My DNA results have proven that which my grandmother always eluded to but never outright said: I’ve got a decent chunk of Native American heritage. My results say it’s 18%. This also seems to confirm what my mother has always thought in that she is the product of an affair or at least a “fling” which resulted in her conception. Although I can only assume the romance was very quickly fleeting.

While I’m splitting at the seams with curiosity, things are more complicated for my mother as my grandfather -not her bio dad- has signed the birth certificate as her father. I don’t know if this was an act of chivalry..marrying my unwed and pregnant grandmother or if my grandfather was truly just ignorant. Seems odd and surely he must have noticed my mother’s skin tone which was much darker than that of my grandmother or himself.

At this moment, we have but a name, a spouse’s name and a possible state of residence. I must be doing the search ALL WRONG because that seems way more information to me than nothing and yet I can’t find anything.

I messaged one person who was the highest probability in relation. He messaged me a few pleasantries and then never responded. I feel like a fool having even reached out.

Where it gets even more sad is that there is literally almost nothing to use which my persuade my grandmother to tell me more. At that point, I must concede that she is going to keep this secret until her death.

How can I search, not offend my family and perhaps learn about who I am?