As the airplane noise surrounded me, I was filled with a mix of emotions. This wasn't just a simple trip. I was travelling with my wife from our sunny home in Samoa on a 24-hour flight to Columbus, Ohio in America. This journey was about fulfilling my mother's lifelong dream to meet her American family, a family her father, Edgar Louis Ash Jr., left behind over 75 years ago. 

Edgar, a former American Navy officer, had his life upended during World War 2 as a prisoner of war under the Japanese. Freed at last, he left his homeland and found peace in Samoa, where he married my grandmother. He embraced our island life, leaving his American family behind. My mother grew up with stories of her American family and had a deep longing to meet them one day.

Everything started to fit together a year back when an email popped up unexpectedly. It was from Lisa Martinez, Edgar's great-niece. She was trying to find any family members Edgar might have in Samoa. This email was like turning on a light, showing us that my mother's American family were in fact still around. During a previous trip to Ohio 14 years ago, I found only family graves at a cemetery in Cincinnati. We assumed there were no relatives left.

Setting foot in Ohio felt like entering an entirely different world. We swapped the familiar warmth of Samoa for the old-world charm of Midwest America. There, the Kentucky bluegrass my grandfather often spoke about was a beautiful sight, gracing every home's front yard. This was my grandfather’s homeland and the venue for the 85th birthday celebration of Cherie Jean Spade, my mother's only surviving first cousin.

Entering Cherie’s home felt like stepping into a well-told story. Lisa welcomed us at the door with a warm "hello, cousin," and then introduced us to the rest of the family: Jeff and his wife Kathy, Bill and his wife Keiko, Terri and her husband Francis, and Sue and her husband Scott. The air in the house echoed family tales and memories, reminiscent of my mother’s unique warmth and friendliness. It was the realisation of my mother's dream, a meeting she had long yearned for.

The birthday felt like finding a precious, long-missing piece. The stories we exchanged and the memories we created bridged the gap of years and miles between us. While my mother couldn't be there with us, the stories shared were reminders of a time when air travel wasn't as accessible as today. Cherie shared that her father had always wanted to visit his brother Edgar in Samoa but never had the opportunity.

Following the celebration, the fun didn't end. We relocated to engage in a spirited round of duckpin bowling, and pinball, and enjoyed drinks, talking and laughing into the early morning hours. It felt surprisingly natural like we had known these relatives our whole lives.

Every day we were picked up, congregating at Cherie’s house to have Jeff’s homemade omelettes. We also enjoyed a game of Top Golf and were given a thorough tour of Columbus, from Ohio State University to the historic German Village, before finishing off at Scott’s and Sue’s for some delicious barbecued ribs. Despite our recent meeting, their kindness made us feel at home right away. I felt that their welcoming spirit and dedication to making us feel comfortable could only be matched by my mother. I knew then where she got it from.

After a fulfilling few days in Columbus, my wife and I decided to continue our adventure in New York. There, we received another warm invitation to the small town of Chappaqua about 60 kilometres north of Manhattan for dinner with Bill and his wife, Keiko, who had returned there after the birthday. On our train ride a kind fellow passenger informed us that Chappaqua is the home of the Clintons.

Upon our arrival, Bill was kind enough to show us the Clintons' residence, just a street away from his own. Although I didn't say much, I was secretly chuffed that I had family only a stone's throw away from American political royalty. The evening was another memorable one, with more stories exchanged, reminding us of the wonderful reunion we had experienced in Columbus.

Spending time with our newly discovered family felt so genuine as if it was meant to be. They reminded me so much of my own mother. Even in the urban bustle of New York, the echoes of our family reunion in Columbus and Chappaqua were still being felt, a testament to the deep connections we had formed.

When we finally returned home, we brought back more than just memories. Our hearts were filled with appreciation and a deep sense of gratitude. The experience made me wish that we had reached out to our American family earlier—not just for my sake, but especially for my mother's. 

The joy in her eyes as she heard these tales about her father's family on our first day back was profoundly touching. Each story served as a precious link to her past, providing her with a connection to the family she had never met. Her roots, we discovered, were deeply embedded in the heartland of the American Midwest. The familiar warmth, kindness, and generosity we experienced resonated with her own nature. 

We were all thrilled by this newfound connection which has brought a sense of completion to our journey. It was more than a trip; it was a homecoming of sorts. And though we returned to Samoa, we also left a piece of our hearts in Ohio, warmly accepted by our kind and loving American family.