[shirleyville]

SO......I did some investigative work today, and some how, some way, I found a lady at the county library who was willing to dig thru some archives for me, and I am happy to report, as I sit here today, I am holding my birthmom's senior picture!!!!!
I am awestruck.......completely and utterly awestruck. I am looking at ME !!!!!!!!!!!
I can't even believe it.....I just can't. I find myself rendered useless and fluctuating between thrilled and tears.
I am also in disbelief at how many of my classmates from school had parents who graduated with my birthmom!!!! I about DIED! A bunch of the folks I graduated with had parents who graduated with my BIRTHMOM!!!!!!!!! It's amazing!
I have to say one thing....this is an amazing journey!!!
Hugs,
Sally

[RaychieR]

Congrats on getting the picture!

I totally understand how you feel. I flew to the town my bmom was from and spent a day at the library looking at yearbooks. I found myself staring at her picture, even though I didn't really see much of me in her (she has since sent me a recent photo and there's no doubt of the relationship!). Based on the non-id info, I was also able to figure out who my bdad is - and his senior photo smile is a duplicate of mine. My bmom confirmed my bdad's first name and my instincts were correct on who he was.

I snuck a camera in to the library and took pictures of their pictures. I still look at them both everyday. It does bring a sense of calm.

Just another twist in the many turns of the journey!

[dl]

Pehaps you should change your user name to "Nancy Drew" ! Seriously though, that's great. At least you have another little piece of the puzzle. How long after graduation did Mary Ellen give birth to you? It would be interesting to find out if any of your classmates parents remember anything that might give you a clue to your bfather's identitiy.

I understand your being awestruck at looking at Mary Ellen's picture and seeing yourself. While I haven't seen pictures yet, my bfather called the social worker last week and said that he's working on a letter for me and will send some pictures. After seeing the pictures I sent him, he did tell the social worker that I looked a "little bit like bmother but actually looked more like him". Couple times last week I found my self thinking, "Wow - I actually look like someone." Pretty good feeling.

[ladybuglady]

Wow! What a journey you are on! Good luck! I can't imagine what you are going through but I think I would probably do the same thing!

Best wishes!

[shirleyville]

She graduated in '62 and I was born in '64.
I am really floored.....all the other pictures I have seen of her were when she was younger. One of my best friends from my younger years commented that he had seen that face a million times on me....but I just didn't see it. This time, I do...without a doubt.
It is almost more than I can stand!!!!
I also made a somewhat "gutsy" move a moment ago!! I mailed Shannon and told her I had the picture!!! I just wanted to sort of plant the seeds in her mind that I can, and will move forward -- with or without her!
Hugs,
Sally

[rose7777]

Sally, have you bleached your hair blonde yet


Rose

[dl]

Wonder if seeing this picture would help you to recognize her if you saw her in a store or restaurant? I graduated in 68 and while "time has taken it's toll" , you can still tell it's me in my graduation picture and now.

It will be interesting to hear Shannon's reaction. You may actually succeed in forcing the issue. Good Luck! KNOW you'll keep us posted!

[snuffie]

Yippee!! Sally!!

I know how you feel. The very first picture I ever saw of my bmom was her yearbook picture! I sent away for it as I had never, ever seen any pictures of her before. And when I looked at that picture it was as if I was looking at myself too!

It took me a while to "come down" to earth!! So take some time and let it all sink in!

I just know that everything will work out for you!

Lots of hugs!!

SNuffie

[shirleyville]

No, Rose....I was actually thinking how much more attractive she would have been had she had my beautiful brunette hair with hints of natural red!! LMAO
Really, tho....I would imagine we more than likely will end UP with the same color hair, since she is 60 and I am VERY gray for my age!! Our hair color is probably a little CLOSER to the same, now!! HA!
I have NO idea what Shannon will say about me having the picture....but for some reason, I wanted to tell her. I feel like she thinks SHE is my ONLY source of information, and I'm here to tell ya.......I knew WAY more about "our" ancestors than she even hoped to know, when she and I got together for the first time!! I am relentless....and I won't give up until I am satisfied!! I once heard, from my birth grandfather's cousin, that Reno women are the most stubborn creatures on earth, and when they want something, they go after it until they get it -- and it was the first "a-ha moment" I ever had in conjunction with my birthfamily, because a lightbulb went off in my head that said, "SO, Sal....THAT's where it comes from!!" My A-parent's favorite story about me is when I was three, and we had gone to some fancy restaurant to eat, and apparently the service was a little slower than I cared for, because I turned around in my high chair, and yelled toward the kitchen -- VERY loudly --- BRING SALLY'S PLATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I continued the "effort" to get my dinner until a very frazzled waiter came running out of the kitchen with my dinner!!!!!!!! Of course my husband loves that story, because everytime he senses stubborness or "selfishness" on my part, he always says, "BRING SALLY'S PLATE" !
Okay, world....bring it on, cause I ain't givin' up til I get it!!
Hugs,
Sally

[bowlx2x]

yahoooooo!!!!! i'm glad you are taking things into your own hands and not depending on someone else for tidbits of info.
i agree with an earlier post that some of your school mates parents might know something, if they think on it for a while they may rememer aquaintences that mary ellen kept that could give you a few names to inqire about.
good luck!

