At Long Last: A Reunion Story

It's happened. I have a reunion story. Words cannot describe my emotions right now. All I can think, do, or say is centered on one person. Annie. On March 20, 2001, I picked up the phone and called my birthmother. I heard her sweet, soft and gentle voice. I learned her last name. She told me her birth date and address. I heard all about her job. I listened to her talk about her family and friends.

for California

Annie let me know that she has never married, and has no other children. My eyes filled with the happiest tears as she told me that a day never passed without her thinking of me. I learned all about the time she spent with me in the hospital, and I was so excited to hear that she has pictures from the hospital!

She told me of her dearest friend, Mary Jo. I learned about how her parents felt towards me, and how Annie is still struggling over the decision to tell her six siblings about me, her daughter. Of course, we talked a lot about me, too! Annie just couldn't get enough of the countless stories I have about my family. She wanted to hear all about my mom, dad, brother, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and my little dog Lightning! I told her all about my hobbies, talents, and activities: piano, ballet, cheerleading, horseback riding, and yearbook.

I tried to give her a physical description of myself. She was so surprised by my height, as I am seven inches taller than she is! I excitedly let her in on my college plans for the fall.

She was curious to know how adoption had affected my life, and I told her how I've always "just known". And I hesitantly began to tell her my story about Eric, my precious baby boy that I placed for adoption in November of 2000. She was a little speechless, but proceeded to wish me a belated "Congratulations" on becoming a mom!

My birthmother and I have just entered the beginning of a beautiful relationship. We connect in so many different ways. We share a mother-daughter bond. We both understand what it is like to lose a child. We both crave independence and appreciate quality "alone" time. We love beauty. We both fit into our regular size jeans within a week of giving birth! We both find classical music soothing. We both step carefully into this reunion, each being careful not to upset the other. Both of us adore Linda, the post adoption counselor that brought us together.

I'm ready to head out to Grand Rapids, and she's anxious to get to Dallas. She is passionate about photography, with buildings and structures being her favorite subject. I am going to school to become an architect. We are both grateful for the comfort and solace that can come from time spent in church. We both enjoy expressing ourselves and discovering our feelings through writing and journaling, but neither of us have that natural knack for poetry.

This has been one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. In my sweetest dreams, I would have never imagined such a wondrous feeling. At long last, I have found another of God's gifts that He has been keeping for this special time in my life. And I could not be more grateful.

About this Contributor: Jennifer is a 19 year old college sophomore. Her writing topics most often include adoption. Her passion for this subject comes from the emotions she has experienced from being an adoptee in a closed adoption and from being a birthmother with an open adoption.

Credits: Jennifer Spaeth