September 08, 2008

It's Been One Year

We went to our adoption agency's annual picnic on Saturday (where I got to hang with some pretty cool folks).

The picnic made me go all inwardly thoughtful, remembering last year. This week is when it all began. The day before last year's picnic I answered the first of a series of phone calls that would lead to us meeting Ms B and, eventually, to Firefly. (The whole Firefly adoption story is under the category Adoption-It's a Process.) I remember chatting with other parents under the tall pine trees and secretly wondering if we'd have a baby with us the next time we gathered.

I've been through a handful of those phone calls (aka "The Call" among adoptive parents) during our two adoptions and they're always the same. Heart pounding, thoughts racing, scribbling bits of information onto the closest piece of paper. Information that later, when the descriptions have turned into real people and the people into relationships, will seem so oddly superficial. Trying to listen to the social worker and the whole time wondering, "Is this how it's going to happen?" And the moment of stillness after hanging up the phone when you realize that, in your little little corner of the world, you alone know what just occurred. It's amazing how instantly everything can change when you're adopting.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I can't wait to come out on the other side of this process. Right now, we're waiting to find out how much contact...let's call her Ms. J =) ...wants to have during the pregnancy. I'm hoping for a good bit. And to meet the family that adopted the baby that Ms. J placed a couple of years ago.

Lori said...

It was great to meet you in person - and your family! Ian's birthmom is out of the state right now but mentioned that had she been available, she would have hesitated to attend the picnic. She thought everyone would sit around sharing their adoption stories and she didn't think that sounded like fun. I told her it would likely be quite the opposite. It's one of those events where there is a common language and a common bond. A group of otherwise strangers united by parenthood. I wish she could have experienced it. Next year! There's always next year.

Anonymous said...

I can't believe that much time has already passed! Yes, it is instant change...

luna said...

I'll have to read firefly's full story some day. for now, I'll just say what a difference a year makes.

Clementine said...

You're right about the call--that's exactly how I remember it. Specifically, I remember that I went cold and started shaking when I heard our social worker's voice the day she called about the baby who would become Hester. I scribbled notes on scrap paper and struggled to take in every word. As soon as our SW got off the phone, I paged Petunia and held my breath till I could tell her what I'd learned. I knew right away that my life had changed forever.

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