Thoughts on distant relatives that you've never met?

[todd2000]

I have plenty of cousins that I have met, and interacted with when I was old enough to remember. I would see them at family get togethers on Holidays etc... I don't really see them much anymore. As for distant relatives, I don't have that many that I know of, but if I did and any would like to meet, I would meet them.

That being said, I have never met my Father, and I don't think I would want to at this point. I've gone 31 years without knowing him, why try to find him now. I am however interested to know if I might have any 1/2 brothers or sisters out there somewhere. I would defiantly like to meet them, I don't hold a grudge against them just because their dad is an asshat.

 

[Huntn]

I've met distant relatives and it's meeting a stranger. For whatever reason, I did not feel the connection, I'm under the impression people of my parent's generation felt.

 

[TedM]

I have some older brothers, at least one of which has undergone some effort to track down and connect with some rather distant relatives (most are 2nd cousins, though there might be one closer than that).

I have never met any of these people (if I did was maybe 1 year old, I am 45 now), and to my knowledge he has not either.

Opening up and maintaining these relationships is something that seems important to him.

On the other hand, am somewhat ambivalent about putting effort into opening up relationships with people whom I have never met (or have no memory of meeting). If they were relatives with whom I interacted with as an older child and had some memory of, it might be different.

Thoughts ? Anyone else feel this way?

Family is a really powerful connection. I'd probably never do this, but if someone contacted me I wouldn't be opposed to becoming friends.

 

[sdilley14]

If a distant relative contacted me, I would be open to speaking with them, and if he/she turns out to be a genuinely nice person, I would be ok with starting some type of friendship. But I wouldn't personally seek these people out. And if they come off as ANYTHING but nice/good, I would cut the cord immediately. Just because you are related in some way does NOT make you family.

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I've met enough of my family to know I don't want to meet any more.

LOL, that's pretty good.