One of the reasons why our last trip to Turkey was so special to me –other than Lina’s wedding that is- was the fact that while vacationing in Bodrum peninsula, we took a long ride passing through Mugla, Milas, -my father’s birth place- and went to Cesme, Izmir to meet my uncle Erdo, aunt Leah and their childhood friend Jako as well as Joseph & Angele Nayir from Paris that happened to be visiting.

The common thread to all these people was the fact that they all new my father ever since he was a boy, and they grew up together during their teenage and youthful years. These were very emotional few hours that I spent in their company. It was worth waking up at 4:30am and drive through 280 kilometers of treacherous mountain roads at the wee hours of the morning. We got there around 10:00am, so we can spend a full day in their company and still make it back for dinner at Bodrum. I must thank at this point, Selim for giving in and taking that trip with us –you are a good sport, and we love you.

It was just as fruitful visit as it was an emotional one –I polished up the notes about my paternal family tree I had taken last year from uncle Erdo. Aunt Lea and Joseph and Angele clarified some of the confusion in my notes. The results are clear at my FamilyTree page. Of course plenty of blanks still need to be filled in but at least the tree’s structure is evident.

I got to meet my aunt Leah’s friend Jako as well. He is a very sweet man, and you two look great together, doda-Leah! . . .and just as happy!!

I only wish that we’ll get to meet again so Jako can tell me more stories about my father, and their years when boys were being boys…