Secrets of the Blood: Taking the DNA Test

It’s been just over one week since my first blog on the path to DNA discovery. And there’s been an interesting response as well as peculiar developments.

One cousin wisely warned, “Be careful. You may not like what you learn.” Some friends on Facebook have been supportive and curious. The government has gone after 23andme, wanting to police the independent firm, forgetting that adult individuals can make the medical decisions (or choose to ignore those decisions) with the data they learn.

Just this past weekend, I was in Chicago, celebrating Thanksgiving, Hanukah and a cousin’s engagement. Luckily, over the few days, I got to see every local relative of mine and as we ate, drank, laughed and caught up, the time spent there further reconfirmed how different looking we all are and yet, simultaneously, how there’s a common thread that holds all of us together. And while our history will always be our seal, even during our present, as we each pursue our professional, personal and geographic choices, there’s little doubt that our ancestors all came from the same shtetyl.

But it’s what happened before the ghettos that mystifies me.

I arrived home today, here in Cleveland, and in my mailbox were only pieces of news: a check from a client and the DNA kit. After wrapping up all the unpacking related errands of the day as well as necessary work, I finally sat down and looked at the box in front of me. I finally opened it and, following directions, registered the kit online, read thru all the privacy settings and then proceeded carefully.

Tomorrow morning I will drop the kit in the mailbox. And then I will wait.

As I told my parents this past weekend, I have no expectations. But, the soul’s been longing for the truth. For answers that could have never been possible during Communist rule.

I’m grateful that I waited to do this till I reached the age I am today. For today, I know who I am.

And sometime, in the near future, I will also know where, before America and before the FSU, my blood traveled. In order to bring me right here. Right now.