1 00:00:15,210 --> 00:00:22,250 Speaker 1: Pushkin. Hello, welcome to the studio, Cluilihold. 2 00:00:22,650 --> 00:00:25,890 Speaker 2: I've been welcomed to this studio so many times. 3 00:00:26,450 --> 00:00:29,450 Speaker 1: We're going to be listening to an encore presentation of 4 00:00:29,530 --> 00:00:30,250 Speaker 1: The Marshes. 5 00:00:30,650 --> 00:00:32,290 Speaker 2: This is one of my favorite episodes. 6 00:00:32,690 --> 00:00:34,290 Speaker 1: What is it about it that you think makes it 7 00:00:34,330 --> 00:00:35,010 Speaker 1: a favorite? 8 00:00:36,170 --> 00:00:38,370 Speaker 2: Part of it is just Steve. I think he is 9 00:00:38,450 --> 00:00:43,810 Speaker 2: like such a lovable, enjoyable person to hear from, but 10 00:00:43,970 --> 00:00:48,449 Speaker 2: also just like it's one where I felt genuinely emotional 11 00:00:48,610 --> 00:00:52,090 Speaker 2: in the reporting at what was unfolding, and then my 12 00:00:52,209 --> 00:00:55,289 Speaker 2: hope is that we translated that into the episode itself. 13 00:00:55,810 --> 00:00:58,050 Speaker 1: And this is an episode that you produced. Yes, it 14 00:00:58,170 --> 00:01:00,969 Speaker 1: is with your own bare hands, well in the computer 15 00:01:01,170 --> 00:01:04,289 Speaker 1: brick by brick, Yeah, I mean this was years in 16 00:01:04,370 --> 00:01:04,809 Speaker 1: the making. 17 00:01:05,209 --> 00:01:08,130 Speaker 2: Yeah, this was at the time, it was the longest 18 00:01:08,410 --> 00:01:09,810 Speaker 2: production of an episode. 19 00:01:10,170 --> 00:01:13,250 Speaker 1: I think this was the first episode that we did 20 00:01:13,290 --> 00:01:16,649 Speaker 1: not name after an individual but a group of people 21 00:01:16,730 --> 00:01:19,370 Speaker 1: because we I don't know. By the end of the story, 22 00:01:19,370 --> 00:01:23,450 Speaker 1: it felt like every single person brought something unique to 23 00:01:23,490 --> 00:01:27,370 Speaker 1: it and it was everybody's heavyweight in a sense. 24 00:01:27,570 --> 00:01:28,330 Speaker 2: That's true. 25 00:01:28,730 --> 00:01:31,250 Speaker 1: All right, well, great, let's give it a listen. I'm 26 00:01:31,290 --> 00:01:35,290 Speaker 1: excited to it's been a while. This is the Marshes, 27 00:01:36,090 --> 00:01:38,330 Speaker 1: and I should say that at the very end of 28 00:01:38,370 --> 00:01:42,090 Speaker 1: the episode, we return all these years later with an 29 00:01:42,170 --> 00:01:46,450 Speaker 1: update from Steve marsh. It's not going to be what 30 00:01:46,490 --> 00:01:50,930 Speaker 1: you expect. Stick around and find out. Wow, you're not 31 00:01:51,010 --> 00:01:53,850 Speaker 1: going to believe what you find out. You're not going 32 00:01:53,890 --> 00:01:55,250 Speaker 1: to believe what he looks like today. 33 00:01:55,330 --> 00:01:57,130 Speaker 2: I don't even know what he looked like originally. 34 00:01:57,530 --> 00:02:01,850 Speaker 1: But first I invite you to listen to these choice 35 00:02:01,890 --> 00:02:18,769 Speaker 1: words from our sponsors that as a doctor, would you 36 00:02:18,810 --> 00:02:20,890 Speaker 1: write me a reference letter for medical school? 37 00:02:21,250 --> 00:02:22,570 Speaker 3: Yes, I would write a reference letter. 38 00:02:22,690 --> 00:02:24,130 Speaker 1: Yeah, what would it say in it? 39 00:02:25,290 --> 00:02:27,610 Speaker 2: It wouldn't necessarily be favorable, Jonathan. 40 00:02:28,050 --> 00:02:30,049 Speaker 1: I'm sure a little bit favorable. 41 00:02:31,170 --> 00:02:31,330 Speaker 4: Here. 42 00:02:31,570 --> 00:02:33,610 Speaker 1: Let me get you started, Okay, to whom it may concern, 43 00:02:34,970 --> 00:02:36,889 Speaker 1: go ahead, you take it over. 44 00:02:36,970 --> 00:02:37,330 Speaker 5: Go ahead. 45 00:02:38,330 --> 00:02:39,250 Speaker 6: Yeah. 46 00:02:40,330 --> 00:02:43,130 Speaker 7: You would be a terrible doctor, the worst ever. 47 00:02:43,930 --> 00:02:45,850 Speaker 3: You don't listen and you just keep going on and on. 48 00:02:45,930 --> 00:02:46,930 Speaker 3: You'd be doing all the talking. 49 00:02:47,130 --> 00:02:49,209 Speaker 1: Yeah, but a doctor has to ask questions to find 50 00:02:49,250 --> 00:02:50,170 Speaker 1: out the symptoms. 51 00:02:50,250 --> 00:02:53,250 Speaker 8: Yeah, but you wouldn't actually listen to the answer because 52 00:02:53,290 --> 00:02:57,370 Speaker 8: you don't listen. You'd be arguing with patients, talking about yourself. 53 00:02:57,650 --> 00:03:01,770 Speaker 8: If you're just thinking about something else like whoa. 54 00:03:02,090 --> 00:03:10,970 Speaker 1: Alex just liked one of my tweets from Gimblet Media. 55 00:03:11,410 --> 00:03:18,169 Speaker 1: I'm Jonathan Goldstein and this is heavyweight today's episode The Marshes. 56 00:03:29,890 --> 00:03:32,770 Speaker 1: I first met Steve marsh at my brother in law's wedding. 57 00:03:33,450 --> 00:03:37,130 Speaker 1: In conversation that night, Steve was given to making soulful 58 00:03:37,170 --> 00:03:42,170 Speaker 1: observations punctuated by the word man. Steve is a big guy, 59 00:03:42,530 --> 00:03:46,090 Speaker 1: shaggy haired, and comfortable in his own skin. He's a 60 00:03:46,090 --> 00:03:49,050 Speaker 1: little like the dude no matter where he is or 61 00:03:49,050 --> 00:03:52,170 Speaker 1: what the occasion, he gives off the impression of wearing 62 00:03:52,210 --> 00:03:57,210 Speaker 1: a comfy bathrobe flung open wide to the world. It's 63 00:03:57,210 --> 00:04:00,570 Speaker 1: perhaps also worth mentioning, though, while Steve wasn't invited to 64 00:04:00,610 --> 00:04:03,890 Speaker 1: the wedding per se, all the guests were both happy 65 00:04:04,010 --> 00:04:07,490 Speaker 1: and unsurprised to see him. Of course, Steve would be there, 66 00:04:07,930 --> 00:04:11,050 Speaker 1: and his entrance fell like a lovable Saint Bernard had 67 00:04:11,090 --> 00:04:14,290 Speaker 1: just wandered into the reception hall. Would you send a 68 00:04:14,290 --> 00:04:18,210 Speaker 1: wedding invitation to a Saint Bernard? Of course not, but 69 00:04:18,289 --> 00:04:22,450 Speaker 1: would you be darned pleased to see one show up? Absolutely? 70 00:04:27,489 --> 00:04:29,849 Speaker 1: The next time Steve and I crossed paths was at 71 00:04:29,890 --> 00:04:33,809 Speaker 1: another wedding. While everyone was inside drinking and eating, I 72 00:04:33,849 --> 00:04:38,489 Speaker 1: found Steve outside, standing by the Hudson River, looking preoccupied. 73 00:04:39,489 --> 00:04:42,890 Speaker 1: It was there, smoking from his pack of Menthols that 74 00:04:42,969 --> 00:04:46,330 Speaker 1: Steve told me about his mom and a secret she'd 75 00:04:46,369 --> 00:04:51,009 Speaker 1: been carrying around in shame for almost forty years. Steve 76 00:04:51,089 --> 00:04:54,089 Speaker 1: said the only reason he even knew about it was 77 00:04:54,130 --> 00:04:57,129 Speaker 1: because it had slipped out by accident, and now that 78 00:04:57,210 --> 00:04:59,770 Speaker 1: it had, he didn't know what to do about it. 79 00:05:00,770 --> 00:05:03,689 Speaker 1: So after the wedding we set aside some time to talk. 80 00:05:04,369 --> 00:05:05,290 Speaker 5: How's father had gone. 81 00:05:05,330 --> 00:05:08,529 Speaker 1: Man, it's great, it's really great. Before getting into it, 82 00:05:09,130 --> 00:05:12,289 Speaker 1: Eve and I catch up, he's just gotten engaged, and 83 00:05:12,529 --> 00:05:16,450 Speaker 1: because he's Steve, their proposal he made was an elaborate production, 84 00:05:16,770 --> 00:05:20,169 Speaker 1: involving a ring baked into a cake and an entire 85 00:05:20,289 --> 00:05:25,369 Speaker 1: restaurant of people cheering. His fiancee crying makes regular guys 86 00:05:25,409 --> 00:05:26,570 Speaker 1: like me look real bad. 87 00:05:26,729 --> 00:05:28,890 Speaker 5: I know, man, her brothers are pissed at me too. 88 00:05:29,010 --> 00:05:32,249 Speaker 5: They're like, great, job, dude. 89 00:05:31,369 --> 00:05:33,689 Speaker 1: With the pleasantries out of the way, we get to 90 00:05:33,729 --> 00:05:38,370 Speaker 1: the unpleasantry. His mom's secret. Steve says he first learned 91 00:05:38,369 --> 00:05:40,729 Speaker 1: of it in two thousand and eight, on the fourth 92 00:05:40,729 --> 00:05:41,450 Speaker 1: of July. 93 00:05:41,729 --> 00:05:46,529 Speaker 5: I was riding my bike and my phone was going 94 00:05:46,609 --> 00:05:50,370 Speaker 5: off like NonStop, and I thought it was like a 95 00:05:50,409 --> 00:05:52,729 Speaker 5: girl or a drug dealer. It was like late, you know, 96 00:05:52,770 --> 00:05:55,609 Speaker 5: it was like two in the morning. So finally I 97 00:05:55,650 --> 00:05:58,570 Speaker 5: pulled my bike over and I saw I was my sister. 98 00:05:58,690 --> 00:06:01,849 Speaker 5: My sister had called like fifteen or sixteen times, you know. 99 00:06:02,890 --> 00:06:06,370 Speaker 1: Steve's sister, Megan Marsh was up at the family sprawling 100 00:06:06,409 --> 00:06:10,330 Speaker 1: trailer lot in rural Minnesota, a place they call Marshland. 101 00:06:11,089 --> 00:06:14,689 Speaker 1: On summer holiday weekends, it's tradition for the entire Marsh 102 00:06:14,729 --> 00:06:18,370 Speaker 1: clan to head to Marshland to drink, hang out and 103 00:06:18,529 --> 00:06:21,770 Speaker 1: just be the Marshes. Seeing all the calls from Megan, 104 00:06:22,049 --> 00:06:24,410 Speaker 1: Steve worried there was trouble up at Marshland. 