[spaypets]

Volfe--I'm going to pm you -- Peggy inspired me -- that was beautiful.

[wanttobeparents]

My brain knows that she will never read it, but my heart feels that maybe someone will read it and reach out to a part of the triad they are out of touch with. Maybe somehow Heather knows that we are thinking of her and is comforted.

I'm glad it inspired you to make a contribution.

Peggy

[Volfe]

Thanks both of ya. and maybe someone else will read it too and something will 'click' with them and they will write their child or parent...

they are all wonderful writings

Maia

[mroot]

I want to contribute but am bookmarking and need time to think. I won't take long, as the date is fast approaching!

[Volfe]

Alrighty... Just an update.

Had a phone interview with a local columnist, article sounds alright (she called back and read it to me).

I've put everything sent to me into a master Doc. Printed it out onto heavy stock (will mount them on stock and tack em to my display board).

Letters (H,A,P,P,Y,B,I,R,T,H,M,O,T,H,E,R,S,D,A,Y) are nearly finished (I've got to sign them, gloss them, price tag them).

I've got a few other loose ends to fix but everythings going well so far

Please, don't take this as a conclusion, I will continue collecting writings!

Maia

[Volfe]

her's the article... above the Mother's Day events

http://www.nola.com/search/index.ssf...90920.xml?nola

Artist to honor Birth Mother's Day in Quarter
Thursday, May 05, 2005
Valerie Faciane
This Saturday, French Quarter artist Maia S will be in Jackson Square displaying her latest work of art.

It is truly special to her, a sign that says, "Happy Birth Mother's Day."

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S also will use messages she has received via the Internet to make a fanciful montage. These messages are from people, who, like herself, are connected in some way or form by adoption -- either as birth mothers, adoptees, adoptive parents, prospective adoptive parents or even foster parents.

S, who placed her child for adoption, said one of the messages is from a birth mother to the daughter that she placed for adoption: "I hope you forgive me and I hope we meet one day."

Birth Mother's Day in Jackson Square on Saturday will not be a somber occasion, S said.

"Essentially, I'm trying to get rid of that stigma" associated with placing one's child for adoption, she said.

Birth Mother's Day, always the day before Mother's Day, was started by a group of birth mothers in Seattle in 1990 as a day to honor their roles as mothers and to remind society that birth mothers also deserve recognition, S said. She said it is now widely celebrated as a special day for everyone connected by adoption.

"I have some people who sent submissions of anything they wanted to write for Birth Mother's Day. One woman sent a memorial for her birth mother who passed away."

S said a few people -- adoptees and birth parents -- are coming in from Baton Rouge to take part in Birth Mother's Day, and she is hoping that others will drop by to learn about things such as open adoption and open records legislation. They also can contribute to the message board. No program is planned.

"If I get enough awareness this year, I can probably do it more actively next year," S said. "Basically, it's kind of an awareness thing that I'm aiming for. I hope people come and ask about it."


Mother's Day events


The annual Mother's Day concert at the Audubon Zoo features Irma Thomas. On Sunday, mothers get free admission to the zoo, 6500 Magazine St. The music begins at noon with Johnette Downing's Wild and Woolie Wiggle Show, followed by the Savoy Family Band at 1:15 p.m. and headliner Thomas at 3 p.m.

Local artisans will have hand-crafted jewelry for sale, and there will be food available for purchase. No outside food or beverages are allowed inside the zoo for special events. Admission to the zoo is $12 for adults, $7 for children ages 2-12 and $9 for seniors 65 and older. Members are always admitted free.

. . . . . . .


The eighth annual French Quarter Mother's Day Concert of the Vieux Carre Property Owners, Residents & Associates features the New Leviathan Oriental Fox-Trot Orchestra on Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Cabrini Park, at Barracks and Dauphine streets.

Take chairs, blankets and picnic lunches. The event is free

[wanttobeparents]

Cool! You even made it ABOVE the Mother's Day events! Take pictures and post them!

Peggy

[Volfe]

K I'm slow getting back here :blush: but I was just so tired, even until yesterday!

From work I can only show you this link: And it included me (ACK!) but I'll succumb to the pressure of showing you all (ack).

How the day went (to possibly be edited and/ or added to)

The morning was perfect, blue and warm and I got out to Jackson Square reasonably early to set up. I first hung up a bright yellow vinyl backdrop and attached it to the fence. Then I strung up the letters (I'd pre-strung them the night before), tying them to the iron fence at each end of the backdrop.
Alas, such brightness was noticeable to the nearby drunks and they came and asked my hand in marriage... That was when I wondered what I'd gotten myself into. erg.

I hung up the board next - I'd covered it with a gorgeous piece of crimson satin and it was very striking with the red letters and yellow backdrop (too bad the yellow lilies in the park were blocked out).

As I was setting up my usual art display of dragons, etc, one of the adoptees from a local search & reunion support group introduced himself and gave me a big hug. Then I left him by the sign so I could run home for some forgotten stuff and I needed to also park the car. When I returned I got to meet many others in his group (and later his bmom).

During the day they passed out flyers about searching and open records legislation and talked to many people about adoption (so many people are touched by adoption).

Many people stopped to read the display or ask about it...

I had one mother who'd placed a son for adoption stop by. He'd found her two years ago.

I had another mother who found her daughter online, and reunited a few months ago

I had an adoptee stop by who was very happy with her life and family and wanted to stop by to see the display

I met so many people and had positive energy surrounding the day, about the event, adoption, birth parents, etc.

Durn, work's interupting
Maia

go to www.adopteesbirthrightscommittee.com and look under ABC
pictures.

PS. I'd like to make a booklet/ handbook/ ebook about this event to have on hand for next year and possibly as a saleable item for gift giving/ memory. So to everyone who submitted anything, I would like to ask your permission to use your submission in such a way (in a book), with names editted as you wish, or copyrights...
However, I will not include your writing w/o permission. Please let me know.

[Ragnarok]

Great stuff Maia.