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Charlotte Cross

Cathy D. Javorsky my half sister who was born when I was twelve. I never knew she existed. Thanksgiving 2017 I received a call from Marsy Nikkel in California. Marsy said, “This may come as a shock. My best friend is trying to find her biological family.” I ask, “Well what does that have to do with me?” Marsy said, “Well her grandmother is Ruby Jewell Stone.” I said, “Well that is my grandmother.” Marsy told me the birth records said: In December 1964, the birth mother was 36 and had two daughters, 12 and 10 years old. I said, “Well that would have to be my mother because Ruby Jewell did not have any other granddaughters that were 12 and 10 in 1964. Then Marsy ask me if I knew someone with the email dspiroski923? I said, “Well that is my sister, Nancy’s son in Anchorage, Alaska.” Then Marsy ask me if I knew a joshstone. I said, “Well that is my Uncle Leslie’s son in Las Vegas.” Then Marsy said, “Cathy had DNA done and it matched with Raymond Dyer. But he will not respond to any emails or calls.” I ask Marsy where Cathy grew up. She said at Corn and Bessie, Oklahoma. She was the oldest of three children. I ask Marsy where Cathy lived. Marsy said she lived in Edmond. I told Marsy I lived in Edmond. I ask Marsy where she lived in Edmond. Cathy lived near Crest Grocery, less than two miles from me. I was shocked to say the least, but then things started coming together. The next day, I went over to our Mothers. I ask Mother, “Did you have a baby on Christmas, 1964?” Mother said, “I don’t think so.” So I told Mother about the call from Marsy in California. We had just got our new car. I took Mother for a ride. We drove down Cathy’s street, Bandera. I told Mother, “Cathy lives on this street.” Mother ask, “Whose Cathy?” I said, “She is Ray’s half-sister.” (since my dna wasn’t back) I told Mother she had made the right decision. She had given Cathy a good chance at life. She was loved and lived in a good Christian family. She got to play sports and go to one school her whole life. I ask Mother if she remembered Doug Rosson. Mother said, “Doug Rosson?” I told her he was dead. I told Mother I was going to have DNA done. She said, “You know that cost a lot of money.” I told her I didn’t care. I had DNA done. It came back on Christmas Eve. I called Cathy and told her we matched. We went to eat at Jimmy’s Egg. We met and talked from 8 till 2. We had a great visit. Cathy was born on Christmas Day. Cathy stayed at the Deaconess Hospital Home till January 13th when Carolyn and Kenneth Javorsky got a call that Deaconess had a baby for them. The Javorsky’s stopped at AMC in Oklahoma City and bought all the needs for a baby in their home. They were thrilled to get the baby. My full sister, Nancy and I had decided in the summer of 2017 that Mother had an abortion over Christmas Break 1964. We both remembered going with Mother to a Medical Clinic in Oklahoma City. We got there at 8 in the morning and didn’t leave till 2 that afternoon. Nancy and I sat in the waiting room drinking water from the fountain. What else would take so long? THEN on the way home I was sitting side ways in the front seat. Mother was driving south on Midwest Blvd. Mother said, “She had to go back two more times to get packed.” We had no idea what Mother was talking about. We did not go back with Mother the next two times. Mother had the baby and went back to work too soon and problems developed.. I was in seventh grade. I remember the last time Doug Rosson was at our house. Mother was sitting on the red couch. Doug was standing in front of her. I was in the bedroom. Doug had his hands in his pockets. Mother had just told Doug she was pregnant. That was the last time Doug was in our house. I remember a few days later asking Mother what happened to Doug. Mother said, “He didn’t want kids.” I thought she was talking about us. Mother met Doug at Desert Oaks Country Club in Midwest City. Mother would go dancing with Bill and Carolyn Hasel there. Mother got pregnant about the time of the Alaskan Earthquake March 24th, 1964. I remember my Grandma Lora calling to tell us about the earthquake and said my aunt and uncle, “Mary Anne and Orville are ok, but everything is torn up.” Mary Anne and Orville homesteaded in Alaska in 1952, but that is another story. One time a seventh grade friend, Laura Trautvetter came over after school. Laura moved to Nicoma Park at the beginning of 7th grade. My last name was Short. So Short and Trautvetter sat by each other in our classes. I got to know Laura and invited her over. We were sitting on the back porch talking and laughing like seventh grade girls would. Mother came out the back door, walked over to the edge of the patio. Mother started yelling and cussing at me. I didn’t know what I had done. I decided later, Mother thought we were laughing or making fun of her. There were other violent outburst from mother. I guess she was taking her frustrations out on me. Then in the fall, about the time to light the floor furnace. Mother had on a white blouse with ruffled sleeves. Mother was bent over lighting the furnace. I said, “You look pregnant.” Mother gave me an UGLY look. Then at Thanksgiving, Nancy and I went over to our Aunt and Uncle’s house which was next door. We went over to Aunt Cheryl and Uncle Merlin’s for Thanksgiving with Grandma and Grandpa Short. Cheryl was putting something in the oven. Cheryl said, “Jimmie (my mother) looks like she has gained some weight.” I didn’t say anything. Aunt Cheryl had a baby in February of 1964, Holly. So Cheryl was aware of waistlines. When Cathy was about to arrive, I guess Mother’s water broke. Mother said, “Why don’t you call Grandma and see if you can come spend a few days.” I said ok. Mother took us to Grandma Lora Shorts. Mother didn’t get out of the car. We were there for five days. I remember thinking. I wonder what Mother is doing home alone on Christmas. It hurt me that she wanted us gone over Christmas. I remember conversations with my Dad toward the end of his life. He died in February of 2017. He would have loved to hear this story. He suspected Mother got pregnant, but never came out and said that. My parents had divorced two years earlier when I was ten. Cathy and I have several things in common. We were both elementary teachers. We both love to play golf. We are both National Board Certified Teachers. We went through the process about the same time. We could have been at the same meetings for National Board. We both enjoy travel. We share some food preferences. We may have attended the same basketball game at one time or another. We lived at Elmwood, Oklahoma. Cathy’s grandfather was a preacher at a Mennonite Church in Hooker. Cathy drove by our house when we lived at Elmwood, Oklahoma at age eight. I ask Mother if anyone knew she was pregnant or had a baby. Mother said, “Lucy Thornbrue probably knew.” Lucy lived two houses down the street.