105 00:06:25,010 --> 00:06:27,010 Speaker 5: So I called and I was like, what's going on? 106 00:06:27,570 --> 00:06:34,290 Speaker 5: And she was hysterical, you know, like if you knew 107 00:06:34,369 --> 00:06:37,969 Speaker 5: that we had And I was like, wait. 108 00:06:37,890 --> 00:06:42,969 Speaker 3: Hold on, I'm trying to get all this out, and 109 00:06:43,049 --> 00:06:44,690 Speaker 3: I'm crying and hysterical. 110 00:06:45,810 --> 00:06:46,769 Speaker 1: This is Steve's sister. 111 00:06:46,849 --> 00:06:47,249 Speaker 5: Megan. 112 00:06:47,890 --> 00:06:51,210 Speaker 1: Between violent sobs, she explained to Steve what had happened 113 00:06:52,049 --> 00:06:54,929 Speaker 1: up at Marshland. Steve's parents had gone to bed, but 114 00:06:55,049 --> 00:06:57,690 Speaker 1: Megan continued to hang out with a handful of people 115 00:06:57,969 --> 00:06:58,969 Speaker 1: around the bonfire. 116 00:06:59,450 --> 00:07:03,570 Speaker 3: There's kibly like five seven of us sitting around the fire, 117 00:07:04,409 --> 00:07:07,089 Speaker 3: and we start talking about Wigi Bords. 118 00:07:07,489 --> 00:07:10,489 Speaker 1: So to keep up her end of the conversation, Megan 119 00:07:10,489 --> 00:07:13,170 Speaker 1: tells the group an anecdote about her mom. How o 120 00:07:13,170 --> 00:07:16,489 Speaker 1: ouiji board had accurately predicted the main facts of her 121 00:07:16,530 --> 00:07:21,010 Speaker 1: mom's life. It had prophesied her future husband's initials p 122 00:07:21,450 --> 00:07:24,530 Speaker 1: M for Pete Marsh as well as the amount of 123 00:07:24,610 --> 00:07:26,850 Speaker 1: kids or mom would have three. 124 00:07:27,489 --> 00:07:29,930 Speaker 3: And my aunt is sitting, you know, all three feet 125 00:07:29,970 --> 00:07:34,290 Speaker 3: away from me, and my aunt said, well, she had 126 00:07:34,330 --> 00:07:44,570 Speaker 3: four kids. And initially I'm confused. You know, I've been 127 00:07:44,650 --> 00:07:47,610 Speaker 3: drinking a little bit, so it's slowly coming into my brain. 128 00:07:47,690 --> 00:07:51,610 Speaker 3: What's happening. I looked down at my fingers and Cony, Stephen, 129 00:07:52,369 --> 00:07:56,930 Speaker 3: me Kevin, what what are you talking about? And then 130 00:07:57,090 --> 00:08:01,410 Speaker 3: I look up around the fire. Everybody stopped. Everybody's silent, 131 00:08:02,010 --> 00:08:03,290 Speaker 3: and they're all staring at me. 132 00:08:04,530 --> 00:08:08,210 Speaker 5: So standing in this park talking to my sister on 133 00:08:08,250 --> 00:08:12,810 Speaker 5: the fourth of July, she told me that my parents 134 00:08:13,050 --> 00:08:17,930 Speaker 5: had another child, that we had another sibling that they 135 00:08:17,929 --> 00:08:21,770 Speaker 5: gave up for adoption years before they married. 136 00:08:23,010 --> 00:08:25,770 Speaker 1: The Marsh kids were full grown adults when they learned 137 00:08:25,810 --> 00:08:29,610 Speaker 1: of their full sibling, a little girl one hundred percent 138 00:08:29,730 --> 00:08:39,689 Speaker 1: Marsh that their mom had named Lisha. When Steve's parents, 139 00:08:39,810 --> 00:08:42,930 Speaker 1: Geene and Pete, started dating, it was just a fling, 140 00:08:43,610 --> 00:08:46,330 Speaker 1: and when Jeane became pregnant, they decided to put the 141 00:08:46,370 --> 00:08:50,170 Speaker 1: baby up for adoption. The unusual thing, though, is that 142 00:08:50,250 --> 00:08:54,170 Speaker 1: after that, Jeane and Pete ended up staying together. Seven 143 00:08:54,250 --> 00:08:58,010 Speaker 1: years later they had Steve, and now they've been married 144 00:08:58,050 --> 00:09:02,010 Speaker 1: for almost fifty years. But all the while, neither of 145 00:09:02,050 --> 00:09:05,210 Speaker 1: Steve's parents ever spoke of their eldest child. 146 00:09:05,970 --> 00:09:09,650 Speaker 5: In my family is like shockingly open, so that the 147 00:09:09,690 --> 00:09:14,770 Speaker 5: fact that they sat on this secret it was wild. 148 00:09:16,050 --> 00:09:18,650 Speaker 1: It's now been years since the truth came out, and 149 00:09:18,690 --> 00:09:21,530 Speaker 1: the Marshes want to do something with that truth. But 150 00:09:21,570 --> 00:09:25,930 Speaker 1: Steve says procrastination is a family trait, and in this case, 151 00:09:26,250 --> 00:09:30,010 Speaker 1: decades of his mother's shame has turned that procrastination into 152 00:09:30,090 --> 00:09:34,090 Speaker 1: total inertia. But Lisia is never far from any of 153 00:09:34,130 --> 00:09:36,930 Speaker 1: their thoughts. Megan wonders what it would be like to 154 00:09:36,970 --> 00:09:40,410 Speaker 1: finally have a sister, and Steve's younger brother, Kevin wonders 155 00:09:40,450 --> 00:09:44,010 Speaker 1: if Lesha's redhead like him, Kevin scans every room for 156 00:09:44,090 --> 00:09:48,650 Speaker 1: red hair. And then there's Steve's dad. A few days 157 00:09:48,650 --> 00:09:51,370 Speaker 1: after the secret slipped out, Steve met up with him, 158 00:09:51,690 --> 00:09:52,810 Speaker 1: as he does every week. 159 00:09:53,290 --> 00:09:56,689 Speaker 5: My dad is a retired truck driver and kind of 160 00:09:56,730 --> 00:10:00,050 Speaker 5: a tough guy, and every Monday night we shoot shotguns 161 00:10:00,050 --> 00:10:01,170 Speaker 5: together in the summertime. 162 00:10:02,130 --> 00:10:04,690 Speaker 1: In the car on the way to go shooting, Steve 163 00:10:04,730 --> 00:10:07,250 Speaker 1: asked his dad how often he thought about Lesha. 164 00:10:07,370 --> 00:10:11,610 Speaker 5: And he said every day. And we drive it's like 165 00:10:11,650 --> 00:10:16,370 Speaker 5: a half hour drive on the freeway, and about halfway there, 166 00:10:16,890 --> 00:10:20,570 Speaker 5: I no, shit, man, this is like a short story thing. 167 00:10:20,650 --> 00:10:25,850 Speaker 5: It's almost too corny. But there was two ducks, like 168 00:10:25,890 --> 00:10:30,290 Speaker 5: two adult ducks and three little baby ducks crossing the 169 00:10:30,290 --> 00:10:34,210 Speaker 5: freeway and my dad dipped like deep into the shoulder 170 00:10:34,370 --> 00:10:38,850 Speaker 5: of the freeway and then recover the car, and like 171 00:10:40,050 --> 00:10:41,810 Speaker 5: we waited a while and he's like, did you see 172 00:10:41,850 --> 00:10:45,490 Speaker 5: me miss those ducks? And I was like, yeah, yeah. 173 00:10:46,090 --> 00:10:49,250 Speaker 5: And it's one of the few times I've seen my 174 00:10:49,330 --> 00:10:49,890 Speaker 5: dad cry. 175 00:10:53,570 --> 00:10:56,210 Speaker 1: But as much as the Marshes think about Lisha, when 176 00:10:56,210 --> 00:10:58,650 Speaker 1: it comes to actually trying to find her, they're all 177 00:10:58,650 --> 00:11:00,050 Speaker 1: waiting on Steve's mom. 178 00:11:00,490 --> 00:11:03,690 Speaker 5: I think my dad for as much of an alpha 179 00:11:03,970 --> 00:11:08,850 Speaker 5: tough guy. I think my mom runs his shit, you know. Yeah, yeah, 180 00:11:09,210 --> 00:11:12,330 Speaker 5: So it's kind of up to her, and I think 181 00:11:12,450 --> 00:11:16,330 Speaker 5: she is scared about what maybe she'll find out, like 182 00:11:16,930 --> 00:11:21,810 Speaker 5: if Licia has hard feelings about this, or if Alicia's 183 00:11:21,810 --> 00:11:25,650 Speaker 5: life didn't go as well as it could have, or 184 00:11:26,290 --> 00:11:30,210 Speaker 5: how Lesha will feel to meet her family that's intact 185 00:11:30,210 --> 00:11:32,890 Speaker 5: and went on to have three more kids, like wouldn't 186 00:11:32,890 --> 00:11:33,490 Speaker 5: that be weird? 187 00:11:34,730 --> 00:11:37,970 Speaker 1: Sure, the family's intact, and as Steve explains, the marsh 188 00:11:38,010 --> 00:11:41,090 Speaker 1: kids are all close and doing well now. Megan has 189 00:11:41,130 --> 00:11:44,330 Speaker 1: a career as a nurse, Steve writes, and Kevin repairs 190 00:11:44,330 --> 00:11:47,490 Speaker 1: home appliances. But growing up there were a lot of 191 00:11:47,570 --> 00:11:50,770 Speaker 1: drugs and a lot of trouble. Kevin had a serious 192 00:11:50,810 --> 00:11:54,450 Speaker 1: meth problem, and Steve and Megan drank too much. Steve 193 00:11:54,490 --> 00:11:57,170 Speaker 1: almost flunked out of high school and Kevin and Megan 194 00:11:57,250 --> 00:12:00,530 Speaker 1: both dropped out. There was one Christmas the Marsha's spent 195 00:12:00,690 --> 00:12:04,010 Speaker 1: visiting Kevin in treatment, and one weekend Steve spent in 196 00:12:04,090 --> 00:12:06,930 Speaker 1: jail because he and Kevin got into a brawl over 197 00:12:06,970 --> 00:12:08,690 Speaker 1: a beastie boy CD. 198 00:12:09,210 --> 00:12:13,850 Speaker 5: Just wondering, like Leisha who was raised in a totally 199 00:12:13,930 --> 00:12:18,610 Speaker 5: separate environment. I just wonder what she's like. You know, 200 00:12:19,610 --> 00:12:24,370 Speaker 5: our house was so loud when growing up and h like. 201 00:12:24,610 --> 00:12:27,090 Speaker 5: I always thought my family's kind of weird. Like they 202 00:12:27,210 --> 00:12:31,690 Speaker 5: drink windsor seven up, like it's gonna be vanishing from 203 00:12:31,730 --> 00:12:32,530 Speaker 5: the face of the earth. 