Unfiltered Story #249095

(This happened on Memorial Day in 2014. My dad died when I was six (2004) and as a result, I fell out of touch with his side of the family. They didn’t contact me and I never got in contact with them, thinking they didn’t like me and that they didn’t care about me. My dad was also a vet and was buried in the veteran’s cemetery. This year I decided I wanted to do something different and visit my dad on Memorial Day. So, my grandma and I head out early and get to the cemetery. While I’m cleaning off his headstone, I notice a couple with their little grandson off to the side where the street is. I think nothing of it; there are tons of headstones. What are the odds that they are here for the same man I’m here for? Well, after a few minutes where they’re whispering to one another and I do a few glances to my grandma (with no intention to leave because I want to pay my respects and spend some time with my dad), the man comes up to me.)
Man: *In a challenging tone* How do you know my brother?!
(At this point, my grandma, who’s not confrontational at all, was about to step in and explain who I was but me, being me who wasn’t going to take someone stomping up to me trying to chase me away, jumped to my feet to snap back at him.)
Me: He’s my father!
(The man goes quiet for a moment and I can see the gears turning in his head. My dad’s side of the family is known for being fiercely protective of family and despite not living with them for long, I’ve gotten the same attitude. Guess that comes from being the daughter of a Marine, too.)
Me: *After a few moments of silence* I’m [My Name]. Michael’s daughter.
Man: *In a much more softer tone* Oh my God, [My Name]? Is that really you?
(It turns out that this was my uncle, his wife, and their grandson. After 10 years of having no contact with the family, I suddenly found them again. I still do keep with my mom’s side the most because that’s where I’m the most accepted and where I’ve lived my entire life (long story there that doesn’t fit into this tale) but looking back, I still feel like that snippet of my life must’ve been like a scene from a movie. Every year, we meet to talk with Dad and go have breakfast and every year, we joke about how my dad would’ve just laughed and told my uncle he was an idiot while patting me on my back and my uncle, who’s twice my size and incredibly intimidating, got shut down by his not-as-intimidating niece who looked like she wouldn’t hurt a fly. This girl’s got some spunk in her!)