If we were having coffee…1/30/21

On By dinahIn MPE, NPE, self care
Photo by Dinah (c)

If we were having coffee…..
Hello my friend! Always wonderful to see you! Please grab a cup of coffee and make yourself comfy. Seems to be a good day to catch up…

So how are you? I hope you’re finding some things to keep you warm and cozy, both inside and out. Much to my chagrin, winter has found us in the Midwest. I was hoping it might miss us this year… But that pipe dream never quite works out… I shouldn’t complain though. Not having significant snow until January is a massive gift in the Midwest. And the days are already getting longer, so that’s something to celebrate!

My husband always helps me to feel better about winter. Whenever I start to complain about the season being unending (5-6 months), he always manages to do some very creative math that makes me feel more hopeful! He’ll say something like… Well you know, November and December are always pretty mild so they really don’t count. And more often than not, we start getting warm days in March. So March really doesn’t count either. So when you think about it… Winter is really only January and February… and we can tolerate almost anything for eight weeks, right? He’s such a good man!

If we were having coffee… I would tell you that I have a little bit of news for once. I have shared about the fact that I am an MPE.… that means that I am someone with misattributed parentage. And, because of that, I belong to several different Facebook groups and organizations with others in this same situation. One of the groups is called DNAngels. They help people track down their family members using DNA testing. They helped me about two years ago. So my news is that I will be guest blogging for them for the foreseeable future. I’m kind of excited about this… It’s another avenue of expression that I care about. From now on, I will post whatever I write for them on my own blog as well… Stipulating that it was written for them. But in the meantime… You can find my first entry HERE… And feel free to explore their website. You never know when you or someone you know might need their services.

If we were having coffee… I would also tell you that, although we are massively late to the party, we have joined the streaming revolution. Yes, we finally got Netflix. I am admittedly somewhat technologically resistant. It all seems like a major pain in the butt. But, given that the pandemic doesn’t seem to be winding down anytime soon, it seemed like Netflix would be a good addition to our home. So we did it. And our very first foray into streaming was…the 90’s series The West Wing. We loved it. And we were hooked almost immediately.

And then the unthinkable happened. At the end of December, Netflix stopped carrying the series! That was a very rude awakening because we were only halfway through. And everyone knows that, once you’re hooked, you want to know how it all ends! So that sent us on a journey to find where it was streaming… Anywhere else. We found it on HBO max…Sigh…

Anyway… We were able to finish the series. I highly recommend it if you’ve never watched it before!

I hope you’re finding ways to enjoy your days as well… Whether it’s winter or summer where you are, I hope that all is well in your world! If you have any news or anything you care to share, please feel free to leave a comment.

Thanks so much for stopping by. I’m so glad you’re here.💜

The weekend coffee share is now being offered by Natalie. And you can see more coffee share posts HERE…

16 thoughts on “If we were having coffee…1/30/21”

  1. Denyse Whelan Blogs

    Well, I am in Australia and we are having a ridiculously wet, humid and sometimes hot summer!! When I first found Netflix back in 2015 I began watching Downton Abbey and when it came to the end of one series..NO MORE! What to do? I was so hooked, I bought all the DVDs and now that series is my “go to” comfort viewing.
    Denyse. #weekendcoffeeshare

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    1. Oh I LOVED Downton too. My friend said The Crown series on Netflix is excellent also. It’s on my list for future viewing.
      I hope you can have a lovely summer regardless of the less than ideal weather. Summer is so fleeting where I live….It’s just never long enough!
      Thanks for stopping by. I hope to see you again 💜

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  2. Hi Dinah, I’m almost afraid to ask but I don’t understand what MPE means. Is is something like you were adopted (perhaps being told very late in life) and someone helped you identify something useful about your actual family history?

    Anyway, I’ve not forgotten your offer to do an email markup for me on my story. I’ve made some of the changes, but decided to let some time pass before I make my next pass at filling things out better. I’m still fond of the overall direction, but some time will help me see it through less biased eyes and maybe I’ll catch some of those typos you saw. Plus I really hope to find a formula that feels more credible to you.

    Anyway, I hope all are well and healthy on your side.
    Blessings.

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    1. Hi Gary
      Well, until I was 17, I believed that my Dad was my biological father. Then I was informed that my biological father was someone else and that I was the product of an affair. Biological father denied it when I called him when I was 25 so I never called again. Then at age 55 a dna test confirmed that that the guy who denied it was, in fact, my father. He died 7 years before I had confirmation. I never got to meet him.

      I used to never discuss it because there’s shame and stigma associated with being the product of an affair. But I’ve realized that stigma is NEVER healthy and the only way to change it is to bring it out into the light of day. And maybe talking about it will help future MPEs to have a more supportive and supported journey.