204 00:12:32,570 --> 00:12:34,610 Speaker 1: So what what is windsor seven up? 205 00:12:35,290 --> 00:12:37,090 Speaker 5: That's the Marsh family drink? 206 00:12:37,210 --> 00:12:40,450 Speaker 1: Man, I pardon my ignorance. 207 00:12:40,130 --> 00:12:43,010 Speaker 5: Seven and seven man. It could be seagrams too, Canadian 208 00:12:43,050 --> 00:12:45,690 Speaker 5: whiskey and lemon lime soda. 209 00:12:46,810 --> 00:12:49,970 Speaker 1: But finding out whether Lesha is like a Marsh steeped 210 00:12:49,970 --> 00:12:52,530 Speaker 1: in windsor and chaos isn't so simple. 211 00:12:53,250 --> 00:12:56,010 Speaker 5: So the hospital no longer exists. 212 00:12:55,970 --> 00:12:58,170 Speaker 1: The hospital where your mom had her. 213 00:12:58,530 --> 00:13:01,530 Speaker 5: Right and it was a close Catholic adoption, like my 214 00:13:01,610 --> 00:13:04,890 Speaker 5: parents never met the couple that adopted Lesha. 215 00:13:09,570 --> 00:13:13,050 Speaker 1: Steve has no information about where Lisha ended up. He 216 00:13:13,130 --> 00:13:16,170 Speaker 1: had a friend with connections run the name Lisha Marsh 217 00:13:16,250 --> 00:13:20,370 Speaker 1: through an FBI database but found nothing. It's almost certain 218 00:13:20,450 --> 00:13:24,170 Speaker 1: Lisha's name isn't even Lisha anymore. Because it was a 219 00:13:24,170 --> 00:13:26,730 Speaker 1: closed adoption, the only way to reach her is through 220 00:13:26,770 --> 00:13:30,130 Speaker 1: the adoption agency. Steve's mom has to write Lisha a 221 00:13:30,210 --> 00:13:33,810 Speaker 1: letter asking to make contact, but whenever she's trying to 222 00:13:33,810 --> 00:13:36,370 Speaker 1: write in the past, her sense of shame gets the 223 00:13:36,410 --> 00:13:36,930 Speaker 1: better of her. 224 00:13:37,490 --> 00:13:39,170 Speaker 5: Like she wants to do it, she said she would 225 00:13:39,250 --> 00:13:43,290 Speaker 5: do it, Like what do I do? You know? Like 226 00:13:43,570 --> 00:13:44,770 Speaker 5: how do we make this happen? 227 00:13:50,970 --> 00:13:53,650 Speaker 1: And this is why Steve has come to me. He 228 00:13:53,770 --> 00:13:57,010 Speaker 1: needs a spur to action, someone who isn't a marsh 229 00:13:57,250 --> 00:13:58,810 Speaker 1: to make sure the letter gets written. 230 00:13:59,370 --> 00:14:02,170 Speaker 5: We could use some help. It's almost like when you 231 00:14:02,210 --> 00:14:05,410 Speaker 5: want to like go to the gym or something, just 232 00:14:05,530 --> 00:14:08,530 Speaker 5: like have somebody else who's going with you, like some 233 00:14:08,650 --> 00:14:12,570 Speaker 5: kind of a on ability because when we talk about 234 00:14:12,610 --> 00:14:14,810 Speaker 5: it as a family, and we do whenever we get together, 235 00:14:15,050 --> 00:14:18,970 Speaker 5: like my parents are all game for it, but then 236 00:14:19,010 --> 00:14:21,570 Speaker 5: it just doesn't happen. And it hasn't happened. 237 00:14:22,050 --> 00:14:26,090 Speaker 1: Do you need to really kind of show up with 238 00:14:26,130 --> 00:14:29,810 Speaker 1: a pad of paper and a pen and place it 239 00:14:29,850 --> 00:14:32,370 Speaker 1: on the table in front of her. 240 00:14:32,530 --> 00:14:33,930 Speaker 5: Right, like, let's do this now. 241 00:14:35,010 --> 00:14:37,450 Speaker 1: And so, in a bid to do this now, I 242 00:14:37,490 --> 00:14:40,050 Speaker 1: tell Steve to phone his mom and tell her to 243 00:14:40,050 --> 00:14:44,010 Speaker 1: clear her schedule because his wedding friend Jonathan is boarding 244 00:14:44,010 --> 00:14:47,410 Speaker 1: a plane to Minnesota and heading straight to their house 245 00:14:47,850 --> 00:14:49,690 Speaker 1: to make sure she writes that letter. 246 00:14:51,850 --> 00:14:53,650 Speaker 5: I just think we need a little help, you know. 247 00:14:54,570 --> 00:14:57,730 Speaker 4: Yeah, well what you need is your mother to get 248 00:14:57,770 --> 00:14:58,450 Speaker 4: off her ass. 249 00:15:02,170 --> 00:15:03,370 Speaker 8: Who is this guy? 250 00:15:03,690 --> 00:15:05,210 Speaker 6: Just tell me again? 251 00:15:07,770 --> 00:15:10,970 Speaker 1: After the break, this guy pays a visit to the 252 00:15:10,970 --> 00:15:28,730 Speaker 1: marshes Hi in Minneapolis. I picked Steve up in my 253 00:15:28,810 --> 00:15:31,530 Speaker 1: airport rental and we head to his parents' house for 254 00:15:31,610 --> 00:15:35,450 Speaker 1: some letter writing. He's nervous, which is not helped by 255 00:15:35,450 --> 00:15:38,410 Speaker 1: my economy sized car. Do you have a you have. 256 00:15:38,410 --> 00:15:41,050 Speaker 5: An up room? 257 00:15:41,410 --> 00:15:45,170 Speaker 1: How tall a man are you? Steve struggles to shoehorn 258 00:15:45,250 --> 00:15:47,930 Speaker 1: his body into the passenger seat. If you want to 259 00:15:47,970 --> 00:15:53,650 Speaker 1: send the backseat, you could. I'm sorry, but I'm so good. 260 00:15:54,530 --> 00:15:58,410 Speaker 1: Although Steve says it's all good thanks to my Minnesotan 261 00:15:58,450 --> 00:16:01,650 Speaker 1: to American translator app, I know that he's in fact, 262 00:16:01,970 --> 00:16:05,490 Speaker 1: deeply resentful. You're gonna have to direct me because I 263 00:16:05,610 --> 00:16:08,250 Speaker 1: don't know where your parents live, but wouldn't be read 264 00:16:08,290 --> 00:16:15,130 Speaker 1: if they did. We arrived at Steve's parents place. It's 265 00:16:15,130 --> 00:16:26,850 Speaker 1: a one story rambler, cluttered and cozy him. We settle 266 00:16:26,930 --> 00:16:29,930 Speaker 1: in around the kitchen table. Pete makes his way through 267 00:16:29,970 --> 00:16:33,050 Speaker 1: his daily two pots of coffee, and Jean quietly stares 268 00:16:33,090 --> 00:16:36,250 Speaker 1: down at a blank piece of paper to help spur 269 00:16:36,370 --> 00:16:39,370 Speaker 1: her letter writing. I ask how she and Pete first met, 270 00:16:39,690 --> 00:16:43,210 Speaker 1: and Jeane becomes animated, telling me about a party at 271 00:16:43,250 --> 00:16:45,810 Speaker 1: which Pete stumbled in late with a group of friends. 272 00:16:46,330 --> 00:16:47,410 Speaker 1: They were all drunk. 273 00:16:47,810 --> 00:16:50,890 Speaker 9: I can't remember if he kissed me on the knee 274 00:16:50,890 --> 00:16:53,170 Speaker 9: and bit me in the ankle, or vice versa. 275 00:16:53,490 --> 00:16:57,970 Speaker 1: That's like what the serpent did in the biblical story. 276 00:16:58,050 --> 00:17:00,770 Speaker 9: I think so, and I should have never eaten that apple. 277 00:17:02,450 --> 00:17:05,650 Speaker 1: Soon after, Jeane moved into a new apartment building where, 278 00:17:05,649 --> 00:17:08,850 Speaker 1: in a delightful sitcom twist, Pete was living right down 279 00:17:08,850 --> 00:17:13,409 Speaker 1: the hall. That Thanksgiving, Pete stopped by Jean's place drank 280 00:17:13,409 --> 00:17:16,810 Speaker 1: her entire bottle of Windsor, then drunkenly proceeded to show 281 00:17:16,810 --> 00:17:18,450 Speaker 1: the dinner guests is gun. 282 00:17:18,889 --> 00:17:21,329 Speaker 3: Guns are no big thing for me, because I got 283 00:17:21,409 --> 00:17:22,449 Speaker 3: them laying all over the place. 284 00:17:23,129 --> 00:17:26,170 Speaker 1: To illustrate, Pete reaches on top of the kitchen cupboard 285 00:17:26,330 --> 00:17:29,889 Speaker 1: and pulls down a forty five automatic. He places it 286 00:17:29,929 --> 00:17:32,729 Speaker 1: on the table next to the pie that Steve brought. 287 00:17:33,649 --> 00:17:34,410 Speaker 1: How many guns do. 288 00:17:34,330 --> 00:17:37,010 Speaker 5: You have hitting around the house. There's one over on 289 00:17:37,050 --> 00:17:39,489 Speaker 5: the fireplace downstairs. 290 00:17:42,330 --> 00:17:48,530 Speaker 1: The party, the bottle of windsor the gun. These are 291 00:17:48,570 --> 00:17:51,409 Speaker 1: all parts of the marsh family origin story that Steve 292 00:17:51,490 --> 00:17:54,290 Speaker 1: knows well. But the part of the story that Steve 293 00:17:54,369 --> 00:17:57,050 Speaker 1: has never heard is house parents went from a casual 294 00:17:57,090 --> 00:17:59,290 Speaker 1: fling to a decade's long marriage. 295 00:18:00,169 --> 00:18:00,369 Speaker 5: Him. 296 00:18:00,449 --> 00:18:06,489 Speaker 9: I'm pregnant. I went home and told my mother and 297 00:18:06,730 --> 00:18:10,249 Speaker 9: she flipped out on me. I remember leaving and I 298 00:18:10,250 --> 00:18:13,169 Speaker 9: woods down the basement with my mother in the laundry room. 299 00:18:13,649 --> 00:18:16,769 Speaker 9: I just remember running up the stairs and crying and 300 00:18:16,810 --> 00:18:19,609 Speaker 9: getting in the car and driving back to my apartment 301 00:18:20,530 --> 00:18:24,249 Speaker 9: because I was trash in her mind. 302 00:18:25,609 --> 00:18:29,210 Speaker 1: Jeane came from a strict Catholic family. When she got pregnant, 303 00:18:29,409 --> 00:18:32,209 Speaker 1: her mother told her she could only visit home after dark, 304 00:18:32,609 --> 00:18:35,609 Speaker 1: carrying a coat in front of her stomach. At one 305 00:18:35,689 --> 00:18:38,850 Speaker 1: point during the pregnancy, Jean slipped on the ice and 306 00:18:38,929 --> 00:18:40,850 Speaker 1: had to go to the hospital for hemorrhaging. 