Hello Vera! That's crazy that you remember me! It's so odd reconnecting with family over the internet. I mentioned this whole thing to my mom and she says hello and hopes you are doing well. She was pretty amazed we found each other. She is doing very well.
I can understand your losing contact with my grandparents. The Kytlicas can all be rather hot-headed at times and I can't keep track of how many family members aren't speaking at this point. I don't understand it, but try to stay out of it as well. I definitely think you should try to reconnect with Zdenka, but if you choose to, do it soon because she is not well. I don't get very many updates on her health because I am not really in the family loop, but I know she is very ill.
I am doing great in Oregon. I'm going to college and keeping my head above water. I would love to meet more of my extended family! I've always felt kind of disconnected from my father's side, so I would love to get to know some more Kytlicas. Your son is a musician? That's smashing! So am I! I bet we'd have quite a bit in common.
I do value my siblings very highly and I know how hard it is to keep in touch with them. From what I've heard, my oldest brother doesn't really keep in touch with the family and I haven't seen him in years. I'm working up the courage to contact him one day. I do talk to my younger siblings as best as I can, but I'm not always on such good terms with my father, so it can be hard. My full blood brother and I are best friends though, so I know I'll always have him.
I would really love to keep in contact! Also, I have contact info for others whom you may be interested in speaking to (such as Zdenka), so if you would like, my email is
kkytlica@pdx.edu. We should continue this exchange through email so I can give you phone numbers and email addresses of the family.
Sending love right back,
-Kehli