      Keep me posted on your short story. It’ll be fun to watch it evolve. And I’m happy to read it again when you’re ready.

      Have a great week 💜

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  3. I am with Gary on not quite understanding what MPE means? Sorry!

    When you mentioned DNA though, I thought about the Ancestry DNA kit that I just completed. I have questions about the families ethnic background and for some reason the family has always been very secretive so…

    Anyway, great coffee post. Thanks for the virtual cup.

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    1. Hello…lovely to see you again! This is a bit more about the MPE thing.from my reply to Gary…I’ll paste it here…..
      Well, until I was 17, I believed that my Dad was my biological father. Then I was informed that my biological father was someone else and that I was the product of an affair. Biological father denied it when I called him when I was 25 so I never called again. Then at age 55 a dna test confirmed that that the guy who denied it was, in fact, my father. He died 7 years before I had confirmation. I never got to meet him.
      I used to never discuss it because there’s shame and stigma associated with being the product of an affair. But I’ve realized that stigma is NEVER healthy and the only way to change it is to bring it out into the light of day. And maybe talking about it will help future MPEs to have a more supportive and supported journey.

      As for the AncestryDNA test….I discovered through dna testing that I’m half Jewish. I now have a whole new culture to learn about. It’s fascinating!

      Let me know if you get any DNA surprises. I know a lot of resources to help with things like that.

      Have a wonderful week 💜

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      1. Wow, that is a lot to learn about yourself and your family! I think that it is great that you have embraced that knowledge and are sharing the experience with us; thank you! I am sorry that you never had a chance to get to know your biological father. Again, I think there is that generational thing at play with secrets and stigma and all the rest. I will never know for sure with my own family because if there is anyone living still that knows the truth they are hiding truths for example I remember overhearing snippets of conversation over the years that my mother’s uncle was in fact her brother but because of the age their mom would have been when she got pregnant there was a story created and a was lie lived…

        As for ancestry, I think it will be March or April before I hear anything and I will be shocked if there isn’t a surprise built into it. Thank you for your offer of help with resources I will touch base with you once I get to that stage.

        I hope you have a great week too!

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      2. I think we all need to have compassion as we confront our family stories. Yes, there were a lot of lies. But they lived those lies because they didn’t have the options and resources that we have now. They buried their truths…how painful!
        Wishing you peace as you discover your truths💜

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  4. Dinah, Good to hear you started guest blogging for DNAngels. I read your post on their site. Well done! You’re not late to the streaming revolution party. I haven’t watched TV for a long time by choice 🙂 Thank you for linking up with #weekendcoffeeshare.

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    1. Hi Natalie!
      Thanks for your support! Yes! I’m excited about guest blogging for DNAngels. Thanks for reading!
      I’ll be visiting your blog soon. This weekend got away from me🤪
      Hoping you have a fabulous week ahead💜

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  5. on3pnr1117

    Dinah… how wonderful that your writing will continue with the DNAngels! We all need a “Never Give Up”. If we were having coffee, I would tell you that my life has changed so much since moving to Wyoming. Right now, we have no snow, and the weather folks aren’t predicting any in the foreseeable future. We desperately need it for our farms, ranches, and reservoirs, so now I add prayers for snow. I’ve also fallen in love with Garth Brooks music. Never was fond of Country music before. Oh, and living so close to the Wind River Canyon and the Owl Creek Mountains has me photographing more than ever, something I love to do, but even more so I feel so much closer to our Creator. I love your husbands thinking about winter, January & February. Hugs to you my dear friend. May love and light fill you daily. Leigh

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    1. Wonderful to hear from you! Thank you so much for stopping by and for your kind support!
      I’m thrilled to know that you’re loving your new home! It sounds like this is your soul’s home! Wonderful that you followed your bliss to your healing place.

      I read a beautiful book that takes place in Wyoming. It’s a true story. You might enjoy it… See if it resonates with you. It’s called Broken: A Love Story by Lisa Jones

      Let me know what you think of it if you read it.

      I will continue to send good thoughts for your region to get the rain and snow that it needs.

      Let’s keep in touch, OK?
      Big hugs💜

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  7. Donna Brady

    Loved your article on the DNA Angels site… Never Give Up!!
    How true and how important to always remember … ancestry will enhance and not define who we are. Good mantra!
    It was good to see your blog again. Your writing is so refreshing and encouraging! Thank you so much! From a fan at the Jersey Shore that just got clobbered with winter after 5 years of mild ones! Stay warm and cozy!
    Donna Brady

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    1. Hi Donna
      Thanks for your lovely words! I really appreciate your kindness. We all need to support each other during these challenging times!
      I’m in the Midwest so I understand our shared winter woes. Stay safe and warm.
      Best wishes 💜

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