307 00:18:41,649 --> 00:18:45,810 Speaker 9: And my mother came into the hospital and said, you 308 00:18:45,889 --> 00:18:52,049 Speaker 9: can't even have a baby, right. I mean, she was 309 00:18:52,290 --> 00:18:57,209 Speaker 9: so disappointed in me. I don't think she ever forgave 310 00:18:57,290 --> 00:19:01,249 Speaker 9: me for that. That's the one thing I said to 311 00:19:01,290 --> 00:19:04,810 Speaker 9: her before she died, is I am sorry for disappointing you. 312 00:19:07,689 --> 00:19:10,729 Speaker 1: Lisia was born premature, so the doctors kept her at 313 00:19:10,730 --> 00:19:13,689 Speaker 1: the hospital for a week. This meant Jean ended up 314 00:19:13,730 --> 00:19:15,689 Speaker 1: spending a week with her newborn daughter. 315 00:19:17,050 --> 00:19:23,049 Speaker 9: I remember holding her and crying and telling her, you 316 00:19:23,090 --> 00:19:25,209 Speaker 9: know that I hoped she'd have a good life and 317 00:19:26,449 --> 00:19:28,850 Speaker 9: said I'm sorry that I couldn't keep her. 318 00:19:31,409 --> 00:19:34,689 Speaker 1: After that week, Jean signed away her parental rights. 319 00:19:35,689 --> 00:19:38,249 Speaker 9: I didn't think I could raise a child by myself. 320 00:19:38,649 --> 00:19:45,010 Speaker 9: But she never said what. He never said, hey, let's 321 00:19:45,050 --> 00:19:48,010 Speaker 9: get married and raise this baby or and I never 322 00:19:48,090 --> 00:19:52,609 Speaker 9: said it either, But his mother, Alice, just took me 323 00:19:52,770 --> 00:19:55,769 Speaker 9: in as this. You know, I felt like I was 324 00:19:55,850 --> 00:19:59,489 Speaker 9: part of the family. So I felt this family loved 325 00:19:59,570 --> 00:20:02,210 Speaker 9: that I wasn't getting from my own family. 326 00:20:03,169 --> 00:20:07,649 Speaker 1: You know, Pete's mom told Jean how much the whole 327 00:20:07,649 --> 00:20:10,409 Speaker 1: family liked her. I hoped she would be the one, 328 00:20:11,209 --> 00:20:14,489 Speaker 1: and that painful time brought Geene and Pete closer. They 329 00:20:14,570 --> 00:20:18,090 Speaker 1: ended up really falling in love, and eventually they did 330 00:20:18,169 --> 00:20:22,689 Speaker 1: get married, and all this time, Lesha, responsible for them 331 00:20:22,730 --> 00:20:26,409 Speaker 1: growing into love together, having three more kids, being a 332 00:20:26,449 --> 00:20:30,050 Speaker 1: family for going on fifty years, was out there somewhere, 333 00:20:30,570 --> 00:20:33,570 Speaker 1: living a different life with a different family. 334 00:20:33,929 --> 00:20:36,850 Speaker 9: And I don't know that Dad and We've never sat 335 00:20:36,889 --> 00:20:40,810 Speaker 9: down like this and talked about it. It's just kind 336 00:20:40,810 --> 00:20:43,889 Speaker 9: of something that happened forty eight years ago. 337 00:20:52,010 --> 00:20:55,330 Speaker 1: For forty eight years, gene Is quietly marked Alisha's birthday 338 00:20:55,530 --> 00:20:59,129 Speaker 1: by repeating the same silent prayer. I hope she's having 339 00:20:59,169 --> 00:21:03,170 Speaker 1: a good life. And it's that hope that ironically made 340 00:21:03,250 --> 00:21:06,689 Speaker 1: Jeane think twice about ever searching for Lesia. She told 341 00:21:06,689 --> 00:21:09,570 Speaker 1: herself that if Flicia was happy, I didn't need to 342 00:21:09,609 --> 00:21:12,769 Speaker 1: disrupt that happiness by introducing her to the Marshes. And 343 00:21:12,770 --> 00:21:13,770 Speaker 1: they're chaos. 344 00:21:14,250 --> 00:21:19,409 Speaker 9: Our family was so loud and so you know, drug 345 00:21:19,530 --> 00:21:23,369 Speaker 9: use and you know, not going to school, and it 346 00:21:23,449 --> 00:21:27,609 Speaker 9: seems like there was always so much going on. Did 347 00:21:27,609 --> 00:21:32,009 Speaker 9: I really want to bring somebody else into that? It 348 00:21:32,050 --> 00:21:36,770 Speaker 9: was problems that I was bringing her into more problems. 349 00:21:37,689 --> 00:21:38,290 Speaker 5: It was hector. 350 00:21:38,609 --> 00:21:44,290 Speaker 9: Yeah, it was more than hectic. See, And I'd go 351 00:21:44,570 --> 00:21:47,769 Speaker 9: do my avon door to door and somebody would say, 352 00:21:47,970 --> 00:21:49,889 Speaker 9: would you like to come in for a minute, and 353 00:21:49,929 --> 00:21:52,729 Speaker 9: I'd sit down, And I always said, it was like 354 00:21:52,810 --> 00:21:56,130 Speaker 9: I was sitting down in their beige. You know, they 355 00:21:56,169 --> 00:22:01,050 Speaker 9: had this peaceful house, neet, nothing out of place. And 356 00:22:01,449 --> 00:22:05,369 Speaker 9: then I'd walk in here and it'd be like jangled. 357 00:22:07,929 --> 00:22:11,609 Speaker 1: So while Steve's motivate for seeking out Lesha is pretty simple, 358 00:22:12,169 --> 00:22:14,130 Speaker 1: he has a sister and he wants to meet her. 359 00:22:14,770 --> 00:22:18,609 Speaker 1: For Jean, it's more complicated. Her greatest hope is that 360 00:22:18,730 --> 00:22:21,369 Speaker 1: Lisha is happy and well, that she did the right 361 00:22:21,409 --> 00:22:24,409 Speaker 1: thing in giving her up. But if Lisha is good, 362 00:22:24,810 --> 00:22:27,810 Speaker 1: didn't fall into drugs, did do well in school, and 363 00:22:27,889 --> 00:22:30,850 Speaker 1: had a good life in the Beije, then trouble wasn't 364 00:22:30,850 --> 00:22:33,889 Speaker 1: something genetic, a fate that runs through the marsh blood. 365 00:22:34,730 --> 00:22:39,530 Speaker 1: It was the Jene's thinking something in the parenting, her parenting. 366 00:22:48,290 --> 00:22:52,050 Speaker 9: I just want I want the kids, more or less, 367 00:22:52,090 --> 00:22:55,930 Speaker 9: to be prepared that she may not want anything. 368 00:22:55,490 --> 00:22:56,690 Speaker 5: To do with us. 369 00:22:57,209 --> 00:23:00,249 Speaker 9: I'm open to meeting her. I'm open to just pictures, 370 00:23:01,449 --> 00:23:03,810 Speaker 9: open to having her tell me I'm a piece of shit. 371 00:23:04,689 --> 00:23:09,330 Speaker 9: That's fine. I'm willing to do whatever she wants. It's 372 00:23:09,409 --> 00:23:15,010 Speaker 9: because I feel the ball is in her court. Worst 373 00:23:15,050 --> 00:23:17,850 Speaker 9: case scenario would be if sh had passed away and 374 00:23:17,889 --> 00:23:18,530 Speaker 9: I never. 375 00:23:19,970 --> 00:23:20,250 Speaker 1: Tried. 376 00:23:24,770 --> 00:23:26,249 Speaker 5: Did you want to have pie? 377 00:23:26,290 --> 00:23:26,490 Speaker 3: Now? 378 00:23:26,810 --> 00:23:27,010 Speaker 10: Oh? 379 00:23:27,050 --> 00:23:28,929 Speaker 5: Should I get the ice cream? You want? Ice cream? 380 00:23:29,490 --> 00:23:32,409 Speaker 1: Steve serves the mixed berry pie that he brought and 381 00:23:32,490 --> 00:23:33,969 Speaker 1: turns us to the matter at hand. 382 00:23:35,169 --> 00:23:39,929 Speaker 5: So do you want to try the writing the letter? Yeah, 383 00:23:40,129 --> 00:23:41,129 Speaker 5: we should do it now. 384 00:23:41,209 --> 00:23:46,009 Speaker 9: So yes, because your mother is a procrastinatory Oh I 385 00:23:46,050 --> 00:23:48,850 Speaker 9: am too, but you probably got it from me. 386 00:23:51,010 --> 00:23:53,529 Speaker 5: If Lisia's the percassionaire too, that's the only way we'll know. 387 00:23:55,129 --> 00:23:57,890 Speaker 1: Jeane finds it easier to talk than to write, so 388 00:23:57,929 --> 00:24:01,050 Speaker 1: Steve offers to type the letter as Jeane speaks it aloud, 389 00:24:01,609 --> 00:24:04,689 Speaker 1: then she can copy it down by hand. Jean stares 390 00:24:04,730 --> 00:24:06,850 Speaker 1: down at the table, trying to get started. 391 00:24:09,889 --> 00:24:12,170 Speaker 5: I don't know what to say. 392 00:24:12,889 --> 00:24:18,129 Speaker 9: I feel bad because we stayed together, right, and I 393 00:24:18,169 --> 00:24:20,810 Speaker 9: feel like it's been forty eight years now. Why you're 394 00:24:20,810 --> 00:24:22,010 Speaker 9: coming around now. 395 00:24:23,330 --> 00:24:24,449 Speaker 1: Is what she'll be thinking. 396 00:24:25,689 --> 00:24:27,369 Speaker 5: Oh, just say hi, how are you? 397 00:24:33,889 --> 00:24:38,450 Speaker 9: I remember your name, I remember your birthday. I remember 398 00:24:38,490 --> 00:24:44,409 Speaker 9: holding you and telling you that I wanted you to 399 00:24:44,490 --> 00:24:57,730 Speaker 9: have a good life. Lisha. I'm stumbling for words, wondering 400 00:24:57,889 --> 00:25:03,050 Speaker 9: how to, probably because it's been so many years. 401 00:25:05,290 --> 00:25:07,249 Speaker 5: Wondering how to, I mean, how. 402 00:25:07,129 --> 00:25:10,729 Speaker 9: To explain the fact that I haven't tried to contact 403 00:25:10,770 --> 00:25:11,769 Speaker 9: you all. 404 00:25:11,689 --> 00:25:14,050 Speaker 5: The I don't think we need to get that heavy. 405 00:25:14,649 --> 00:25:17,049 Speaker 5: Your mom will give me a call, but also you 406 00:25:17,090 --> 00:25:19,810 Speaker 5: do want to you want to acknowledge why this was 407 00:25:19,889 --> 00:25:24,889 Speaker 5: meaningful to you. You know, you're like, it's tough. 