The Best Thanksgiving Ever!

I have some news that I just have to share.

On Friday, October 6th, I received a phone call from my Mum. After she asked if I was sitting down. She went on to say, "I just got off the phone with your oldest daughter's (adoptive) Mom."

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She was phoning to ask if I was willing to speak with (my birth daughter) - her name is Sharlene now.

Roslyn, Sharlene's Mom, only talked briefly with my Mum. She explained that Sharlene was a little apprehensive about contacting me because she didn't know if the people around me knew about her.

Mum told her that there would not be a problem and Roslyn gave her both her own and Sharlene's phone numbers for me, saying that I could call anytime.

I was so blown away that all I could do was stare at the piece of paper with those numbers on it. I had to take some time to absorb what had just happened. As much as I had hoped for this, I realized that I had never thought about what I would do if or when it did happen. But at the same time I didn't want to leave it too long and have Sharlene think that I didn't want to talk with her.

On Saturday morning after very little sleep and a great deal of thought I decided to call Roslyn first, perhaps it would give me more of a sense of what this was going to be like. So, I screwed up my courage and dialed the numbers, only to get an answering machine, but I did leave a message, although I couldn't tell you what it was. Then I waited.

That evening my phone rang and there was Sharlene's Mom on the other end, I have never been so nervous. But it seemed that within a very short time I found myself feeling almost comfortable.

Roslyn seemed to be a very loving and supportive Mom, and she did all that she could to put me at ease.

First, she thanked me for allowing her to raise my daughter. Then she went on to say that she loved her dearly, but would be willing to share her. That was it. Tears, tears, tears!!! She said that although she was making this call, it was up to Sharlene and me to learn about each other; she was just there for support. She offered to set up a three-way call for us, and said that she would call Sharlene first then get back to me.

Sharlene was not ready at that moment, but asked for my address, and if I would call her at 10 am on Sunday. Of course my answer was a resounding "YES!!!"

After yet another sleepless night and a very long morning, I once again screwed up my courage and dialed the number, only this time it was picked up, and I got to hear my little girls voice for the first time since she was three days old.

After bumbling and fumbling around trying to figure out what to say, we discovered that we both had cats that were going crazy while we were trying to talk. Hers is named Cleo and mine is named Cloe, that was the ice breaker. We didn't get into a lot of heavy things - there is plenty of time for that - but I did learn some things about her.

When I chose her parents to adopt her, one of the major reasons was that they were both artistic and musical, talents that run very strong in my family. She is very artistic and plays the piano by ear, as well as loving animals and the outdoors as much as I do. She has blonde hair and blue eyes, just like most of my family.

At one point in the conversation I asked her if she had any questions that she had wanted to ask, or anything that she wanted to know. She said that there are a million questions, but that there is lots of time for that, but she did have something that she wanted to tell me. I said okay, and she said, "I have a four year old daughter." I was speechless, breathless and any other less that exists. That makes me sort of a Grandmother...ME!!!

I also learned that she suffers from depression as I do, and that she has not had an easy life. Her daughter was born when she was 17 too.

I know that there is so much more to learn about her and her about me, but we have a lot of time to do so, and I so look forward to it. We are going to continue phoning each other, and writing and exchanging photos. Then maybe, when the time is right we will meet. She even lives close by. But I am going to take things slow and allow Sharlene to set the pace at which she wants to go. As I said, we have a lot of time and I don't want to push.

Anyway, as icing on this already wonderful cake, on Sunday night my parents had our Thanksgiving dinner. With my parents by my side, I got to tell my children, my sister and my ex-husband that I had spoken to Sharlene... the excitement, tears and hugs that followed were all of the support and love that I needed.

I can honestly say the this has been the best Thanksgiving ever!

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