Birthday Girl

The resident baker made this ho-ho cake
for my birthday-chocolate sponge cake with
cream, topped with chocolate ganache

Today is my birthday.  I no longer feel angst about it as I have in years past, due to the questions surrounding my birth and adoption.  All that is water under the bridge.  Today is just a day that I happen to be born on.  A day to eat cake with the family I love.

I have been pondering this:

 “Should I archive my blog?” 

I used to be so passionate about writing about adoption, but honestly, for now, I have run out of things to say on the topic.

This appears to be a crossroad.  

Should I scrap the blog or just change the direction of the blog?  

Is blogging even a thing anymore?

I do have one post on Medium.  Pondering moving my writing over to that platform. Also considered Substack or Threads.  

I have enjoyed doing the podcast but that seems to have run its course too since I am no longer thinking or reading about adoption. 

For those who want to hear my memoir, I will leave it publicly available at The Adoption Experience, (Season 1).  I have not published it as an actual book and have no current plans to do so since this season of my life has been especially challenging.  But it’s free and available for anyone to listen to.

I will likely just keep the blog available for anyone who can benefit from it.  

It’s time to move on to the next phase, whatever that is. Passing the torch!

My favorite adoption meme

So, what to write about now?

Genealogy?  That subject still interests me. However, my search is complete.  My father is dead and I have given up hope for any new reunions (not in a bad way --- just complete acceptance.)

I recently got another paternal DNA match and recognized the name immediately—that tells you how far I have come.  More confirmation as to my roots, but no desire to have a new relationship.  One quick peruse of the Facebook page of said new cousin was enough for me to be like, “Nah—I will pass.”  (If he was the family outsider, I would absolutely speak to him; however, I am the outsider to this family).

The days of obsessively checking all the DNA sites are in the rearview mirror.  

Unless I have a surprise sibling, which would not truly surprise me given that my father Antonio, was a rolling stone, there isn’t much more I can learn.  

The Peruvian records end pretty quickly on my father’s side so that is a brick wall.  One I have no desire to break through as it would take a translator, money and time I don't have right now.  The only thing I desire that has eluded me is I would like a photo of my paternal grandmother.  I have no idea what she looks like and I am told we favor each other.

The records go way back on my mother’s side but that tree was built by my friend Zack in 2006.  Except for occasional photos that pop up, not much more to learn there.  

I mean how do you top being related to E.B. White?  (We are first cousins 3x removed).

You can’t!  Nothing can compete with Charlotte’s Web.

I used to sing this song in the car really loud and annoy my family.  FOR YEARS. I heard it today and remembered why it meant so much to me all those years I was trying to understand my identity. 

The best birthday present of all is being confident in the knowledge of who I am and where I come from.  

Thank you to the readers and supporters of this blog.  Your friendship and collaboration has been everything.

Onward we go!

 

"I am Rosemary’s granddaughter

The spitting image of my father

And when the day is done, my mama’s still my biggest fan

Sometimes I’m foolish and I’m clumsy

But I’ve got friends that love me

They know just where I stand

It’s all a part of me

And that’s who I am"

(lyrics by Brett James and Troy Verges)