408 00:25:25,169 --> 00:25:34,090 Speaker 9: God, three years after you were born, your father and 409 00:25:34,169 --> 00:25:39,450 Speaker 9: I were married or got back together, while we got 410 00:25:39,490 --> 00:25:46,450 Speaker 9: back together right after. Oh god, see now it's all 411 00:25:46,530 --> 00:25:51,290 Speaker 9: seems so stupid, but. 412 00:25:52,409 --> 00:25:57,009 Speaker 5: Like you can't change the past, and you needed to 413 00:25:57,050 --> 00:26:00,450 Speaker 5: live through this in order to have perspective on it. Yeah, 414 00:26:00,490 --> 00:26:05,209 Speaker 5: so three years after you're born, your father and I were. 415 00:26:05,090 --> 00:26:12,970 Speaker 9: Married and now have two sons and a daughter who 416 00:26:12,970 --> 00:26:17,689 Speaker 9: are open to make a contact, or it does open solo. 417 00:26:17,970 --> 00:26:20,450 Speaker 5: I think all of us would like to meet you if, if, 418 00:26:20,770 --> 00:26:24,969 Speaker 5: when you're ready. I don't think maybe it needs to 419 00:26:24,970 --> 00:26:26,250 Speaker 5: be any more than that. That's good. 420 00:26:27,090 --> 00:26:30,769 Speaker 9: And then just put our names. 421 00:26:29,649 --> 00:26:34,810 Speaker 1: And we all watch as Gene copies the letter over 422 00:26:34,929 --> 00:26:35,850 Speaker 1: by hand. 423 00:26:37,050 --> 00:26:40,009 Speaker 5: He did good. Gee, thank you. 424 00:26:44,409 --> 00:26:47,529 Speaker 1: Steve and I head back to the rental for a while. 425 00:26:48,010 --> 00:26:52,850 Speaker 1: We just sit there. I think that they're going to 426 00:26:52,970 --> 00:26:54,169 Speaker 1: get those forms off. 427 00:26:54,530 --> 00:26:56,810 Speaker 5: It's going to happen this week, for sure. 428 00:26:57,449 --> 00:26:58,209 Speaker 1: Really you think so? 429 00:26:58,409 --> 00:26:59,009 Speaker 5: Yeah? I think so. 430 00:27:00,570 --> 00:27:07,729 Speaker 1: It doesn't happen. It doesn't happen in the next month 431 00:27:07,850 --> 00:27:11,009 Speaker 1: or the one after that, partly because Steve hasn't been 432 00:27:11,050 --> 00:27:14,569 Speaker 1: spurring his mom since we all sat down in Jean's kitchen, 433 00:27:14,889 --> 00:27:17,729 Speaker 1: Steve has developed second thoughts about contacting Lisha. 434 00:27:18,570 --> 00:27:22,010 Speaker 11: I'm just nervous that she's like angry about the way 435 00:27:22,050 --> 00:27:26,810 Speaker 11: things turned out, and I'm nervous, so like what kind 436 00:27:26,810 --> 00:27:30,570 Speaker 11: of impact I'll have on my mom. I've had some 437 00:27:30,609 --> 00:27:33,169 Speaker 11: conversations with friends. It's like, what are you doing this for? 438 00:27:35,570 --> 00:27:39,929 Speaker 11: I don't know, like there's real potential for sadness. 439 00:27:41,250 --> 00:27:44,289 Speaker 1: Two more months pass and I'm having trouble being a 440 00:27:44,330 --> 00:27:51,050 Speaker 1: spur to Steve's spurring. Hey, Steve, it's Jonathan speaking, just 441 00:27:51,090 --> 00:27:54,410 Speaker 1: calling to check in. I can't get a hold of anyone, 442 00:27:55,129 --> 00:28:01,210 Speaker 1: mister and missus marsh this is the man who came 443 00:28:01,250 --> 00:28:04,489 Speaker 1: over to your home some time ago. Another two months 444 00:28:04,530 --> 00:28:08,810 Speaker 1: go by and still no movement, and so I decide 445 00:28:08,889 --> 00:28:12,010 Speaker 1: that maybe it's better to just leave them be. Maybe 446 00:28:12,050 --> 00:28:14,649 Speaker 1: the Marshes would rather just forget the whole thing and 447 00:28:14,770 --> 00:28:17,290 Speaker 1: go back to being the same Marshes they always were. 448 00:28:25,290 --> 00:28:29,449 Speaker 4: Hello, Gene, Yes, High Jonathan. 449 00:28:30,530 --> 00:28:33,250 Speaker 1: And then, after a half a year of foot dragging, 450 00:28:33,609 --> 00:28:36,770 Speaker 1: I unexpectedly get word that Gene has mailed the letter 451 00:28:36,970 --> 00:28:41,090 Speaker 1: and the application. From there, a social worker was assigned 452 00:28:41,090 --> 00:28:44,770 Speaker 1: to the case. Her job to find Lisha and ask 453 00:28:44,850 --> 00:28:48,010 Speaker 1: if she's open to receiving Gene's letter, And not long 454 00:28:48,050 --> 00:28:51,210 Speaker 1: after that, the social worker gave Jane an update. 455 00:28:52,010 --> 00:28:59,209 Speaker 4: She got a call from Alesia and she said she 456 00:28:59,810 --> 00:29:02,850 Speaker 4: was very open to seeing my letters. 457 00:29:24,050 --> 00:29:29,729 Speaker 1: Okays on coffee, Yeah, I'll have a coffee, Mom, I 458 00:29:29,850 --> 00:29:33,130 Speaker 1: brought Canola's and back at the Marshes to catch up. 459 00:29:33,890 --> 00:29:36,450 Speaker 1: Once Alicia said she was open to seeing Jeane's letter, 460 00:29:36,850 --> 00:29:39,930 Speaker 1: the social worker mailed it onto her, but after that 461 00:29:40,330 --> 00:29:44,770 Speaker 1: Jean heard nothing for months. Then one afternoon at work, 462 00:29:45,170 --> 00:29:48,810 Speaker 1: Jean got an email from the social worker, the subject, 463 00:29:48,810 --> 00:29:53,410 Speaker 1: having read the letter You've been waiting for. Attached was 464 00:29:53,450 --> 00:29:55,850 Speaker 1: a scanned copy of a letter from Lesia. 465 00:29:56,770 --> 00:30:01,650 Speaker 9: Dear Jean and Pete, thank you for your patience while 466 00:30:01,730 --> 00:30:06,650 Speaker 9: I formulate my first response to your letter. My name 467 00:30:06,730 --> 00:30:08,850 Speaker 9: is Natalie and I grew up in a suburb of. 468 00:30:10,090 --> 00:30:13,370 Speaker 1: Lesha is now Natalie, and it turns out she grew 469 00:30:13,450 --> 00:30:16,450 Speaker 1: up just twenty miles from where the Marshes lived. Her 470 00:30:16,490 --> 00:30:19,290 Speaker 1: adoptive parents are even graduates of the same high school 471 00:30:19,290 --> 00:30:23,090 Speaker 1: as Jeanne. Growing up, Natalie always knew she was adopted, 472 00:30:23,330 --> 00:30:26,090 Speaker 1: and she loved the parents who raised her Natalie is 473 00:30:26,090 --> 00:30:27,970 Speaker 1: now married with two kids. 474 00:30:28,010 --> 00:30:31,050 Speaker 9: The best advice I've received since I opened your letter 475 00:30:31,570 --> 00:30:34,450 Speaker 9: was to take it slow. And then she sent a 476 00:30:34,490 --> 00:30:36,890 Speaker 9: picture when she was a little girl. 477 00:30:37,810 --> 00:30:38,930 Speaker 1: Do you see a resemblance. 478 00:30:39,370 --> 00:30:40,930 Speaker 5: Oh, she's definitely a marsh man. 479 00:30:41,570 --> 00:30:48,810 Speaker 9: Yeah, Dear Natalie. Pete and I were so happy to 480 00:30:48,850 --> 00:30:52,770 Speaker 9: receive your letter and picture. It was truly an answer 481 00:30:52,850 --> 00:30:56,049 Speaker 9: to my prayers. Let me know if you have any questions, 482 00:30:56,170 --> 00:30:58,450 Speaker 9: I will try to answer them to the best of 483 00:30:58,490 --> 00:30:59,209 Speaker 9: my ability. 484 00:31:00,290 --> 00:31:03,170 Speaker 1: And so a correspondence begins. 485 00:31:03,010 --> 00:31:05,610 Speaker 9: Your Gene and Pete. Dear Natalie, who did I get 486 00:31:05,730 --> 00:31:08,570 Speaker 9: my auburn hair from? Hee was a redhead? Can I 487 00:31:08,650 --> 00:31:11,970 Speaker 9: thank my una brow? When I was young? Grandfather had 488 00:31:12,130 --> 00:31:16,450 Speaker 9: very bushy eyebrows, so he's probably the culprit now love 489 00:31:16,610 --> 00:31:24,330 Speaker 9: Jean and Pete. 490 00:31:25,730 --> 00:31:29,170 Speaker 1: Natalie is taking its low. She's cautious and Gene is 491 00:31:29,209 --> 00:31:33,249 Speaker 1: following her lead. But sometimes you can get overwhelming. 492 00:31:34,050 --> 00:31:36,930 Speaker 9: Dear Natalie, we want to wish you the happiest of 493 00:31:37,010 --> 00:31:41,010 Speaker 9: birthdays on the seventeenth. I've wished it every year since 494 00:31:41,010 --> 00:31:44,690 Speaker 9: you were born, and I'm so happy I can finally 495 00:31:44,810 --> 00:31:49,650 Speaker 9: tell you. I hope someday we can meet, but until then, 496 00:31:49,850 --> 00:31:52,530 Speaker 9: no You've been loved, Pete and Jene. 497 00:31:54,930 --> 00:31:56,850 Speaker 1: Natalie's responses are gracious. 498 00:31:57,410 --> 00:32:00,810 Speaker 9: Dear Jeane and Pete. My kids constantly asked me about 499 00:32:00,850 --> 00:32:03,930 Speaker 9: the day they were born. We moms think about those 500 00:32:04,010 --> 00:32:07,170 Speaker 9: moments always. Someday you will have to tell me about 501 00:32:07,290 --> 00:32:07,890 Speaker 9: our day. 502 00:32:09,410 --> 00:32:12,570 Speaker 1: But there are a lot of some days, no specific plans. 503 00:32:13,209 --> 00:32:16,650 Speaker 1: Even after months of correspondence, Gene and Natalie are still 504 00:32:16,690 --> 00:32:20,770 Speaker 1: going through Stacy the social worker. They don't exchange phone numbers, 505 00:32:21,170 --> 00:32:25,410 Speaker 1: they don't even know each other's email addresses. It's tentative. 506 00:32:25,890 --> 00:32:29,850 Speaker 9: Yeah, I mean I've had a relationship with these three 507 00:32:29,970 --> 00:32:34,970 Speaker 9: kids for forty years, you know, and I haven't had 508 00:32:35,010 --> 00:32:38,969 Speaker 9: that with her. And sometimes that's sad, you know that 509 00:32:39,050 --> 00:32:41,930 Speaker 9: we don't have that. But I think we'll get there. 