#GISH
I made my dad cry today, for the second time in my life. Happy tears.
This is how @GISH and @mishacollins fixed my family.

My older sister and I dont speak much, at least not for the last few years, due to complicated family issues. In short, our mother pitted us against each other. She used us as pawns, egging on fights, playing one against the other.

She'd pick her favorite of the week, or month, or year, and rub it in the others face, and we were both so desperate for approval we just let her do it, even as adults. It was pathetic, and we both knew it. We knew what she was doing.

The GISH one day stay at home scavenger hunt came around and I found myself texting my sister, asking to do a video interview with my niece, and she agreed. That was the start.

We texted a bit here and there after that, talking mostly about the hunt. She even video called me on my sons first birthday.

When the second stay at home hunt was announced, I let her know and told her she should do it with me, join my awesome team. I couldnt believe it, but she agreed. We started talking more, both in the team chat and in personal messages.

I knew one of us had to say something, something to get us past the wall that had been built, so I did it. I led us into a conversation of what our mother put us through, and that I was sorry I let it go so far.

She apologized too, said she knew what our mom was doing, but let it happen anyway. She said I didnt seem angry anymore, and I told her I'm not. My life is good, what I have now, I couldnt ask for better.

We both agreed that we were different people now, and should move forward, hopefully putting the past in the past (it was a lot more in depth than this, but that's the short version).

I called my dad tonight and told him. He'd been worried, for years, always asking me to speak to her. He knew some of what our mother had done, but not the full extent (they're divorced).

I told him I apologized, and that we were working on it. And he went silent for a moment before saying "you just made me so happy" with a crack in his voice. He said all we have is each other, and all he has is the two of us.

Things arent perfect, they won't ever be, but at least my son will know his aunt, and I can maybe have some sort of family again.
If not for this hunt, I never would have found the opening I needed for us to have that long needed conversation.
Thank you Misha