LEGACY

Word of my "discovery" is apparently spreading, amongst family and friends and among industry people.
"Jimmy Cook was your birth father?!", my cousin Dawn shrieked. "They were talking about him on some TV documentary the other night!"
Ian called to congratulate me.
"It's fantastic news but, SIXTEEN kids?!", he exclaimed. "When did he find the time to record music?"
I am not yet sure I am ready to go public with all of this, but it seems to have legs of its own. My brothers and sisters are determined to book us on a talk show. The Daily Oklahoman wants to run an article. My sister Patti is already planning the mother of all family reunions down in Georgia. Some suggest I should try to get a booking at the Opry, for a "tribute" performance. I wonder whether I am worthy of such a legacy. As much as I've wanted to be "someone" I never imagined it would be by accident of birth. I don't know how to respond to all of the attention. I'm happy and proud to be a Saunders. We're a good, strong, hardworking family. I'm not about to change my name to Cook. But then, Jimmy Cook is inherently part of who I am, part of who I’ve always been.