[Dobie]

First let me introduce myself. My name is Jamie and I am 23 years old, and I am an adoptee like many of you, with a story all my own to share. My experience was one that I have not heard of often, and I am still in shock.
Most of my life, I felt so out of place. That geeky kid in school with long hair and big framed glasses, even a mouth full of metal that forced me to be a rather unsmiling mess.
Now, I always felt out of place. My family was hoity-toity and stuck up, snobbish and obsessed with monetary reputation, bought a $7000 pool instead of the things we really needed. Much to my chagrin, they told me I was the one with priority issues, when I wanted to be a cartoonist instead of having a career. According to them, art wouldn't put food on the table in the long run.
Our relationship was never happy, never even close to it. Abuse and mental bashing, I felt like I couldn't get ahead in life, but always felt different amongst my family.
At 16, an argument with my father over a stupid internet issue caused him to finally, and without mom's consent, tell me about my adoption right when I was born. Apparently, a doctor and a lawyer later, I was their new trophy daughter primarily because they longed to fit in with the right crowd. That fact alone was enough to make me quite sick.
Well, since then, I always had more questions than answers. Lies for 16 years left me with an awful taste in my mouth, and I didn't know where to turn. Finally, life changed and the pertinence of finding those answers abated and I felt better, at least I had learned to cope with it... Then I gave birth to my darling daughter and life again changed.
4 days ago I decided it was time to start looking. I hopped on the 'net, googled a search for Chicago Adoption reunion forums and this site popped on my monitor. I reistered and gained access to the database, and crossed my fingers. I typed in my info, and a few moments later one single result popped up.
It matched, and to my suprise she lived not more than 20 minutes from me. She had registered in 2004, and put her phone number and address in the registry. I wasn't sure if it was the right one, but I also was able to email her and ... well, unfortunately my fingers pressed the wrong buttons and all i sent her was "Dear"... Its much easier to blame my fingers, but also thank them nonetheless.
That little booboo I sent was all I needed. SHe got the message and had her 17 year old daughter respond. After some messages back and forth, I sent one VERY important message, just to be sure... I asked the doctors name, and she called her mom at work and sent the reply. It matched, it WAS my mom and she wanted to meet me! So we chit chatted on the phone for an hour, planned a get together and then... well...
Yesterday I met my mom and my 2 half sisters and my half brother for the very first time in 23 years. I couldn't believe how much we all looked and talked and acted alike, we're all weird funny goofballs, we all have the same stupid nose, we all have the same health problems, and then we realized we all had one more thing in common... our hearts are all as big as texas, and we all fell instantly in love with one another. Hugging, crying, pictures galore... We went , got a bite to eat, they met my fiance, my mom even bought soem outfits and a teddy bear Beenie Baby for my daughter.It was incredible.
But imagine... that search only took me 40 minutes. in 40 minutes, 23 years of saddness and searching had ended for my mom and years of confussion and questions were over for me as well... And now, many years of happiness to look forward to, life is quite right...
I finally fit somewhere... It has never been such a lovely day before today... even tho its quite cold and looks like it might rain... Its ok, because I know with certainty that no matter what life hands me now, at least I am whole.
If you feel lost in your search, don't give up. There is hope where there is life. I can attest to that
~Jamie

[Sniffles]

AWWW Jamie, you got me crying now. That is such a great reunion story! Thanks for sharing.

[cnb1099]

Jamie-


Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful story. Talk about your happy endings....I am thrilled for you. Please keep us all updated!

[BrandyHagz]

My biggest wish is that parents 'waiting until the time is right' will read this.

I am glad your search had a good outcome!