Dear mom and dad,

Dear mom and dad,

Guess what I received today?  I received a letter containing the information you provided to the agency when you placed me.  Want to know what I learned?

About mom I learned:

• You had a case of appendicitis when you were pregnant with me.  Was that scary for you?  Were you afraid?  Did the surgery hurt?  Did you recover quickly?  Was your doctor good?  They must have known what they were doing – after all, I got born, didn’t I? 
• I have 5 (not 6) older brothers and sisters!  How many are boys?  How many are girls?  You were only 29, they must be pretty close to me in age, right?  I miss them.  I miss you.
• You and dad were separated.  You were getting ready to proceed with a divorce.  You were facing severe financial problems.  All of that must have been hard.  I’m sorry you were having such a difficult time.
• You are shorter than me!  Thinner too, it seems.  But I got your big bones, and need glasses, too!
• You enjoyed reading and singing.  I can’t (vocally) carry a tune but I read, constantly.  Something else we share!
• You got good grades in school.  So did I!
• You have 8 sisters and 1 brother.  Wow!  Big family!  No wonder you and dad had so many kids!  I’m sorry about your sister, that had to have been hard.
• Grandma had diabetes – don’t worry, I don’t.  And she was an LPN?  You’re going to love hearing some coincidences about that when we meet!

About dad I learned:

• You are 6’3” tall – now I know who I got that from!
• You took 4 years of “special music training” and enjoyed music, electronics and were an artist.  Well, music and electronics, I’ve followed in your footsteps.  Somehow I missed out on the artistic stuff.
• You were an A student.  Maybe some day we can compare report cards!
• You wore glasses, too.  I suppose between you and mom, I was “doomed” in that regard. LOL
• Your only brother died in 1970 at the age of 47.  I’m so sorry for your loss.  You had a rough year between your brother, the divorce and losing your daughter.  I hope you’ve found happiness since then.  He was also diabetic, like mom’s mom.  How I managed to dodge that bullet is beyond me, but I’m glad I did!
• You’re the baby of the family – just like me, huh? 

But do you know what was the most important thing I learned from this letter?  Two sentences.  Two sentences which have the power to undo a world of hurt.

“Your mother needed considerable support for her plan in placing you up for adoption.” 

“Your mother requested information on your adoptive family and said she was having difficulty with the separation.”

You wanted me.  You really wanted me.  You’ve no idea how many wounds that helps heal.

I’m here, mom and dad, I’m here.  Help me find you.  Please, help me find you.

Love,
Your daughter