510 00:32:42,970 --> 00:32:44,410 Speaker 1: You want to get there? Yeah, I would like to 511 00:32:44,450 --> 00:32:49,850 Speaker 1: get there. Gene finds herself staring at Natalie's picture while 512 00:32:49,890 --> 00:32:52,970 Speaker 1: she's at work, idly thinking about what the little girl 513 00:32:53,010 --> 00:32:56,209 Speaker 1: in the photos childhood was like, and then comes the 514 00:32:56,250 --> 00:32:58,370 Speaker 1: guilt in not having been able to give her what 515 00:32:58,410 --> 00:33:02,249 Speaker 1: she needed. And all the while Natalie is so close, 516 00:33:03,170 --> 00:33:05,090 Speaker 1: why don't you call her up and say come out over? 517 00:33:05,450 --> 00:33:08,490 Speaker 9: No, because she doesn't want that then we all don't 518 00:33:08,490 --> 00:33:09,090 Speaker 9: live it to be a. 519 00:33:10,770 --> 00:33:13,330 Speaker 5: One hundred years old the same time, that's true, you 520 00:33:14,250 --> 00:33:15,810 Speaker 5: are going to run out of time pretty soon. 521 00:33:17,650 --> 00:33:21,210 Speaker 1: Well, for Pete, it's pretty straight ahead. For Jane, it's 522 00:33:21,250 --> 00:33:25,489 Speaker 1: more complicated. Jane wants Natalie to enter her life, but 523 00:33:25,570 --> 00:33:28,130 Speaker 1: at the same time she worries about what Natalie will 524 00:33:28,130 --> 00:33:31,209 Speaker 1: make of that life. How will Jeane be able to 525 00:33:31,250 --> 00:33:34,370 Speaker 1: have Natalie over to her home. In Jeane's mind, the 526 00:33:34,410 --> 00:33:38,249 Speaker 1: place is always so untidy, the grouting in the bathroom unfinished, 527 00:33:38,650 --> 00:33:42,489 Speaker 1: the tiles in the entryway in need of repair. So 528 00:33:42,530 --> 00:33:45,650 Speaker 1: while Jeane's wait for Natalie is filled with hope, it's 529 00:33:45,690 --> 00:33:55,009 Speaker 1: also filled with fear. Time ticks by. Natalie and Jeane 530 00:33:55,050 --> 00:33:59,450 Speaker 1: continue to exchange letters, and eventually Natalie decides they don't 531 00:33:59,450 --> 00:34:02,569 Speaker 1: have to go through Stacy the social worker anymore. They 532 00:34:02,570 --> 00:34:06,090 Speaker 1: can email each other directly, and a few months after that, 533 00:34:06,690 --> 00:34:10,330 Speaker 1: Gene asks Natalie for her phone number. I just want 534 00:34:10,370 --> 00:34:13,010 Speaker 1: to be able to hear your voice sometimes, Gene says, 535 00:34:14,010 --> 00:34:23,890 Speaker 1: and Natalie says yes. Steve's wedding is a month away. 536 00:34:24,610 --> 00:34:27,610 Speaker 1: It's been a full year since Natalie received that first letter, 537 00:34:28,050 --> 00:34:30,650 Speaker 1: and Steve wants to invite her to the wedding, but 538 00:34:30,730 --> 00:34:33,090 Speaker 1: Jeane doesn't think a big family event is the right 539 00:34:33,130 --> 00:34:35,810 Speaker 1: setting for everyone to meet for the first time, so 540 00:34:35,890 --> 00:34:38,210 Speaker 1: Gene asks Natalie if they can all go out for dinner. 541 00:34:39,090 --> 00:34:42,010 Speaker 1: Natalie writes back and says, I think we can make 542 00:34:42,050 --> 00:34:42,610 Speaker 1: that happen. 543 00:34:47,690 --> 00:34:49,529 Speaker 4: Hi, how are you? 544 00:34:51,810 --> 00:34:56,090 Speaker 1: Doggie? And today's the day. I arrive at Steve's house 545 00:34:56,130 --> 00:34:58,610 Speaker 1: as he gets ready to meet Natalie for dinner. His 546 00:34:58,690 --> 00:35:02,330 Speaker 1: fiance Maggie and his brother Kevin are there too. Nice 547 00:35:02,370 --> 00:35:07,730 Speaker 1: to see you. I'm Jonah, Kevin, how are you good? 548 00:35:08,410 --> 00:35:11,330 Speaker 1: Steve is ly Kevin a pair of jeans because Kevin 549 00:35:11,450 --> 00:35:14,370 Speaker 1: was wearing shorts and feared they might not be appropriate 550 00:35:14,450 --> 00:35:17,490 Speaker 1: for meeting your sister for the first time. Steve is 551 00:35:17,490 --> 00:35:18,410 Speaker 1: still getting dressed. 552 00:35:18,930 --> 00:35:21,530 Speaker 5: This is my only pair of clean pants at the moment. 553 00:35:22,410 --> 00:35:24,530 Speaker 5: I don't want my new sister to smell me, you 554 00:35:24,570 --> 00:35:27,850 Speaker 5: know what I mean. That'd be awful, right, So I 555 00:35:27,890 --> 00:35:29,130 Speaker 5: want to appear to be clean. 556 00:35:34,050 --> 00:35:36,930 Speaker 1: Since the Marshes are worried about making a good impression, 557 00:35:37,370 --> 00:35:41,010 Speaker 1: they barred me and my microphone from the dinner. This 558 00:35:41,450 --> 00:35:46,530 Speaker 1: in spite of my important work documenting and interloping. Instead 559 00:35:46,530 --> 00:35:51,090 Speaker 1: of saying, all of you rotten folks. I tell Steve 560 00:35:51,330 --> 00:35:55,170 Speaker 1: that it's all good. Hey, I'm getting pretty good at 561 00:35:55,170 --> 00:35:56,250 Speaker 1: this Minnesota talk. 562 00:35:58,410 --> 00:35:59,330 Speaker 5: I think we should. 563 00:35:59,090 --> 00:36:02,930 Speaker 10: Leave in five or ten minutes, okay, and we should 564 00:36:02,970 --> 00:36:03,490 Speaker 10: not spoke we. 565 00:36:05,010 --> 00:36:05,330 Speaker 2: Earlier. 566 00:36:06,890 --> 00:36:20,569 Speaker 5: I took emon Ye've got it turns out very off. 567 00:36:21,130 --> 00:36:24,250 Speaker 1: Steve has made a reservation at a pizza restaurant. On 568 00:36:24,330 --> 00:36:28,370 Speaker 1: the drive there, he worries, but as usual, it isn't 569 00:36:28,370 --> 00:36:28,970 Speaker 1: for himself. 570 00:36:29,690 --> 00:36:31,890 Speaker 5: I worry about my mom. 571 00:36:32,930 --> 00:36:36,930 Speaker 1: The worry has always been twofold. Firstly, what if Natalie's 572 00:36:36,930 --> 00:36:39,570 Speaker 1: life hasn't turned out well and it's all Jeane's fault 573 00:36:39,610 --> 00:36:42,530 Speaker 1: for having given her up. But based on Gene and 574 00:36:42,610 --> 00:36:46,610 Speaker 1: Natalie's correspondence, Natalie has a nice husband, sweet kids, and 575 00:36:46,650 --> 00:36:49,450 Speaker 1: a career that keeps her busy, flying to far off 576 00:36:49,490 --> 00:36:53,490 Speaker 1: places like Mexico City and Singapore. So now, with that 577 00:36:53,570 --> 00:36:57,890 Speaker 1: first worry allayed, the second worry rears its head. What 578 00:36:57,930 --> 00:37:00,530 Speaker 1: if Natalie is not only not in bad shape, but 579 00:37:00,570 --> 00:37:04,130 Speaker 1: in great shape, all due to Jane's lack of parenting. 580 00:37:05,250 --> 00:37:08,490 Speaker 1: In other words, Steve's now worried that, as far as 581 00:37:08,570 --> 00:37:13,090 Speaker 1: Jean might believe, it isn't the Jeans, it's Gene. 582 00:37:13,570 --> 00:37:16,370 Speaker 5: A person with the same genetic makeup as your three kids. 583 00:37:16,890 --> 00:37:23,450 Speaker 5: Who did I get all these things? So? Yeah, there's 584 00:37:24,210 --> 00:37:26,250 Speaker 5: I think there's some pain there, man, Like there's some 585 00:37:26,290 --> 00:37:29,970 Speaker 5: pain with my mom, like that she failed us or something, 586 00:37:31,370 --> 00:37:37,130 Speaker 5: or that we failed her. Oh shit, it's six eighteen. 587 00:37:37,210 --> 00:37:38,010 Speaker 5: Are we gonna make it? 588 00:37:38,170 --> 00:37:38,490 Speaker 9: Yeah? 589 00:37:38,530 --> 00:37:40,410 Speaker 1: Hoday, isn't it supposed to be six forty five? You 590 00:37:40,450 --> 00:37:42,650 Speaker 1: guys are reading thirty six thirty? Oh but your folks 591 00:37:42,650 --> 00:37:44,690 Speaker 1: will be there, are they? 592 00:37:44,930 --> 00:37:47,330 Speaker 5: Our family is free, disposed towards me and late all 593 00:37:47,370 --> 00:37:47,890 Speaker 5: the time. 594 00:37:48,770 --> 00:37:51,330 Speaker 1: A few blocks from the restaurant, Steve drops me off 595 00:37:51,370 --> 00:37:53,610 Speaker 1: at the side of the road. He says, they'll let 596 00:37:53,610 --> 00:37:56,210 Speaker 1: me know how it goes. Okay, by you guys have fun. 597 00:38:06,210 --> 00:38:09,690 Speaker 1: Later I'll learn that Pete, Jean and Megan were uncoaracteristically 598 00:38:09,770 --> 00:38:12,770 Speaker 1: on time and are there to greet Natalie and her husband. 599 00:38:12,810 --> 00:38:17,130 Speaker 1: When they arrive, Gina hugs Natalie and introduces her to Megan. 600 00:38:17,890 --> 00:38:21,210 Speaker 1: Natalie and Megan stare at each other. They look so similar. 601 00:38:22,170 --> 00:38:25,010 Speaker 1: I wish I could wear my hair like that, Natalie says, 602 00:38:25,490 --> 00:38:29,450 Speaker 1: and Megan smiles. Steve, Maggie, and Kevin arrive as the 603 00:38:29,490 --> 00:38:32,850 Speaker 1: table is being prepared. While they wait, they all make 604 00:38:32,930 --> 00:38:36,529 Speaker 1: nervous small talk. Pete fills the silence by talking about 605 00:38:36,530 --> 00:38:40,330 Speaker 1: how old his shoes are. About fishing. The others join in, 606 00:38:40,450 --> 00:38:43,730 Speaker 1: talking about goldfish they've owned, the relative merits of pac 607 00:38:43,810 --> 00:38:56,490 Speaker 1: Man versus misspac Man restaurants they like. They compare their heights. Eventually, 608 00:38:56,530 --> 00:38:59,090 Speaker 1: the host leads them outside to a round wooden table 609 00:38:59,130 --> 00:39:02,530 Speaker 1: built around a tree. The group orders pizza and wine. 610 00:39:03,130 --> 00:39:07,690 Speaker 1: They all cheers. Everyone has questions for Natalie. They don't 611 00:39:07,730 --> 00:39:10,690 Speaker 1: totally understand what her j but it has something to 612 00:39:10,690 --> 00:39:14,210 Speaker 1: do with selling accounting software all over the world. They 613 00:39:14,290 --> 00:39:17,490 Speaker 1: get the impression that she's in charge of things. Natalie 614 00:39:17,490 --> 00:39:21,050 Speaker 1: has a confidence. She sits beside Kevin, who shows her 615 00:39:21,050 --> 00:39:23,330 Speaker 1: a photo of himself coming in second in a hot 616 00:39:23,330 --> 00:39:28,730 Speaker 1: dog eating contest. Natalie seems impressed. During the salad course, 617 00:39:28,810 --> 00:39:31,410 Speaker 1: Jeane tells the story of how when Steve first found 618 00:39:31,410 --> 00:39:35,410 Speaker 1: out about Natalie, he joked, thanks for keeping me mom. 619 00:39:35,850 --> 00:39:39,610 Speaker 1: It's not too late. Natalie interjects, you could still be abandoned. 