker hair was different. But like I was really I looked a lot like my uncle as well.

So like when I was a kid, like I was almost like a spitting image of my uncle when he was a kid. Your mom's brother. Yeah, my mom's brother. So it wasn't illogical to me where I was just like, OK, I just look like my mom's side of the family. You know what I mean? Like I didn't get the dad traits. I got all my mom's, you know, like light hair, blue eyes. You know what I mean? Like looking just like my mom's brother. So it wasn't like crazy that, you know what I mean? That my dad wasn't my actual father.

But Ryan has blue. I have brown eyes. Ryan has blue eyes and my husband has blue eyes, too. But if you like line up like my dad, Ryan and my son's picture. Wow. How much they all look alike. Yeah, it's really crazy. You had your birth father connected. Oh, yeah, he knows. Oh, that's a good story. That's a good story.

When this was all going down, you know, I was like telling people at work and stuff. Well, people are like, why are you dropping pounds, Natalie? But and then I would tell them and they're like, that's a crazy story. You should really you should really call the newspaper. I'm like, what? Well, one day I was like, sure. Like after like a third person told me that, I'm like, sure, I will. So I did. And then this got when Ryan came in August, a reporter came out and did a story on us and then they put it on the front page with paper. And so I mean, you know, this all has like stirred up so much.

you know, childhood trauma, as they say. I was like, I'm sending this to him, you know, like he needs to know what's going on. And like I said, it just really bothers me. I mean, I understand now like timing and why this happened now. And this is the time of life where we needed each other. But it still makes me angry that he kept that a secret. So I wanted him. Yeah, I wanted him to know. So he has the I sent him the article along with a letter. And I'm not I don't want you in our lives and you can't blah, blah, blah. It's not like that at all.

It's very much like the doors open if you want to have a conversation and walk in, you know, I'm not trying to say we're going to be all like best friends, but I did want to say to like like Ryan's dad, I never got to meet him, which I'm super bummed about that. But I feel like so, you know, he's the one that told him he's the reason why this all happened. We wouldn't have known. And then again, when I was trying to find him, you know, just.

a year and a half ago or however long that was. I knew his name, but that wasn't like good enough because it was like it's too common. His name is too common. But then I knew that like I knew where he went to school. So if I typed that in and where he went to school, well, then his dad's obituary came up. And when I had his when I saw his dad's obituary, then I was able to know his wife's name.

And then when I had him and his wife's name then, that's when I got their address. And then I was so, you know, really, if it wasn't for his dad, like this never would have happened. How long ago did your dad pass? I believe it was about five years ago. So you're like the other thing that, like, I think, like, I guess frustrates me is that our sides of the field, like her mom and my mom and my dad, they didn't have any idea about this. You know what I mean? So like.

This is what we learned when I went to go meet him. So it wasn't like, yes, they didn't tell me that, you know, about my actual father, but it wasn't like they were keeping that I had a sister somewhere from us. So like he was the link to that between us, you know what I mean? And he kept that from us. So like that's the other kind of complicated part about it too. And I remember like when he told me, so when we were like in our, I don't know, I was really angry about it, but I didn't act that way at all.

Like I was angry towards him, but I was just like, oh, OK, you know. But he knows now that I'm not happy with it. So, Natalie, how long have your parents been split? They were never married. OK, gotcha. They were in a relationship, a serious relationship, but never married. Thank God. So, yeah, my mom raised me as and I was by herself single parent. I mean, he did help financially, which I recently found out.

how much that was. Apparently our goal, us as kids, our goal rate was a hundred bucks a month. Apparently that's what it was. That's what he offered to both of our mothers. So like, I mean, not sure that's a good price to be paying for a child in the eighties and the nineties, but okay, that's what you think. It's interesting, like as life is going on, how we're learning more and I mean, I think.

