Gifts that amaze - I have photos

Today I was given one of the......... best. gifts. ever.!

PHOTOS

That may not seem so big to some but for me this is an amazing gift to be given.

I never knew my father – in fact never even saw a photo of him until 3 years ago.  I had no idea what he looked like at all.  He died two weeks before I decided I had enough courage to meet him. 

My father - Ronald Douglas Percy

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Before Christmas while researching my family as I have done every week for about 15 years I came across a site in Western Australia that allowed me to do a ‘reverse marriage lookup’.  I knew through research that my father had siblings, so one by one I typed their names in hoping to find their spouses surname.
One did, Dot? Once I found her married name I looked in the white pages and found one name so I thought I would try it, sending a long letter to her.  This was really lucky as Edith is well into her 80's and I had no idea whether she would be able to help in any way at all.

She thankfully responded before Christmas with shock of course as she had not known I existed and gave me some wonderful information.  I thought that was the end of it and was fine with how she had helped.


Fast forward to today- This wonderful lady in her 80s was thinking of me and sent me three photos. 

Not only do I now have a ‘good’ photo of my biological father, but also my grandparents.

It is a very hard thing not ever knowing who you ‘link’ with.  I never knew how hard until I saw the first photo 3 years ago. I wept buckets.  I think about that day sometimes and still get really teary.  I felt like I had years and years of emotions waving over me.  Funny thing though, I didn't really  think that it worried me not knowing.  Until I saw him for the first time in over 40 years of my life.

It is so important that people have a sense of identity, where they fit in, who they belong to etc.
I am so so grateful to Dot…. my aunty I guess.  I feel more complete.

My grandparents I have had more chance to 'know' through the historic documents found in my research.  Edith [grandmother] was married prior to Charles, with her first husband dying in the first world war.  She travelled with her son from that marriage [James] to Western Australia, I dont know why but this is where she met and married Charles Percy.
Edith died quite young from breast cancer, but not before losing James to a work accident a few years prior.
Charles on the other hand was in his latter days after Edith died, a bit of naughty man.  He even spent time locked up for assualt.  He was a large drinker.  Reading what I have and the time frame I like to think that he truly loved his wife and did not cope with losing her so young. 
Sounds nice that way.

My Grandmother - Edith Mary Lucken

My Grandfather - Charles Alfred Percy