My dad was going on a trip, I believe it was a business trip, and had just boarded a plane for take off. I think he had a middle seat, and was hoping that nobody would come and sit on the aisle seat so he wouldn't be closed in and could move over to the aisle seat. To his disappointment, a business woman with closely cropped hair came and sat down in the aisle seat next to him. Oh well, he thought, I might as well just introduce myself and be friendly. A small conversation was started and he introduced himself. "I'm Pete Connell." The woman's name happened to be Kathleen Connell. They had the same last name. Connell is normally an Irish last name, and our original last name was shortened from Kanelakos to Connell when my great grandparents came over from Greece. So, we are not normally any relation to most people with the last name Connell. My dad explained to her that his last name was actually shortned from Kanelakos to Connell. "Really?! So was mine!" They began comparing family history and found out they were distant cousins. Pretty cool, huh? My dad also recognized her name because the was the California State Controller and he had seen her name on state mail we have gotten. Click here to find out who our 'long lost' relative is. She does not look like us. lol
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
True Story
My dad was going on a trip, I believe it was a business trip, and had just boarded a plane for take off. I think he had a middle seat, and was hoping that nobody would come and sit on the aisle seat so he wouldn't be closed in and could move over to the aisle seat. To his disappointment, a business woman with closely cropped hair came and sat down in the aisle seat next to him. Oh well, he thought, I might as well just introduce myself and be friendly. A small conversation was started and he introduced himself. "I'm Pete Connell." The woman's name happened to be Kathleen Connell. They had the same last name. Connell is normally an Irish last name, and our original last name was shortened from Kanelakos to Connell when my great grandparents came over from Greece. So, we are not normally any relation to most people with the last name Connell. My dad explained to her that his last name was actually shortned from Kanelakos to Connell. "Really?! So was mine!" They began comparing family history and found out they were distant cousins. Pretty cool, huh? My dad also recognized her name because the was the California State Controller and he had seen her name on state mail we have gotten. Click here to find out who our 'long lost' relative is. She does not look like us. lol
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7 comments:
That is so cool! lol I was asked about my family history before because of my last name. It isn't THAT common, so people ask questions lol.
What a cool story!
I admit that I usually wonder the origin of a person's family is when I meet them and yes, your Connell had me a bit puzzled! But Greece makes sense and Kanelakos is a neat last name!
And you or your dad was going to tell Dean and I this when? :-)
So is Great Uncle Bill or Great Uncle George her connection to us? Family from Silver Springs/DC area?
Anali - Yes it is pretty cool! And yes, your last name is not very common. lol Took me a while to get it down!
Jen- Twin! lol You should have asked! Yes I know it's an Irish last name given to Greek people! Hah!
UM - He said he told you years ago! (This did not happen recently, I just decided it would be a cool story to share.) Uncle George is her connection to us, he is her Papou.
Ooops. OK, I vaguely recall it now. In three+ decades you'll understand how fleeting memories work. ;-)
If she grew up in the DC area, I must have met her then. In July 1969, the very same days as the 1st moon landing, we went there for a vacation to visit dad's cousin Katherine/family and she had a whole brood of married daughters in VERY nice houses and met all their kids, whome Kathleen must have been one of. I canot recal lif Pete and Dean were on that vacation or away at some summer scouts camp. Your dad would recall if he were there.
She lives in DC now so it probably was her. Kind of funny that they would end up sitting next to eachother and finding out they were related!
Now that's amazing lol.
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