After 64 years, I finally found my father!

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About a month ago I was taking with my best friend. She had taken the AncestryDNA test. The results for her brought closure to a mystery in her life. She found her bio father and now in addition to her siblings her family has grown two-fold. I told her that I had been thinking of doing this too because I had no idea who my father was and wanted to know. So at her advice I purchased the kit and mailed in my sample. Days went by, then a week, and a few days after I was notified that my sample was received. Then less that a week later they were processing the dna, then extracting, and finally it was ready. I took a deep breath and called my friend. Then I opened the email. I found I am 71% England an Northwestern Europe, 21% Scotland, 5% Ireland, 2% Basque, and 1% Nigeria. When I opened my matches I found a few familiar names. My half sister, my grandson, and a few cousins. I noted quite a few people with the last name of Brooks and the only one that shared that DNA was my grandson and I so I dug in and started researching. Another friend of mine helped with the research. The closest relative was listed as a first cousin. Her husband managed the accounts. I looked him up on the internet but put the information aside until my friend found more info and a business phone. She also sent a pic of a man that could’ve my father. Then she sent me his obituary. I was saddened to read he passed. I truly hoped I could have met him. This knowledge spurred me on. My best friend told me to call the woman who could be my cousin. I dialed the number and hung up. I waited about 15 minutes and called again. I had to leave a message. The message wasn’t too detailed just asked that S would call me and that I had something important to talk with her about. Later that day, around 3:30, I had a voicemail. The man said he couldn’t understand my message and that I should call back. So I did just that. He answered and when I said that his wife and I may be related he said she wasn’t interested in talking to me and that they already knew their lineage from way back. That’s when I told him I recently took the AncestryDNA test and she came up as a 1st cousin. It was then she decided to speak with me. I told her that I was told that RB was my father and it appears that she was a cousin. She told me that in-fact she was his half-sister. Her voice wasn’t very friendly. I told her I would understand if she didn’t want to talk with me and how difficult I must be for her to receive knowledge that her brother had another child. I asked her to put herself in my shoes and think about what I have been through. I sent her a friend request on Facebook so she could nose around in my profile and get a feel of who I am. I told her I wanted nothing more than to know more about my father, maybe some pictures that I could share with my children and grandchildren. She said she would see what she could do. Then she asked if I had tried to contact his widow, I told her I wouldn’t do that. She thanked me. We talked for a few more minutes and we ended the call. She had accepted my friend request on Facebook. Also noted that they logged onto their Ancestry account. The next day I received another call from her. This time her voice was upbeat and cheerful. She said that she and her sister would like to meet me. Said we would keep it small so as not to overwhelm me because they have a large family. I told her I do as well. She also asked if I would like for her to reach out to my siblings and I said I would love that. So hopefully sometime in April I will be driving to meet my family that I didn’t know I had. It will be an adventure for sure! Sorry for the long post, but I am excited about this and wanted to share. I