[shirleyville]

ALSO....upon seeing how MANY of my classmates parents graduated with my birthmom, I find myself chuckling about my own parents and what their reaction would be if they only knew!! All these people sitting next to them at the ballgames.....all knew my birthmom! My A-mom unknowingly put me into a car, regularly with my own aunt, and they had her come over to spend a week wallpapering their house!! There is something very funny to me about that -- simply because of the intense FEAR they have about me knowing ANYTHING about my birth family!!!
I was telling someone this morning that all the knowledge that I have now is very empowering to me! For the first time in my life, where this issue is concerned, I hold all the cards!!! My birthmom has NO IDEA who I am or where I am for that matter.....my folks have no idea...my siblings know nothing of me, yet I know all sorts of things about them! I can make the next move....it's all mine right now.....and I think that is why I am holding on to it for awhile, and moving ahead so slowly -- because once I do, I will forfeit the upper hand! I've never had it before, and I like it, to some extent.
For the first time in 38 years, I know way more about this whole scenario than ANYONE else.....and it feels good!
Just thought I would add that!
Hugs,
Sally

[shirleyville]

For now, I think it would not be the best "move" to go questioning parents of people I went to school with. As we live in a VERY small community, where people thrive on gossip and other people's business, it would be detrimental to my effort to tell a lot of people who my birthmom IS.
No one here knows I was adopted, anyway....and it would all get back to my parents and cause ENORMOUS "scandal" for them! Going to the beauty shop is like getting the run down on everyone in towns business, and I would hate for my mom to hear it from "Berniece" the town hairdresser!! LMAO
I am serious.....it's like Maybarry here......but with much more underlying "joy" in gossip!
The folks who went to school with her aren't parents of close friends -- just kids I graduated with....and the most prominent one is someone I wouldn't want knowing my business, anyway!
BUT, we shall see!!! Who KNOWS where the journey will lead!
Hugs,
Sally
Rhonda....did you get the info I sent you? Did it help at all?

[debsdone]

GO SALLY....GO SALLY.....GO SALLY!!!!!!!!! this IS PERFECT! You are just a hop skip and jump from speaking to your siblings now! If the stubborn gene is as strong as you say, Mary Ellen may NEVER come around. But........ if the reaction of my brother is any indication, the sibs will. I know Emily was afraid, (she told me) that her kids would hate her for giving me and the other brother up. But Tony, who wrote me a sweet heartfelt e-mail last night, sounds more annoyed that he missed so many years! He keeps saying that if I hadn't searched, he would have never known about me or our brother, and that hurts him. WHEW, lol! So no matter what else, I have him now and that makes it all worth it! Love, Debi
ps i tried to send you a pm but my computer booted me and I had to go out!

[maureen salamon]

Thrilled to hear about your "find," Sally! It IS empowering to feel after all these years of being at the mercy of other people's information (or lack thereof) about you, that you finally feel you're in the driver's seat.

There is something just magical about seeing your features reflected so clearly in someone else, someone you're related to, after a lifetime of never being mirrored by anyone around you. I still can't put my finger on it -- why it's so fascinating and continues to be, even more than a year after I first set eyes on my birthmother. I still stare at her sometimes, at her face, her fingers, even her toes! (Hope she doesn't know I'm staring LOL) You will probably look at Mary Ellen's picture every day until you see her in person -- and I mean UNTIL because I know that you will!

[shirleyville]

The COOLEST thing in the world was the look on my husband's face when he got home this evening and looked at the picture!!!!!! He was SPEECHELSS, which says a lot for my husband -- LMAO -- and he hasn't exactly been the most "understanding" thru all of this. He just doesn't "get it" -- and I can't expect him to. He's not adopted. But when he saw her face, and then looked up at mine, he had a totally different expression in his eyes!! He said he never would have thought it possible that we would look so much alike....and in his voice, I heard a glimmer of understanding. It was nice for a change!
Hugs,
Sally