My Little Brother

Let me introduce you to my little brother.  Gerald Wayne Dougherty

Now one with my new Sister In Law, Manami

Next with my brand new nephew Connor Ken Dougherty

And the the very handsome Connor Ken

I've seen Gerry twice in our lives, once when he was 5 years old and had first come to the United States. Next, 11 years later, the summer he was 16 years old. He had grown up in New York and was visiting VERY rural America staying with sisters that had ZERO experience with a 16 year old.  I wish that summer had gone better, for everyone, especially him.  Over the years we've had some phone conversations, not frequently, and on a few occasions where he was in trouble with his mother and she wanted me to talk to him.  We've never really known each other, but he's always called me Sis, I've always kinda liked that.  It spoke of a connection, one that was deeper then blood, one that I wanted to have but never knew how.

The situation has been difficult, and odd.  We didn't even know about him until he was 2. We've grown up years and miles apart, the one person that should have fostered our bond long gone. I've thought of him often, much more often then I've spoken to  him. The last visit with him was a long time ago.  We were adults and he was still a child. Again, we've spoken a few times over the years, regretfully though often going a year or more with no contact.  I knew through "the uncles" that he had joined the marines.  Almost 3years ago he called when he was fresh off of a deployment and I had just had Maddi. I didn't talk to him again for over 2 years.  Then......he found us on Facebook, strange huh?  We chatted a little, and he called me on the phone.
He's a grown up now, an adult like his sisters. He's a DADDY, wow!  I'm an Aunt, again, to another precious nephew.  We've talked on the phone a couple times, and on the computer, a couple times.  We've "commented" back and forth.   Something has clicked, I feel it, not just a "blood bond" because he's dads child too.  I'm feeling, REALLY feeling, he's my brother.  I don't want to go 2 years without talking to him, or 1 year, or several months even.  I want to hear from him weekly.  I want to really get to know this little brother of mine, and my nephew, and my sister in law.

We can't go back and redo how things have been.  However, we can hold on to this new relationship, move forward and become family...real family.