[lcarvin]

Happy 18th birthday, son! I think your adoptive parents named you Michael, but when I gave birth to you at Jupiter Medical Center in South FL on 10/6/86, I had first called you Bradley, a variation of Bradford, which was your late grandfather's (my Dad's) middle name. Anyway, dear one, I've never, ever forgotten you. How could I? In fact, your birth-date is one day after mine, which is 10/5/64 (yes, I'm 40 now-- ugh!). I was assured by Jan Cohn, the late Director of the now-defunct adoption agency, Chosen Children, that you had been adopted by a good-hearted, stable Catholic family that was also in the process of adopting your sister, so I never had the sense that you were lacking in anything or suffering in any way. You adoptive Mom was even kind enough to mail me newborn photos of you. But, if I'm wrong, and life's been tough for you as an adoptee, please know I'm eternally sorry, dear one. Regardless, I'd be delighted to meet you and hope that you feel the same about me. You have two cute "kid" half-brothers, Jonathan (age 10) and George (age 6) through my marriage in 1990 to the most wonderful man I've ever met, James. By the way, my name is Lisa. Please write back if you want to get to know me. --Love, Your Birth-Mom