Legacy of an Adopted Child

I was just sifting through my memory trunk and I came across this poem, which hung in my room when I was growing up. It brought me to tears and I wanted to share it with you.

I have always known I was adopted. When I was little, my parents would ask, "Brandy, what are you?" I would answer in a little chipmunk voice, "I'm adopted and I'm special!"

In part because I've always known, I've always wanted to look for my birth mom. I used to call her Maria (which is now Sadie's middle name) and write to her in my journal. What I didn't realize is that, though it was a closed adoption, when was really little, some paperwork got sent to my parents with my biological mom's name on it. They didn't keep the papers, but they remembered the name. And since they knew I wanted to know, they used that name to track her down for my 18th birthday.

A couple of weeks ago, I got to have both my parents and Cathy, my birth mom, at my graduation. Words can't accurately describe how ridiculously blessed I felt.

~ Legacy Of An Adopted Child ~

Author Unknown

Once there were two women Who never knew each other. One you do not remember, The other you call mother. Two different lives Shaped to make yours one, One became your guiding star, The other became your sun. The first gave you life, And the second taught you to live it. And the first gave you a need for love, And the second was there to give it. One gave you a nationality. The other gave you a name. One gave you the seeds of talent, The other gave you aim. One gave you emotions, The other calmed your fears. One saw your first sweet smile, The other dried your tears. One gave you up, It was all that she could do. The other prayed for a child, And God led her straight to you. And now you ask me through your tears, The age old question through the years. Heredity or environment, Which are you a product of? Neither, my Darling, Neither, Just two different kinds of love.

Blood and Ears

Editor's note: The picture to your right is a shot of my biological brother, Jeremy, me, my kid, and my biological mom, Cathy.

I'm all teary eyed at the moment. I was just on MySpace and my cousin, Tiffany [who I haven't seen in 3 or 4 years because she moved to California] uploaded a picture of her three children. The oldest one smiles just like my nephew. And I can tell from old pictures that he looks like my dad when he was a little boy [they both have huge Patterson ears (:]. Her youngest child bears a striking resemblance to my Uncle Jerry [her dad, who died of cancer when I was eleven].

I couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy.

Er, um, I'm adopted.

Please, don't get me wrong. I love the fact that I'm adopted. When I was little my parents would say, "Brandy, what are you?" And I would proudly exclaim, "I'm adopted! And I'm special!"

And I've always felt that way. For my 18th birthday my parents contacted my birth mom and orchestrated a surprise reunion. Her name is Cathy and she is wonderful. She lives in Syracuse and we keep in touch. She's coming to my wedding! She has a son named Jeremy [who's 18 and just finished Air Force Basic Training] whom I adore. I get to be a baby sister and an older sister. It really is the best of both worlds.

I don't know my biological father. I know his name is Llewellyn [Pronounced "lou-ellen"] Hitchcock. I'm pretty sure he wants nothing to do with me. I'm okay with that. I have an amazing father whom I respect more than I can adequately express with words. Of course, that explains my jealousy.

My [future [not yet conceived]] son won't have my dad's huge ears [but he will have Jermaine's huge backside [which, let's be honest - is just as weird].

The birth of my daughter was a miracle like no other. Laying in that hospital room holding my newborn, all I could think was, "Wow, she has my DNA." She was the first person in my family tree that I got to see on a daily basis. That affected me.

Growing up, I never had that. And I longed for it. I would hear things like, "So and so looks just like her mom," and feel sad.

Now, I'm borderline whining. Everyone who knows me well knows that my parents are amazing and that my childhood was idyllic.

But after seeing those gorgeous little ones, I felt compelled to write this blog.

So, I did.

This last shot is a picture of me [obviously], my Dad, my Mom, and my brother, Shawn.

I also feel compelled to add that people tell me all the time I look like my mom and that Sadie looks like her Grandmother. Oddly enough, I agree.