A Personal Mystery

A few week ago, quite by accident, I came across a blog that caught my interest. It seemed something I would have something in common with so I began to read.
The pictures were lovely and the blog well written and interesting. I read for quite awhile. I found a piece about taxidermy (not my thing). Lo and behold there I was. Holding what I assume to be a deer head.
My face, my hair and even my glasses. I stared, open-mouthed and saw that she also had my hands and my smile. But she wasn't me. I called my kids in and showed them the picture. They all assumed it was me and said things like "I never saw you wear that vest" " Who took that picture, Mom?"
No one thought for a minute it wasn't me. I copied and emailed the pic to my kids that live out of state. Same reaction. One even commented on the candle holder in the background and said they couldn't believe I still had that.

So, I contacted the owner of the blog on which I had seen the picture asking who this woman was holding the taxidermy find.
I received an answer but the answer said she couldn't find the picture so she couldn't help me with the woman's identity. The picture had been removed when I went back to look. So, I suppose I am not supposed to know who she is.
Since I had copied the picture to send to my kids I sent it to her along with a picture of me. No answer came. I still check my email daily just in case.
I continue to follow this woman's blog as I find it compelling on its own merit. I find her to be strong and a real inspiration. She is not the woman in the picture as she has pictures posted of herself.
But who was the woman? The woman who was me? But wasn't me.

I was adopted at the age of almost three years old. There were many stories told as it was a private adoption and it seems there was some knowledge of each other. Once I was told I had a twin brother who had been adopted in Mesa, AZ. Then I was told that was probably a lie.
When I saw this picture my imagination went wild.
All the what ifs? came in to play. I admit I think of this woman daily but have no idea why I would happen to see that blog and that picture. The odds must be astronomical.

I will never know. I will always wonder.

An Update

I haven't written for awhile.
It has been a hard winter for us and I have been very discouraged.
Recently things have been on the upswing and this seemed like the place to put it all down.
Being on disability has its challenges. 
There have been times I thought I really couldn't stand being here for another minute. Yet I am still here. And we have qualified for siding and windows and a new furnace so next winter will be much easier.
Our house will be reborn in March.
This house is over a hundred years old and was condemned when we bought it. Although we have done a lot to it it has been nowhere near enough. It can be so discouraging but we haven't given up. Now we will have the house we have dreamed about.
We still have one more side to complete in the backyard of the fence. The one that is there now belonged to the neighbors is barely standing and we are going to continue ours just inside of it.
We have birch trees in the backyard. A cluster of them and when our youngest two were little we built a platform in the branches for a fort.
Now that our youngest grandchild will be having her first birthday next month we are going to make it into a playhouse for her.
We babysit her while our daughter works and are enjoying watching her grow.
I was a stay at home mom but never tire of watching children grow.
Until last year Michael was a truck driver and missed a lot of the growing up they did. He is really enjoying Ka'Leah.
There is a spare bedroom upstairs that I am making into my studio. I haven't decided if I want Shabby Chic or Victorian. Victorian was so gaudy and I love it!
The bedroom also has a bathroom attached to it with a claw foot bathtub. So I am leaning toward Victorian.
Michael is adjusting to being off the road and being at home. He has taken over most of the cooking and actually puts a lot of time and effort into it. (Lucky me). He is a very good cook.

All in all I think 2014 is starting off very well.
While there are always challenges there are also blessings.