You know, some of it is because we're adults, but some of it is because everything that has been going on. And so more and more things are like coming out of the woodwork. And I am in therapy. I am curious about the two of you had a conversation about the possibility that your birth father has more children out there. Oh, yeah. I make the joke and she doesn't really find the humor in it, but I like to tell her that, you know, in another five years, we're going to find out that we might have a basketball team out there.

where you can get a little two on two with a sub going or something, you know? And I think like, you know, with doing that test, like it was funny because, you know, you send those in and there's a little bit of lag between getting your results and stuff. And like, literally that lag put me, I was at her house. I was on one of the trips here when I got the results and we both got the email and there was an email about like,

Oh, you know, hey, we found a family member. You know, this one person's real close. You know what I mean? And you look at it and like me and her, it's like one in two on each other's lists, you know? Well, with being like as logging in and getting that information, they get your email. Well, like the next day they had like a sale on the DNA tests or something. And we like, I know my heart skipped a beat. I was like, oh, you know what I mean? Like, I just thought somebody else out there was, you know, like.

He sticks to his guns that there's only two of us, but who knows? Yeah, that was a major question we had. Like, I think we've talked about it, too. Like, it's the odds of it going like this relationship. I don't know. Maybe that's just, you know, like a DNA trait or something we assimilate. But, you know, like it going as good as this one, I think would be, you know, foolish to hope for, I guess. You know what I mean? Like, yeah, I mean, it's tough. I mean, with, you know, Kendall out of.

I'm six. I mean, yes, he's had communication with all of them, but they're not all woes. Right. There are six, is that what you said? Six. Absolutely. My father had three others and my mother had three others. Oh, wow. Some you just really click with. Absolutely. My my brother that is physically near us, he and I are not very similar, but we love each other dearly.

My sister, my local sister, we're close with her. My mother's daughter, it's right under me in age. She and I are really close too. So it's been, it's been wonderful. I mean, the other three, I'm not quite as close to, you know, they're just, they're busy people, you know, and, and it's not malicious, I think. And, and we'll, you know, we'll continue to build those relationships, you know, hopefully. And.

But I mean, honestly, if I had found one of these people, it's all worth it. You know what I mean? Like, it's just been fantastic. I mean, to your previous point, my father's ex -wife, so the mother of my local brother and sister, she's been very welcoming to Cory and me. The very first Christmas we lived here, she and

we got invited to her family's huge Christmas gathering. And, you know, I'm not related to any of them, right, except my half brother and sister, but we were just accepted, you know, and and she's great. So, you know, it's I remember when she met me, she hugged me and she said because she knew about me and she said, Oh, honey, you're the baby we always wanted to find. And it just, you know, it just touched my heart, you know, yeah, because.

I admire you, Ryan. I think I've never not know that I was adopted. Like I don't from the moment, you know, I remember being like two and my mother and dad saying to me, you know, most parents get stuck with whatever baby they they have, but we got to pick. I mean, they just made me always feel really special to be adopted. And I have to. I think I guessed.

If I ever, you know, if I hadn't know, you know, I think like I that's kind of the way that I looked at it. And like, like you just mentioned, you know, that, you know, parents, you know, biological parents. OK, that's the kids you got. You know what I mean? And like it felt to me like after 21 years and like I said all the way up until I was passing, you know what I mean? We were thick as thieves. So like that's what I felt really honored about was like.

I got chosen, you know what I mean? Like he could have very well just been like, whoa, I'm out of here. And you know, my mom's like, we'll say an acquired taste as well. You know, she's a, we'll say a strong woman with her own opinions. You know what I mean? And he stuck it out with her for, you know what I mean? A long time. So like knowing that he chose me and we had that bond together, you know, like father, son, you know.

not so much against the mom, but like, you know, a bonding that we had and it was, it was really impressive to me. So awesome that you two have been able to connect in this way. And then now being close, you know, to each other, like I'm sure that that bond is just going to get in the row. So then that's, well, it's a lot for me too, because we, we, me and my wife tried to have kids and we weren't able to. And then like, we talked about adoption and it was like, I don't know, you know, like you hear stories about like parents coming back, you get, and I was like, I can't,

You know what I mean? That wouldn't be good for me. You know what I mean? So like and then like this coming into my life is like a blessing. You know what I mean? I get to be Uncle Ryan. So like Aunt Sarah. So it's like, oh, this is great. So, yeah, yeah. My my local brother's kids, we get them pretty often. I I still cry when I talk about it, but I'll never forget when we opened our Christmas gifts like a couple of years ago and we had fun cold shirts.