620 00:39:40,730 --> 00:39:45,130 Speaker 1: Everyone laughs. Natalie shares the Martia's dark sense of humor. 621 00:39:46,210 --> 00:39:54,450 Speaker 1: It looks like Natalie is coming to Steve's wedding. It's 622 00:39:54,490 --> 00:39:56,330 Speaker 1: the kind of night where it seems like it could 623 00:39:56,410 --> 00:40:00,290 Speaker 1: rain at any minute, so Jeane grabs the check. Steve 624 00:40:00,330 --> 00:40:02,530 Speaker 1: sees the look on her face as she glances it 625 00:40:02,570 --> 00:40:07,930 Speaker 1: over Mom. He says quietly, so Natalie won't hear. We'll 626 00:40:07,930 --> 00:40:11,370 Speaker 1: help you. The kids all go home that night and 627 00:40:11,410 --> 00:40:15,530 Speaker 1: request Natalie's friendship on Facebook. Jeane and Pete drive home, 628 00:40:15,730 --> 00:40:17,610 Speaker 1: with Jeanne smiling all the way. 629 00:40:18,850 --> 00:40:22,090 Speaker 12: When we came home that night, Pete was opening the 630 00:40:22,170 --> 00:40:24,410 Speaker 12: door and I just put my hand on his shoulder 631 00:40:24,450 --> 00:40:27,730 Speaker 12: and I said, you know, Dad looked out for her 632 00:40:27,810 --> 00:40:32,930 Speaker 12: all these years, and so we've been blessed, We truly have. 633 00:40:33,890 --> 00:40:38,650 Speaker 12: It was joyous. All the kids are so comfortable. Everybody 634 00:40:38,770 --> 00:40:42,250 Speaker 12: was asking questions. There was a lot of laughter. There 635 00:40:42,330 --> 00:40:45,930 Speaker 12: was a lot of you know, joking and talking, and 636 00:40:46,970 --> 00:40:48,250 Speaker 12: it was very emotional. 637 00:40:50,010 --> 00:40:52,850 Speaker 6: And there's still a lot of thought process there that's 638 00:40:52,930 --> 00:40:57,970 Speaker 6: gonna maybe be with me all my life. But I 639 00:40:58,130 --> 00:41:01,489 Speaker 6: know that she had a good life and she's got 640 00:41:01,490 --> 00:41:06,130 Speaker 6: a wonderful life now. I couldn't have asked for anything more. 641 00:41:07,130 --> 00:41:08,010 Speaker 6: I really couldn't have. 642 00:41:13,650 --> 00:41:16,370 Speaker 1: You felt like you wanted Natalie to have a good life, 643 00:41:17,090 --> 00:41:19,730 Speaker 1: but that was complicated because you felt like it might 644 00:41:19,810 --> 00:41:23,330 Speaker 1: reflect on your parenting in some way, So I'm wondering, 645 00:41:23,770 --> 00:41:24,970 Speaker 1: how do you feel about that? 646 00:41:25,090 --> 00:41:25,370 Speaker 5: Now? 647 00:41:29,130 --> 00:41:34,770 Speaker 7: You still have guilt, But I think I just realized 648 00:41:34,850 --> 00:41:40,250 Speaker 7: that no matter what I did or didn't do, they've 649 00:41:40,290 --> 00:41:46,610 Speaker 7: all grown up to be wonderful human beings and we 650 00:41:46,690 --> 00:41:47,330 Speaker 7: can move on. 651 00:41:49,410 --> 00:41:52,090 Speaker 1: All the things Jean had worried about, that Natalie might 652 00:41:52,130 --> 00:41:54,650 Speaker 1: resent her, that the family might be too much for her, 653 00:41:55,250 --> 00:41:58,450 Speaker 1: in the end didn't matter. That night at the restaurant, 654 00:41:58,610 --> 00:42:01,730 Speaker 1: things were simple. They were all just happy to be together. 655 00:42:07,490 --> 00:42:11,650 Speaker 1: But there's still one thing. For months, Steve's priority has 656 00:42:11,650 --> 00:42:14,210 Speaker 1: been his mom's feelings, the effect all of this is 657 00:42:14,250 --> 00:42:17,770 Speaker 1: having on her. All the while, though a feeling of 658 00:42:17,810 --> 00:42:21,770 Speaker 1: his own was slowly taking shape. At the pizza restaurant, 659 00:42:21,930 --> 00:42:24,890 Speaker 1: Steven wanted to say something to Natalie all night, but 660 00:42:24,930 --> 00:42:26,010 Speaker 1: he couldn't find the words. 661 00:42:26,730 --> 00:42:29,610 Speaker 10: What I really wish I would have told her is 662 00:42:29,770 --> 00:42:33,890 Speaker 10: thank you man, Thank you for you you existing, like 663 00:42:34,010 --> 00:42:36,850 Speaker 10: your miracle of coming to the world and the way 664 00:42:36,890 --> 00:42:38,810 Speaker 10: it happened, like brought my parents back together. 665 00:42:40,090 --> 00:42:43,370 Speaker 1: But then, how do you thank someone a stranger for 666 00:42:43,450 --> 00:42:46,170 Speaker 1: giving your family life, for giving you life? 667 00:42:47,170 --> 00:42:48,650 Speaker 5: Hey, how are you good? 668 00:42:49,490 --> 00:42:49,650 Speaker 4: You? 669 00:42:50,370 --> 00:42:53,450 Speaker 1: In my role as loyal spur, I've invited Stephen Natalie 670 00:42:53,490 --> 00:42:55,690 Speaker 1: to my office so Steve can at least give it 671 00:42:55,730 --> 00:42:58,730 Speaker 1: a try. It's the first time Steve and Natalie have 672 00:42:58,810 --> 00:43:01,290 Speaker 1: gotten to talk one on one since this all began. 673 00:43:02,850 --> 00:43:07,370 Speaker 13: I never thought I never thought someone would search for me. 674 00:43:08,690 --> 00:43:09,690 Speaker 1: This is Natalie. 675 00:43:10,810 --> 00:43:14,250 Speaker 5: Wow, He's never he never even considered that. 676 00:43:16,490 --> 00:43:19,650 Speaker 1: Steve explains that during the search, the marsh is worried 677 00:43:19,690 --> 00:43:22,210 Speaker 1: that they might not live up to Natalie's expectations. 678 00:43:22,730 --> 00:43:25,010 Speaker 5: You know, you're you're such an accomplished person. 679 00:43:26,290 --> 00:43:30,130 Speaker 13: Well, gosh, my LinkedIn profile is really doing its job 680 00:43:31,850 --> 00:43:32,810 Speaker 13: of a pr major. 681 00:43:34,610 --> 00:43:37,930 Speaker 5: I mean, honestly, like you seem like such a funny, 682 00:43:38,290 --> 00:43:42,930 Speaker 5: like even keel person, you know, like like you have 683 00:43:42,970 --> 00:43:47,330 Speaker 5: a wicked sense of humor. It's just it's cool. It's cool, 684 00:43:47,730 --> 00:43:51,930 Speaker 5: Like you're funny. You know, you're wearing you have an 685 00:43:51,930 --> 00:43:54,250 Speaker 5: iPhone watch and you're killing it. You know what I mean. 686 00:43:54,690 --> 00:43:57,850 Speaker 13: That was a gift. Everything's a gift, my husband, that's all. No, 687 00:43:57,890 --> 00:44:01,090 Speaker 13: but don't put me on a pedestal. I don't deserve it. 688 00:44:02,130 --> 00:44:04,690 Speaker 1: Natalie's uncomfortable with her life being held up as a 689 00:44:04,730 --> 00:44:07,770 Speaker 1: success story. She tries to explain that her house had 690 00:44:07,770 --> 00:44:10,570 Speaker 1: its own share of chaos. Her brother faced some of 691 00:44:10,610 --> 00:44:13,450 Speaker 1: the same challenges with drugs and other troubles that the 692 00:44:13,490 --> 00:44:16,570 Speaker 1: Marsh kids faced. It feels like what she's trying to 693 00:44:16,610 --> 00:44:20,570 Speaker 1: say is blood parenting. I don't know why things turned 694 00:44:20,610 --> 00:44:28,090 Speaker 1: out the way they have, but Steve is undeterred in 695 00:44:28,130 --> 00:44:33,090 Speaker 1: his effort to offer Natalie credit, and so tentatively he 696 00:44:33,170 --> 00:44:35,290 Speaker 1: gets to the thing he's been trying to say for 697 00:44:35,330 --> 00:44:36,090 Speaker 1: a while now. 698 00:44:37,210 --> 00:44:43,410 Speaker 5: I mean, I feel like it's weird to thank somebody 699 00:44:43,490 --> 00:44:50,130 Speaker 5: who didn't elect to be adopted, But like, maybe my 700 00:44:50,250 --> 00:44:55,010 Speaker 5: parents would have never gotten back together if it wasn't 701 00:44:55,130 --> 00:44:59,930 Speaker 5: for you. You brought them together. Like I think it 702 00:45:00,050 --> 00:45:03,690 Speaker 5: was kind of a fling kind of situation and it 703 00:45:03,850 --> 00:45:07,770 Speaker 5: turned into a like a forty five year marriage, you know, 704 00:45:07,810 --> 00:45:12,090 Speaker 5: a fifty year Like I don't know the exact stats. 705 00:45:11,970 --> 00:45:12,050 Speaker 3: But. 706 00:45:14,010 --> 00:45:17,170 Speaker 1: Natalie can see that Steve is struggling. But she's struggling 707 00:45:17,250 --> 00:45:20,850 Speaker 1: to if Steve is trying to say thanks for my life, 708 00:45:21,450 --> 00:45:26,010 Speaker 1: how does she simply say you're welcome. So instead, Natalie 709 00:45:26,010 --> 00:45:28,650 Speaker 1: offers thanks of her own in the way of a 710 00:45:28,690 --> 00:45:33,810 Speaker 1: story about Steve's mom. In her mom, when my mom. 711 00:45:33,650 --> 00:45:37,930 Speaker 13: Was around, she and I were really really close. She 712 00:45:38,130 --> 00:45:41,930 Speaker 13: wanted to think, you know what you know? I wish 713 00:45:41,970 --> 00:45:44,410 Speaker 13: I could think her, She kept saying, I just wish 714 00:45:44,450 --> 00:45:50,090 Speaker 13: I could think her. Oh right, And when she passed 715 00:45:50,090 --> 00:45:54,730 Speaker 13: away in two thousand and four, she couldn't. Yeah, So 716 00:45:55,170 --> 00:45:59,570 Speaker 13: the first thing I wanted to do was do the thinking. 