Life In The Witness Protection Program

OK. The title is a little misleading. I use to fantasize about living in the witness protection program. My parents were always very secretive about their past. My three brothers and I along with my parents were all the family we ever knew. No uncles, aunts or grandparents. There simply was no past for my parents. Their life before us was never mentioned. And to top it off my birth certificate had been forged!
When I was younger I never asked my parents why. After my father’s death I did begin to ask my mother questions. But my mother, to this day, will not volunteer any information to me. I have been able to peel back a few layers of the mystery for so much secrecy (mostly theories at this time) and have actually begun to locate other family members.
My first success came on July 4, 1996 when I begin searching for my mother’s twin sister. I had, over time, picked up tidbits of information by listening to my parents tell ambiguous stories of their past to others. No real details. There were only pieces of stories and sometimes outright fabrications. However, I remembered my mother telling someone she had a twin sister and I knew my mom was born in Tomah, Wisconsin. So I thought I could start with that piece of information and see where it led me.
My father-in-law had purchased a CD with the entire US phone book on it. So I started searching for my aunt. Within 15 minutes I had found her and with great excitement I called. David, my newfound cousin answered the phone. I explained that I was Glenda’s son and was looking for her twin sister Gloria. He said I had the right place but that she was at a 4th of July picnic at Lake Tomah. I assumed it would take her a few days to get back to me.
Within an hour David had found his mom and she returned my call. She was happy to hear from me and glad to know her sister was still alive. They had not spoken in almost 35 years!
After speaking with my Aunt Gloria I planned a trip to Pensacola to let my mom know that I found her and hopefully she, my mother, would open up and fill me in on the great mystery. When I arrived I asked my mom to use her phone and I called Aunt Gloria. When I had my Aunt on hold I turned to my mother and handed her a picture of her sister (Gloria had sent me a few photos of her family). “Do you know this lady?” I asked her. She looked for a minute, smiled and said, “Nope.” She had no clue. I was about to blow her little world up and get her to finally crack and give me the juicy details. I handed her the phone and told her, “It’s your twin sister Gloria. She’s on the phone and wants to say hello.” My mom was somewhat puzzled, confused and she looked a little scared. She took the phone and almost in a whisper said, “Hello.” She left the room and they talked for hours.
It’s been almost 10 years since that day. My mother and her sister have got closer and have visited each other several times. As a matter of fact I just traveled to Tomah for my Aunt’s 50th wedding anniversary and celebrated my mom and aunt’s 70th birthday while there.To this day why my mom and dad left their life and families behind is still a mystery to me. My mom has not shed any new light on these questions. Short of Chinese water torture and few pulled fingernails I doubt she will ever fess up.
The Witness Protection Program fantasy did not pan out for sure. But I still look for family and to unchain the mysteries of my heritage. All I have is theories at this time. However, since opening this one door to my family’s past, I have found two half sisters and several cousins (all on my mom’s side). Nothing on my dad’s side yet…. But I plan to keep looking. Maybe there is still hope that he was a crime boss on the run.