Family Reunion

When she was 5 years old, Eileen's mother passed away. Her death was unexpected and left a little girl not just without a parent but also without links to that parent's family. Her paternal grandmother did keep in touch with her mother's sister for several years. Unfortunately, this communication stopped upon her death. Her aunt and cousins tried for years to locate her but were unable to reestablish any connection with Eileen and her father's family. Eileen grew up feeling alone, even though she was surrounded by her father's family. She loved them all, but always felt like she was missing something. Years later, her cousin typed her name in the Facebook search engine and found her in Florida. After verifying that she was their long lost cousin, a family reunion was planned. Eileen was very excited and looked forward to meeting her aunt, her sons and their families.

When Eileen and her husband left Miami, Florida , the temperature was 8o degrees Fahrenheit. They were a little surprised when they learned that the weather in New York City was close to 36 degrees fahrenheit with thiry mile an hour winds. They were used to these tropical storm-like winds, but they were not ready for the blustery cold. Eileen thought the drastic change in weather as an omen to her upcoming meeting. She was very nervous. She had tried for years to find her mother's family also. There always seemed to be a mystery surrounding her mother's life and death. Her father refused to answer her inquiries. Pictures were scarce. Her godmother knew little of her mother and could not answer many of Eileen's questions. Eileen knew her upcoming reunion held the answers to her questions.

After much delay, they finally arrived at the airport. Her aunt was waiting. She saw her and felt her warmth immediately. They hugged. Their hug lasted a lifetime. It was a hug that started with regret and saddness at the lost time, but turned into warmth and happiness. This hug was the closest Eileen had ever felt to her mother. She knew as she looked into those teary eyes that looked just like hers, that the answers were not important as much as feeling the unconditional love of her aunt. This was how her mother would have made her feel. As they collected the luggage and walked toward the waiting car outside, Eileen realized that somewhere in that airport, she had lost that empty spot in her heart. She was finally home surrounded by her mother's love.
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Vocabulary:

to keep in touch with: (stay in touch): expression that means to keep one another informed by calling or writing a letter.
reestablish : to begin again
verifying: to make sure that it is correct.
blustery : weather that has very strong winds
omen : prediction, a sign that tells something will happen before it happens.
inquiry: asking questions
to last a lifetime: moment that will not end

Complete the sentences:
1. He called the airport to ____________the time of the flight.
2. The lights turning off in the middle of dinner was a bad __________.
3. The winds were blowing fiecely onthis _____________day.
4. The policeman made some ___________at the store about the lost boy.
5. The car was made to ______________.
6. They tried to __________ the dialogue after the fire drill.
7. It was difficult to _____________with her friends after she moved to Montana.

A Thought About Grammar:
A verb is the action part of the sentence. It can indicate movement or an abstract feeling. These actions can be expressed in tenses that indicate if the action is in the present, past or future. Today's story takes place in the simple past tense. Most of the regualr verbs have an -ed attached to them which indicates the past. ( hug= hugged) Irregular verb have their own form. ( see = saw)

Please read story again and find at least 10 verbs in the simple past tense.

Read the following sentences and then finish the story ( 5- 1- sentences) using verbs in the simple past when possible. Remember to use regular and irregular verbs.

Yesterday, I walked to the town 's candystore. As I entered the store, I heard a .......

Have Fun !