717 00:46:01,090 --> 00:46:08,570 Speaker 13: That decision set the trajectory of my life. I'm so 718 00:46:09,250 --> 00:46:11,210 Speaker 13: so lucky to be where I'm at. 719 00:46:13,010 --> 00:46:15,610 Speaker 1: In the end, Steve and Natalie are both grateful for 720 00:46:15,650 --> 00:46:18,770 Speaker 1: the same thing, the family that they ended up with. 721 00:46:24,970 --> 00:46:26,410 Speaker 1: Everyone always asked. 722 00:46:26,690 --> 00:46:30,490 Speaker 13: Well, have you ever thought of reaching out? I always 723 00:46:30,570 --> 00:46:34,730 Speaker 13: had the answer, I'm like, no, I'm good. I have 724 00:46:34,810 --> 00:46:37,410 Speaker 13: a great family. You know, once I open that door, 725 00:46:37,450 --> 00:46:41,410 Speaker 13: I can never close it. When I received the letter, 726 00:46:42,410 --> 00:46:48,650 Speaker 13: I can honestly say I didn't have this figured out, 727 00:46:48,970 --> 00:46:51,930 Speaker 13: and I thought about what my path would be and 728 00:46:52,090 --> 00:46:56,250 Speaker 13: if I'm on a crossroad of do I pursue this 729 00:46:56,770 --> 00:46:58,050 Speaker 13: or do I let it go. 730 00:46:59,690 --> 00:47:02,690 Speaker 1: As Natalie speaks, you can see a thought flashed across 731 00:47:02,690 --> 00:47:06,130 Speaker 1: Steve's face. All this time, he's been trying to thank 732 00:47:06,210 --> 00:47:09,770 Speaker 1: Natalie for something she didn't even decide, rather than for 733 00:47:09,850 --> 00:47:11,170 Speaker 1: the thing that she did decide. 734 00:47:11,850 --> 00:47:13,730 Speaker 5: When you put it like that way, when you put 735 00:47:13,730 --> 00:47:18,330 Speaker 5: it like that, like you did have a choice here 736 00:47:18,370 --> 00:47:21,330 Speaker 5: whether to even talk to us, you know, like like 737 00:47:21,490 --> 00:47:24,370 Speaker 5: you could have been like no, you risk you open 738 00:47:24,410 --> 00:47:27,570 Speaker 5: the door, like and and so yeah, I guess Natalie, 739 00:47:27,570 --> 00:47:30,130 Speaker 5: I do thank you for that, man. Like the way 740 00:47:30,490 --> 00:47:35,130 Speaker 5: that you've been with my mom has been super cool man, 741 00:47:35,530 --> 00:47:43,970 Speaker 5: And I I thank you for that. Oh well, I 742 00:47:44,050 --> 00:47:48,890 Speaker 5: like she kind of deserves like uh, I think like 743 00:47:49,210 --> 00:47:53,489 Speaker 5: cool stuff in life, you know, and like you've been 744 00:47:53,530 --> 00:47:59,570 Speaker 5: really cool man, that's choice. 745 00:48:09,130 --> 00:48:11,330 Speaker 1: It's been two and a half years since the search 746 00:48:11,370 --> 00:48:15,450 Speaker 1: for Natalie began, and in that time, Natalie's interactions with 747 00:48:15,490 --> 00:48:20,010 Speaker 1: the Marshes have been based around occasions Jean's birthday, Steve's wedding. 748 00:48:20,890 --> 00:48:24,370 Speaker 1: But today they're all just hanging out. Steve and his 749 00:48:24,410 --> 00:48:27,050 Speaker 1: new wife, Maggie wanted to have everyone over for a 750 00:48:27,050 --> 00:48:31,410 Speaker 1: backyard barbecue, even me. On our way to the yard, 751 00:48:31,610 --> 00:48:34,130 Speaker 1: Steve gives me a quick tour of the house, his 752 00:48:34,210 --> 00:48:41,850 Speaker 1: shelves loaded with the books. His plans is that indigenous 753 00:48:41,850 --> 00:48:42,570 Speaker 1: to this area. 754 00:48:44,530 --> 00:48:46,090 Speaker 5: Oh. 755 00:48:46,570 --> 00:48:50,010 Speaker 1: Natalie shows up with her husband and two kids. Pete, 756 00:48:50,290 --> 00:48:52,970 Speaker 1: the tough guy who thought about Natalie every day for 757 00:48:53,010 --> 00:48:55,610 Speaker 1: almost fifty years, is there to greet them. 758 00:48:56,010 --> 00:49:01,370 Speaker 5: Well, how you guys, been. Oh good, here, I gotta 759 00:49:01,370 --> 00:49:03,850 Speaker 5: have a hawk absolutely oh. 760 00:49:06,810 --> 00:49:09,930 Speaker 1: Shortly after, Kevin shows up with a bottle of vodka 761 00:49:10,170 --> 00:49:11,610 Speaker 1: and a big bag of Frisbees. 762 00:49:12,050 --> 00:49:15,370 Speaker 5: Who dotesn't play frisbee? Hey? 763 00:49:16,370 --> 00:49:22,090 Speaker 1: And then Megan, who heads straight for Natalie. But there's 764 00:49:22,130 --> 00:49:23,489 Speaker 1: one person who's running late. 765 00:49:24,010 --> 00:49:26,010 Speaker 11: Should I call your moon and see who she is, sir? 766 00:49:28,370 --> 00:49:30,490 Speaker 1: As it turns out, Jeane is still stuck at the 767 00:49:30,490 --> 00:49:33,650 Speaker 1: grocery store buying some last minute stuff for the party. 768 00:49:34,410 --> 00:49:40,050 Speaker 1: Classic Steve says the Marshes are unorganized, chronically late, and 769 00:49:40,090 --> 00:49:45,130 Speaker 1: maybe that's true. Or maybe Jeane is pacing the aisles procrastinating, 770 00:49:45,730 --> 00:49:48,290 Speaker 1: nervous about what Natalie might make of how the Marshes 771 00:49:48,370 --> 00:49:57,250 Speaker 1: live with their ayahuasca plants and vodka Frisbees. But in 772 00:49:57,290 --> 00:50:01,570 Speaker 1: the end, Jeane doesn't wait years, weeks, days, or hours. 773 00:50:02,370 --> 00:50:10,930 Speaker 1: She's only late by fifteen minutes. Maybe Jeane wasn't procrastinating 774 00:50:10,970 --> 00:50:14,650 Speaker 1: at all. Maybe she wanted to show up late to 775 00:50:14,690 --> 00:50:18,170 Speaker 1: be the last one to walk into the backyard with 776 00:50:18,210 --> 00:50:22,529 Speaker 1: everyone already there and see the whole family hanging out, 777 00:50:23,090 --> 00:50:26,970 Speaker 1: joking and talking, everyone just happy to be together. 778 00:50:27,490 --> 00:51:04,170 Speaker 14: Oh my god, Now that the fernitures rip turned. 779 00:51:04,090 --> 00:51:05,850 Speaker 1: To its Goodwill Home. 780 00:51:09,410 --> 00:51:13,850 Speaker 14: Now that the last months, Rand is scheming with the. 781 00:51:13,970 --> 00:51:16,890 Speaker 10: Damage to pos take this moment to. 782 00:51:17,370 --> 00:51:30,530 Speaker 1: Say he felt around for though from the baby's exit. 783 00:51:30,690 --> 00:51:35,489 Speaker 5: And I got a message from Natalie yesterday. I got 784 00:51:35,490 --> 00:51:38,490 Speaker 5: a text happy sibling Day. It was a sibling day yesterday. 785 00:51:38,930 --> 00:51:40,410 Speaker 1: Are you guys in regular touch? 786 00:51:40,570 --> 00:51:44,210 Speaker 5: Oh yeah, Like we have a family text thread named 787 00:51:44,210 --> 00:51:48,010 Speaker 5: after the episode. It's called the Marshes. But uh, like, 788 00:51:48,650 --> 00:51:53,290 Speaker 5: just my mom was over to babysit Monroe last night, 789 00:51:53,730 --> 00:51:57,490 Speaker 5: your son, my son. Yeah, and uh my mom was 790 00:51:57,530 --> 00:51:59,610 Speaker 5: just like on the phone with Natalie and there's Natalie. 791 00:51:59,690 --> 00:52:01,930 Speaker 5: You know, they're talking about Natalie was talking about work, 792 00:52:02,170 --> 00:52:05,850 Speaker 5: like they're It's just cool to see, man. You know, 793 00:52:06,090 --> 00:52:09,330 Speaker 5: like my mom has a relationship with her. I have 794 00:52:09,370 --> 00:52:13,890 Speaker 5: a relationship with her. I went to her son's basketball 795 00:52:13,930 --> 00:52:15,529 Speaker 5: game and brought my son. 796 00:52:16,050 --> 00:52:17,969 Speaker 1: It's really nice. So you're doing stuff like that. 797 00:52:19,090 --> 00:52:21,890 Speaker 5: I wanted to knit our families together, you know, in 798 00:52:21,930 --> 00:52:26,410 Speaker 5: a way. And I asked Natalie if she would be 799 00:52:26,650 --> 00:52:27,530 Speaker 5: Monroe's godmother. 800 00:52:28,330 --> 00:52:31,250 Speaker 1: Oh man, that's so nice to hear. What would she say? 801 00:52:31,850 --> 00:52:37,850 Speaker 5: Yeah, she was down. You know, she's like a late 802 00:52:37,890 --> 00:52:39,890 Speaker 5: in the game kind of gift from the universe. 803 00:52:40,370 --> 00:52:41,410 Speaker 1: That's really nice, Steve. 804 00:52:42,250 --> 00:52:45,250 Speaker 5: It worked out, man. It turned out to have a 805 00:52:45,290 --> 00:52:46,090 Speaker 5: really happy ending. 806 00:52:46,730 --> 00:52:48,529 Speaker 1: Yeah, and we're friends as a result. 807 00:52:48,730 --> 00:52:51,410 Speaker 5: And then we're friends as a result. I live here 808 00:52:51,410 --> 00:52:53,210 Speaker 5: now and now you guys live in our neighborhood. 809 00:52:53,330 --> 00:52:54,529 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's right, we do. 810 00:52:54,650 --> 00:52:58,290 Speaker 5: Yeah. Do you want a babysit Monroe on Tuesday? Yeah? 811 00:52:58,410 --> 00:53:11,570 Speaker 1: Always, that'd be great. Thanks to everyone who helped put 812 00:53:11,610 --> 00:53:14,850 Speaker 1: this episode together. We'll be back next week with another 813 00:53:15,050 --> 00:53:19,130 Speaker 1: Encore presentation and along with it, another update from our guest. 814 00:53:20,370 --> 00:53:24,650 Speaker 1: If Emily's Emily, I mean chances are yeah, if we're round,