[pauljulian]

Hello, all.... please forgive the apparent rambling tone of this message..... lots of life in the way.....

My name is Paul Julian Gould, but I was born David Peterson at St. John's Hospital, Santa Monica, California, February 14, 1957 at app. 6:30 in the evening. (Yeah.... I'm an old fart... )

My adoption was official, September of 1957. I was, I guess, a part of my birth mother's life that was pretty difficult. My adoptive father passed away May 29th of this year, and we were sorting his papers.... Pop was a pretty successful attorney here in Los Angeles.... something I believe my birth-mother requested; that I be raised by a reasonably successful family. Pop had cancer, and had fought it for 5 1/2 years. He's at peace. We found my adoption papers last night; my Mom (adoptive... guess I have 2 now....) told us to keep a sharp eye out for some small, handwritten notes from my birth mother, give some background on my heritage, etc. If I find those, I'll know more, but suffice it to say that if you, Mother, are on this list, I'd like to say "Thanks..." I turned out OK... little frayed around the edges, but that's just part of my charm.....



Second thing is that, although I am aware you are a fairly young woman, in your 60's, I believe, you are about to be a great-grandmother. Just found out last night, also.

Whoooooooo! Lot of emotions....

God Bless,

Paul Julian Gould
born David Peterson
Panorama City, California, USA

[bab040462]

Have you found anything that may help you find your bmom in all of the papers.

[blankenb4]

What a nice message to your birth mother. I hope that she sees it. I know it will make her happy. You sound like a great person.

Barbara

[pauljulian]

Thank you for your gracious responses. No... haven't found anything, yet... My adoptive mother said for us to keep a sharp eye out for some small, handwritten notes, which were from my birth mother, outlining background, I think. Love to know, though.... also would love for her to know....

"Hey, I may be a sick puppy, but I've turned out OK!" and "Thanks"

[bab040462]

I would not consider you a sick puppy. Did you say that only because you are looking for identifying information. I think it is wonderful that you want to find your bmom. I am a bmom and when we found each other it was so wonderful. He is 24 and does not contact me much but everyone tells me that is because he is young. But enough about me. I would not think there is a bmom that would not want to meet her son/daughter. And that is really sweet of your amom to be encouraging you.

[pauljulian]

Originally posted by bab040462
I would not consider you a sick puppy. Did you say that only because you are looking for identifying information. I think it is wonderful that you want to find your bmom. I am a bmom and when we found each other it was so wonderful. He is 24 and does not contact me much but everyone tells me that is because he is young. But enough about me. I would not think there is a bmom that would not want to meet her son/daughter. And that is really sweet of your amom to be encouraging you.

I intended it as a bit of humor.... my wife and I say that we're the kind of folks who watch the Addams Family movies for home decorating tips!

My adoptive mother agonized over it for years... apparently afraid that she'd lose a son... at this point in my life (age 47), I think she's gotten an idea just how unlikely that is.

God Bless,

Paul (aname)
aka
David (bname)

[bab040462]

I can understand your amom's point. But if you keep searching and never give up you will find her. Is this forum the only place you have searched for her. How long have you been searching. You seem like you are just a laid back person.

[pauljulian]

Well.... I've been called pretty laid back.... kind of have to be... I pretty much AM the IT department for the corporate HQ of my company, so if it's a choice of being mellow or pulling my hair out (still got most of it!), I'll choose the former, you betcha!

As yesterday was the first time I ever knew my birth name, I never really had any information to go on, except some pretty generic stuff.

God Bless,

Paul

[pauljulian]

A side note.... the fact of my adoption was no surprise.... I've known since I was about 7 and I'm mumbledy-mumble 7 now

I'm just grateful that my bmother chose life, and chose to ask that I be given a better life than she could give at the time.

Lots of gratitude; lots of prayer. I am truly sorry that there are some adoptees whose experience has not been as positive.... I do understand, having been a computer geek for Children & Family Services in 2 states.... in the state headquarters in Tennessee, and in LA County here.... in LA County alone, there are 15,000 cases in the system and only about 1,500 social workers. Lot of stress, and mistakes get made; amazing how few, comparatively, and seldom, considering the circumstances.

I do ramble, don't I?

God Bless,

Paul
aka
"Little Davey"

[thesearchguru]

***Non-identifying information***
Information can be requested from the adoption file by contacting the adoption agency that handled the adoption. The non-identifying report should have most or all of the following about the birth family. If the information you currently have was given to your adoptive parents at the time of your adoption you should request “updated non-id”. Or, if the report does not contain all of the information below contact the agency for updated information:

A. Age of birth parents at the time of relinquishment
B. State of birth of birth parents
C. Marital status of birth parents
D. Other siblings born before the adoptee to the birth parents
E. Physical description of birth parents
F. Ethnicity of birth parents
G. Religion of birth parents
H. Occupation of birth parents
I. Education of birth parents
J. Information about aunts, uncles and grandparents such as ages and occupations
K. Reason for relinquishment


***Waiver for Consent to Contact Form***
The Waiver is a form that can be used by adoptees, relinquished siblings or birthparents to give their permission for contact should a waiver be filed by both
parties.

NOTE: If the name of the agency is not known, or if it was a private adoption, this office can be contacted for the above services:

State of California
Dept of Social Services, Adoptions
744 P Street MS 3-31
Sacramento CA 95814
Phone: 916-651-8088





Email:
California Website:

Other great websites to check out:
http://www.adoptionchat.com
http://www.adoptionlists.com
http://www.adoption.com
http://www.adopting.org
http://www.adoptionregistry.com

[C_Amos]

Very nice post Paul.

[pauljulian]

Lots of life in the way, but most of that is very good. As I write this, I'm in northern Oregon visiting my daughter, son-in-law and grandson on HIS first birthday! What a beautiful guy! (and yeah, my daughter's good lookin' and my son-in-law is a great guy... but Wow! This is my grandson!)

Getting ready to drive back to LA tomorrow morning; my eldest daughter and I took the Amtrak up here... grateful for the experience, but sitting for 5 1/2 hours north of SL Obispo in the middle of nowhere and no intent to let folks off to smoke.... 22 miles of track were being repaired... total travel time, 36 hours... 9 hours late.
Flying next time.
As lovely daughter #1 has moved to LA, we covered lots of ground and packed up what final things she had here in OR, and I rented a Jeep Liberty (good thing, that....), and we hit the road in the morning.

Long time no post, although lovely daughter #2 has perused this site (Hi, Boo!), but I hope to not be as much of a stranger (stranger than who? hush, there in the back row.....)

Best to all,

Paul