This morning, shortly after we got up, Jorge said to Tatiana, "Oh, Ana called for you."

Startled, Tat answered, "Who's Ana?"

"How must I know? Call her anyway," he replied, handing her the piece of paper with the name and number.

Tat ambled over to the phone. "Ugh! Mom! Look at this!" She pointed to the name, 'Ana Conda'.

"That is probably just your dad's idea of a joke," I said. "Call her anyway."

Tat is a good girl and listens to her parents.... sometimes. She called...

I tried hard now to remember her reaction, but Tat suggested that it wasn't repeatable. It went along the lines of... "Argh! What the.... DAD!!" Yes, that was a more simplistic version.

Why all the fuss? The number was to the local zoo. Naturally. Where else would Ana Conda live?

I stared at the little green telephone symbol on my screen, my heart in my mouth. I think you must have thought I didn't want to talk to you. Will you understand the bewildering mix of emotions I was feeling? Fear, excitement, anticipation, dread... joy.

I clicked the little green button. "Hello?" "Hello" A nervous chuckle.

Oh lordy... was I going to make a fool of myself. All my knowledge of my mother tongue fled. I stumbled over the words, but you were ok with that. You helped me when I struggled.

Each contact brings back more memories. Each contact makes me grateful for what I have found. I didn't just find family. I think I found a friend. 30 years of silence bridged.