I was born to the Klempner family, but I had stopped living with them when I was about 13 years old. If you will remember from a previous story, I went to live with my aunt and uncle who raised me and really made me the person that I am today. I had for a very long time considered myself to be part of their family, the Seinfeld family. So, when the question came up as to which family I belonged to, the group of Seinfeld’s claimed me as theirs. But, my grandfather spoke up and reminded us all that I was not a Seinfeld, but that I was a Klempner.
While it is true, I was born a Klempner, I had been gone from that family for over 20+ years. Yet, here I stood holding the hands of the people who felt like my real parents and we all just fell silent, knowing my grandfather was speaking the truth, but none of us willing to argue with him on the day he was burying his wife.
It was a hard moment for me. The reminder of where I came from, no matter how hard I tried to forget and no matter what I told people, would always remain the same.
As I drove back home to Jody and the kids a few days later, this song came on the radio. It reminded me that no matter what genetics may say I am part of the family I choose. My aunt and my uncle are my real parents. My husband and my kids are my whole life. These are the people who accept me for who I am and don’t care where I come from. They are the people that matter to me the most.
I'm staring out into the night
And trying to hide the pain.
I'm going to the place where love
and feeling good don't ever cost a thing,
And the pain you feel's a different kind of pain.
I'm going home to the place where I belong
where your love has always been enough for me.
- Chris Daughtry
11 days and counting!