that's my name, don't wear it out!

In my 30 years of being a member of this family, I have never met a relative other than my dad's immediate family . . . until yesterday when we went to the annual VK reunion for the first time EV-ER!

Suddenly, WE were the long-lost relatives who needed to meet aunts, uncles, cousins, cousins three times removed, etc. Everyone was so excited to meet us (especially since we actually have the name!). It was a good time trying food from the Netherlands (who thought potatoes and carrots all mushed together would be good?!) and listening to some thick accented people talking about knowing my dad when he was a toddler. It was quite the experience, too, to feel sort of out of place (like we'd missed the last 30 years of family get-togethers).

This was the first time ever to have someone look at me and my siblings and say, "You have the VK eyes. When I look at all of you, I can see so many relatives. You are definitely part of this family." Who knew I looked like them?!