Sisters Reunite Feels Right

It feels good to write a story that brings two people together who haven't seen each other in more than 13 years. (See my Ramblin' column in today's Gazette.)

I could tell it felt right when I visited the reunion of Christine "Jo-Jo" Fritz Newman, 29, and her sister, Brittany "Britti" Rochelle Thompson Byrnes, 18, last Saturday (Oct. 18) at the home of their brother, Brian Fritz, in Norway. Their other brother, Allen Fritz, was also there.

Everyone seemed to be in a relaxed mood around the dining room table after dinner. Yet, you could feel the electricity, too. Questions were still the get-to-know-you variety, although conversation wandered off to historical photographs and we-were-wondering-what-you-were-doing-when comments.

You see, Britti was put up for adoption in the summer of 1995 when she was 4. Her mother thought it best that someone else raise her. But that broke Christine's heart, who was 15 at the time and had always wanted a sister. She would never forget how her young sibling called her "Jo-Jo," because she couldn't pronounce Christine's middle name, Billie Jo.

All of this time, the sisters wondered how the other was doing. As Britti's 18th birthday approached, Christine and her brothers thought the time was ripe to find their little sister. When Christine approached me, I thought I'd do what I could to help.

Eight days after my column ran in The Gazette, Christine drove up to Waukon to see her sister for the first time. She says "It was pretty cool and exciting. It was emotional at the same time."

Of course they shed tears. But they hugged and "kicked back" too. While Allen was there, Brian was out of town and couldn't make it. So they arranged for a second reunion at Brian's home in Norway so all four siblings could be together.

While the three familiar siblings answered a few questions, the conversation around the table centered on Britti. She was family, but she was new. Since she didn't have a car, Allen offered to fix up a 1994 Cavelier convertible for her. Brian and his wife, Jenny, offered Britti their spare room if she wanted to move. Christine said she'd do what she could to help her little sister get custody and raise her son, Jordan, who will be 2 in January.

Nobody can predict what will happen next. But the foundation is now set for the four siblings to travel that road together. And being a contributor and witness to a reunion like this makes you feel good inside, to know you can make a positive contribution to peoples' lives.