Two Birthdays

Hey everyone, it’s Paul. It’s been a while since I’ve checked in with you, and I hope you’re all doing okay and staying safe.

I wanted to tell you about a trip I recently took to Chicago, to see my mother, Dora Fronczak. I hadn’t been able to see her in a long while because of Covid, but I made the trip under strict safeguards and finally got to spend a weekend with her.

One of the things we celebrated together was our mutual birthday—October 27.

The extra surprise was that this also happened to be the birthday of the woman who raised me, Dora Fronczak. What are the odds of that happening? Well, actually it’s about a 1 out of 365 chance—but still, it felt like a really happy twist of fate.

My mom and I had a very nice weekend together. We went to the Holy Sepulcher Cemetery to visit the gravesite of my father, Chester Fronczak, who passed in 2017. We spent a little time there talking about my dad, and what a solid, giving, wonderful man he was.

At the cemetery I remembered how—when I first told my parents I wanted to search for the real Paul—we went through a terrible two-year period when the three of us barely spoke. It was a really hard time for us all, and I was very happy when we finally reconciled and began repairing our relationship. For the first time ever, we spoke about the events that brought us together a half century earlier—the kidnapping, my abandonment, our many years of not knowing for sure who I was—and we came to know and respect each other in ways we hadn’t before.

One thing never changed, though. I have always dearly loved my mother, and I know she has always loved me. She has always called me “her son,” regardless of any new twists and turns in our story. And I have never thought of her as anything other than the caring mother who raised me and loved me.

Over our weekend together, my mother said something she’d never said before.

“I’m happy that you started your search,” she said.

“Why?” I asked her.

“Because it brought us closer together.”

Happy Birthday, Mom. I love you and I always will.

Your son, Paul

PS - On another note, please check back with me here on this site in the next few days, I will be asking you for your help in my search to find my missing twin sister, Jill.