Connected

My last post focused on how constantly being connected can be a distraction.  However, the ability to connect and communicate with people so easily has its benefits.   Recently, it helped me become a more complete person.  Growing up, my mom's side of the family shaped my identity.  I was Italian. . . 100% Italian.  The only problem is that I'm not some sort of genetic anomaly.  I'll never claim to be a science whiz, but even I know that if my dad isn't Italian, I'm not 100% Italian.  So what part of my DNA have I been ignoring my entire life?
Until a couple of weeks ago, all I knew was that my dad's side of the family is from Iowa.  I couldn't go around saying I'm Italian and Iowan, so I just pretended knowing the other half of my history didn't matter.  It has taken 28 years for me to realize that it does matter.  What changed?  Unexpectedly, I received an email from family in Florida who I haven't had any contact with for close to two decades.  A few emails into our rekindled relationship, I started learning some family history.  It turns out, my dad's lineage stems all the way back to the Cardinal who founded the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.  Fancy, right?  I mean, I practically felt like a princess knowing my great-great-great-great . . . great somebody founded the school Prince William attended. Okay, fine, I'm not a princess, but I am a little bit Scottish and that's pretty cool, too. 
Thanks to modern technology, I am able to communicate with grandparents in Florida, my dad in Utah, family volunteering in Budapest, and cousins I haven't seen since we were kids.  These cyber relationships have allowed me to redefine part of my identity.  As much as I feel like we may be too connected to electronic devices, I don't think we can ever be too connected to each other.