The DNA Surprise!

Photo from Google Photos

Just this week we got our family's DNA test 

results.  Last Summer my late sister Trishie 

and I went to a presentation at our local library

about DNA testing.  The lecturer said it would 

be best if our brother was the one to take the

test.  After consulting with Lynne, our family

geneologist, we decided to use the FamilyTree

DNA test.  Oh, how I wish Trishie were here to

see what we learned.

Well, we are obviously very European - 98% which was

not a surprise.  It was a bit of a surprise to see we are

mostly Scandinavian but not a total surprise.  We already

knew through a DNA test of a male cousin on our Irish

side that we had Viking blood.  I was quite surprised to 

see that we were more Scandinavian than anything else.

I have always been attracted to the folk art and culture

of Scandinavia but I thought that was from living with

my Norwegian roommate Heidi while in college.  I must

say, I fully embrace my Scandinavian roots and I'm ready

to join the Sons of Norway!

But here is the surprise that blew us away ~ we are 2%

Middle Eastern ~ whaaattt????

The results said some of our ancient ancestors would 

have come from the area of Turkey.  Turkey!  I was 

thrilled! It made me think back to my first trip to Turkey

which was 5 years ago this Spring.  I was flying to Istanbul

from Amsterdam and as I was walking to the boarding area

Mr. Wonderful was quite a ways behind me and it looked 

like I was traveling alone.  As I approached the line I noticed 

3 people at the end of the line that looked very Turkish and

I don't mean just physically, they were not in western dress. 

Now I don't mean they were in burkas and head scarves but 

they had clothing that was rather folk-like, almost with a

bit of a peasant look to it.  There was a man and two women

and when the man spotted me, he opened his arms in a 

gesture that would only be read as, "Come, welcome sister!"

The women turned to me and they all started talking to me

in Turkish!  I explained in English that I didn't speak Turkish

and three jaws dropped, they couldn't believe it.  But with 

typical Turkish hospitality, they welcomed me anyway.  Once

I got to Istanbul I realized, I fit right in here.  In fact as I was

spending the day in the park with the lawyer Ahmet, I said to

him, I could pass for Turkish, the dark hair, the dark eyes.

He agreed.

One night I was riding the funicular or as they call it the

Mountain Tram and an elderly woman and a man who 

was probably her son boarded.  Mr. Wonderful got up to 

give the lady his seat and since the man was older than me

I got up so he could sit.  He insisted I take the seat and the

woman and I smiled and giggled to each other and she held

my hand all the way up the mountain.  Again..."welcome

daughter".  It is a small world, embrace it!

And Heidi, notice on the map above, the Scandinavian area

that we are most likely from is in Norway!  Hei sister!