and shirts and I was just, it just, you know, I made it to 47 without having nieces and nephews, you know, so it just was, it's still to this day, it still feels sort of surreal, you know, it's been five years, you know, but. I have the same shirt, by the way. And it just, you know, it just warms my heart, you know, these kids are great.

and they're so respectful to us, you know, just really, but that part's been wonderful. And to like kind of go back to like, you know, with having both of us being married and everything, like my wife, Aunt Sarah has really taken to like her daughter, you know what I mean? Like they love going shopping, you know, she's, she's in between like doing the transition and making it down here to work remote. So she should be here around November, hopefully fingers crossed, but.

Like she's coming down this Wednesday coming up. They're doing like a river cleanup. We're all doing like a river cleanup with her daughter together. So like and they go shopping and you know what I mean? So like they they've really bonded well together. So it's truly made the experience real enjoyable everybody together. And and my son and love and and Ryan Uncle Ryan gave him gum for the first time last week. Oh, oh.

And we talk fishing too, so that's next on the list. Oh yeah, you did. That was just Friday fishing and. Oh geez, all the fun and you just started T ball and. All the fun is happening. You know what it's all about. Well, you know, I tell you and I'm happy that you're there. Ryan's wife is so supportive, but I mean that's what matters a lot. I think in our lives you know that Corey was willing.

I told my husband one day, he goes, I told Ryan, thank you so much for getting me that hall pass, because I wouldn't have been able to do that if he wasn't here. Totally true. Well, and I must admit, my brother and I get together and we drink more whiskey than we would ever do if we weren't together. You know, so ours is tequila. But, you know, same difference. So this is a pretty, pretty fun holiday season, I would imagine.

coming down. I think so. We didn't get to do Thanksgiving or Christmas. I mean, Christmas, we like, you know, open gifts via like Zoom or whatever. So this yeah, this holiday season will be super special and different in all the good ways. And I like the I like the cook. So like that's kind of like when I when I was a kid, I still remember I was going to go into culinary school and I come home and I told my mom, hey, everyone, culinary school. And

And I quote, if you want to learn how to cook, you can just go ahead and get in the kitchen. I got more enough pots and pans. I'll show you whatever you want to make. Pick another career. And I went into a now manufacturing engineer, but I went into like kind of the electronics industry and I was doing, I did MRI and now I'm in kind of the railroad industry now for electronics. So like, but that kind of spun off. I'm glad that happened because now I really enjoy being in the kitchen and cooking. So like holidays are my.

my way to go. And I don't like to cook, so I'm so excited. I just like to eat. And that's what I told everybody, too. I was like, look, you know, I don't mind a white Christmas as much as the next guy. But these holidays, this will be the first base. I've been telling everybody this will be the first winter I've looked forward to. So my winners have consisted of for a good stretch. I worked in a snow gulf. And if you're not familiar with what that is, that's.

You have six inches in your front yard. You'll have three times that in the snow belt. And I had to trudge through that. It just it wore on me, you know, like the seasonal affective disorder, as they call it. These four years in New England have been actually we haven't had a lot of snow, but zero snow is good for me. I mean, there's been a couple of. Yeah, it was one time that it was 24 inches. I'm not there. Snowblower like water. Do my gosh.

And that's why I couldn't believe when I come down for my birthday and that there's a snowstorm here to pretty much shut it down. Like, yeah, like I said, Uncle Ryan went back to his, you know, his bag of tricks and was like, well, Ryan's going to make the hot chocolate while you guys sled ride. You know what I mean? Like, yeah, I don't I don't need to see any of that. I got more than enough of that at home. I would. Yeah. Yeah. I'm imagining it's not going to snow this year. Well, we wish nothing but the best.

you two as you get to know each other more, your families get to know each other. It's just, it's a great story. Thank you for coming on and sharing it with us. Thanks for having us. Thanks for doing the show too. Like just listening to other people's stories was very therapeutic. Family Twist features original music from Cosmic Afterthoughts and is presented by Savoir Faire Marketing Communications.