It’s been a 33 year journey.

My sister’s DNA test confirmed that I’m her bother, introducing a new massive arm of paternal-side family.

In October 2025, I met my sister and her husband for 5 minutes as they were transiting through Toronto to Fort Mac, Alberta.

In December 2025, I met my brother, his wife, my niece and her husband, and my grand neice and nephew in BC.

Out of this 32 year journey and my currently 51 soon to be 52 years on this planet, I’ve learned I have an awesome family – combined – and they’re mine.

In March 2026, I flew out to Newfoundland to spend time with my sister and her husband, our brother flying out to join us, meeting their mother, my two nieces, a multitude of cousins, and getting “scanned” by 3 remaining sisters of my father and a great-aunt (my grandmother’s sister). I say scanned because they were all quite quiet and all looking at me, mostly to see what traits I share with their brother. Although it wouldn’t surprise me if they were saying, “Oh Cars” and maybe saying a little prayer of light for all of us.

I have felt fully accepted and embraced in a way that I have never felt before. It’s been incredible.

We dispensed with the half-this, half-that. While true in a family tree-sense, using the term “half” creates division and dilutes human connection. I am Kevin, John, Frank, Karen and Margery’s brother, full stop. They’re family and I’m family too in their respective worlds.

My father and mother both wrote about their lives.

Mom writing a book about her life and what family meant to her, and her journey. I often wonder if she wrote it for her fourth child – James William.

Dad writing a revealing journal that gives insights into thoughts on his mind clearly showing he loved all of his family, and based on stories I heard from family that beyond his own children, he mentored and guided. He never knew about me, but being the family man he was, despite all his faults, he would have taken responsibility and made it work. That was the type of man he was.

Both give me insights into a world, that, while I wasn’t directly a part of in those days, I am a chapter in their posthumous lives.

Funny that I’ve been blogging on various platforms since 2000. The apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree, I will say.

Despite the conditions or situations that lead to my arrival and adoption, I give thanks that I’m here today. I know deep down they would be deeply proud of my accomplishments, my path and journey through life. I get to share this with my brothers and sisters and we get to celebrate all of our accomplishments together.

Newfoundland has a very distinct culture within Canada, whether you’re a Bayman or a Townie. I am super proud of this heritage and where I came from. While I didn’t grow up in that environment, I have a huge respect for anyone who did and does.

My adoptive parents and sister were from away – India, England and Australia. I’m a Newfoundlander-Canadian, always have been, but I always felt disconnected from Newfoundland. I felt like a fraud for years, lost in knowing what my place is – wanting to be really proud of the fact that I was a Newfoundlander, but I really had no real connection to the province other than my adoptive father.

My adoptive father loved this province despite being from away based on our chats before he passed away just over 30 years ago; and he did his best to help me keep roots and understand Newfoundland better. Probably from his own experience being a Canadian born abroad in India.

I’ve always wanted a connection and I took Scott in 2016 to not just take him through the city where I first started my life, but to understand what it meant to be a Newfoundlander – or at least a Townie. To learn and embrace more about my culture.

This journey and it’s conclusion gives me good reason to learn even more about Newfoundland – What life was like for Baymen, learn more about the Beothuk people who are indigenous to the land, to learn a bit about hunting and fishing which my family does, living off the land more than I do.

I may be a city b’y, but I have a renewed interest here. I’m hungry to learn.

For a place that was once loaded with pain and grief, it’s emerged like a phoenix out of the ashes as one of the most beautiful places in the world I have visited.

I didn’t returning to reclaim what I lost.
I returned to own what was always mine.

Thank you Florence, Carson, Frank, Kevin, Karen, Joyce, Tammy, Tia, Nikola and Brittany; I’m glad you’re part of this journey. I’m humbled and honoured to be part of an amazing family. You know how to make a Townie b’y feel loved.

Thank you Mary, Roger, Gordon, Kirsten, Erika, Timothy, Patrica, Robyn, Beatrice and Roy – you all contributed to me in many ways and as a result, I am the man that I am today that lead me to this chapter – a closing and a new opening.

Loves ya!