Sleuthing

A few weeks ago, my amazing daughter came to town and spent an entire day with me…cleaning the garage. How did we raise such selfless kids? I have no idea, but this post isn’t about that.

At one point we were going through a few boxes that probably have not been opened in 17-20 years. My mom passed away in 1999, and my dad followed three years later. Some of their belongings got packed away, and stacked off with other things – things that needed to be sorted through at a later date…much, much later.

As we were going through one of the boxes I was hoping for stock certificates for a few thousand shares of Apple Computers, circa 1980, instead we found old papers and receipts, etc.. However, we did find an old book. It looked a lot like a High School yearbook. The year 1983 was emblazoned on the cover, along with stickers from a half-dozen European countries.

On further examination, it became clear that this book was some sort of travel scrapbook from a tour of European countries that the owner took in the Summer of 1982. Not only did he go on the tour, it appeared that he led the tour group. It was full of photos, receipts, event programs, journal entries and ticket stubs. A treasure trove of info about that specific tour. It was very artistic, and obviously a labor of love.

Why did my parents have this book? I have absolutely no idea. There was no discernible connection between them and the tour. But there was a clue…

Inside the front cover was a small sticker with at the man’s name which I didn’t recognize (we’ll call him “Hans”) and an address in Wisconsin. Next to it there was a second address WITH PHONE NUMBER in Scottsdale, Arizona – near to where my parents lived.

We spent a couple minutes looking at it, then put it aside with the comment, “It would be fun to track this guy down and see if he wants it back.”

It sat on a table for a few days, until I took it to work, where it sat on my desk for a few days.

I was at work last Tuesday, bored out of my skull, and saw the book sitting there and decided to take action. Little did I know it would take me on a whirlwind adventure of a lifetime that would require weeks of diligent searching.

Okay, not really. It took my computer, my phone and about 20 minutes. But (spoiler) I succeeded!

First, I called the phone number and reached a Hispanic woman who seemed irritated, and didn’t speak English. I explained to her (in Spanish) why I was calling. She said, “No,” and hung up on me.

Next, I started searching for Hans’ name on Google and Facebook. I found several similar names, but nothing current. I started worrying about how much time had passed. While 1983 doesn’t feel that long ago for some of us, it was 36 years ago. I had to accept that Hans might have moved on…

The search didn’t produce anything concrete, so I picked up the book and started reading it more carefully. When I turned one of the pages, a letter fell out. The letter was addressed to a woman with a very unique first name – and it appeared to be his wife.

Give me a married couples’ names, and I know what to do with that. I immediately went to Ancestry.com and punched in the info that I had: Their names, that they lived in Wisconsin and/or Arizona, and hit search.

Viola! It came right up Hans and his wife – and his two daughters!

Back to Facebook I went, this time in search of the daughters. It felt good to be stalking without feeling slimy. Not more than a couple minutes later, I found one of them. Thankfully her maiden name was also listed. She lived in…Wisconsin!

So I sent her a message on Facebook:

Me: “Hi! I am trying to track down someone related to “Hans” who used to live in Scottsdale AZ. I was going through some of my parents belongings and found something that belongs to him. If you are connected, please respond. Thanks, Brad McBride” I included my phone number.

Later that night, I received a reply: “Hi Brad. He’s my dad.”

“Is he still living?”

“He passed away 6 years ago I’m afraid. Would you like me to call you this evening?”

…bummer.

“Ah, I’m sorry. While I was going through some old boxes that belonged to my departed parents, I found an old travel journal with his name it in. I have no idea why my parents would have it, there than they were friends in Scottsdale. It is from a trip in 1983 that he may have led. There is also a letter from him to who looks to be your mom named xxxx.”

“Oh my goodness!! That being back memories. That is my mother. I will give you a call this everyone. Thank you for taking the time to find me!!”

Later that night my hone rang. It was Hans’ daughter. We spend the next twenty minutes talking about her dad, why he was in Scottsdale, how might have known my parents. We talked about the tours he led to Europe and his career and family.

It was very cool.

Turns out that Hans’ wife is still alive, though advanced in years. The daughter still ives in Wisconsin, and is a member of the Church – which makes a connection between Hans and my parents a little more understandable.

Near the end of our conversation, the daughter mentioned to me how wonderful it was to have talked to me and learned about the book. Apparently, for the past few weeks she had been thinking a lot about her father, about their relationship, about his life. There was more tender detail, which I won’t share. She found the discovery of the journal to be an wonderful coincidence.

Personally, I gave up on the concept of “coincidence” a long time ago.

The journal went in the mail Friday. I hope she and her family enjoy reminiscing about their father/husband/grandfather. I would treasure such thing. Not long ago a lady found me and sent me some photos of my parents in college – what a gift!

No preaching, no big message this week, only this: It took twenty minutes to reach out and make someone else happy. As a result, it made me happy, too.

Note: I would have used real names and given more detail, but didn’t receive permission from the daughter. I may yet up date this in the future.