The Visit

We met Dave and Jean at 10 AM to go through some pictures...I was really interested in seeing baby pictures and pictures of all the highlights of his life. They (Jean) did a really a really good job of bringing a variety of picture albums.

I must say Dave was really patient in going through them with me and explaining what was what and who was who. I appreciated it!

So after looking at the pictures, we decided it was time for lunch and went to the new place in town "Buffalo Wild Wings". Coincidently, it is one of Dave's favorite places. So after lunch and a few cocktails and beers, Rex and I decided maybe we better ditch the cars, get a room, and continue with the beers and cocktails. So basically that is what we did.

As the night wore on, Rex decided he was ten feet tall and bullet proof. We had a great time hitting several of the casino bars in Laughlin and also had both Jean and Dave "throw the dice". I think Jean and Dave finally called it a night about 1:30 AM when Pauly showed up. Rex and I visited with Pauly and admired his new truck, calling it a night about 2:30.

Monday we went to Oatman and believe me...there wasn't anyone ten feet tall and bullet proof that day. We were all very tired. We did the tourist thing in Oatman but for some reason the burros weren't there. First time I have ever been in Oatman without the burros.

We had lunch at the Hotel where they have dollars bills all over the walls, ceiling, and every other space people can find. After lunch we decided to have a farewell drink at one of our favorite bars. Then Dave and Jean went to get rested up for their long trip back home.

Thank you Dave and Jean so much for coming to visit. It really meant a lot to me!!

Here's The Scoop

Wow...the response to the blog about Dave is amazing..I have actually heard from 2 other women that placed children for adoption and want to know how we did it so they can have the same happy experience. I will be putting that web address later in this post.

Anyway I want to tell the story about this whole situation. I have the feeling that people think Dave is a "love child" and the result of a one night stand or something. That is not the case at all.

In 1975 after being married to John since 1967, I was more than ready to divorce him. I had a 7 year old boy, a 3 year old girl, and a 22 month old girl. What I didn't have was enough money to properly care for them. So being pregnant again was a cause of great heart ache for me. What was I going to do? I knew that John would really not be in the picture much. After much soul seaching, I felt the best thing I could do for the four people that deserved any consideration was to place the baby for adoption. I truly had to take emotion out of the process and deal only with the cold, hard facts.

I do have to say, then as now, I have NEVER regretted making the decision I did. In fact since meeting Dave, I am more sure than ever that I did the best thing for him. I am a very honest person and totally know my limitations and realized that in truth, I am not a "kid " person. If I could take a magic wand and change that fact about me I would, but I can't. I totally love my children and would do anthing for them, but love isn't the only thing they need and I was lacking in that department.

And truth be told, I always felt we would meet someday. He was in my thoughts a lot and over the years I have collected lots of articles about adoption. I have a whole file folder full. Anyway in 2001, while web surfing I came across this website, http://www.registry.adoption.com/, and ultimately, that is where Dave found me.

So all I know for sure is that this experience has been really exciting and I am thrilled with the outcome!! There is an element of contentment in my soul that was not there before and I am very grateful.

TOYOTA TACOMA

I KNOW MARY HAS YOU ALL "HANG'IN" ON HER LAST POST, AND SHE WILL BLOG AGAIN WITH THE HISTORY AND A FULL REPORT ON THE VISIT, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE'S JUST PLAIN EXHAUSTED FROM THE EXCITEMENT AND CELEBRATING!!!

I'D LIKE TO THANK DAVE AND JEANNIE FOR TAKING TIME OUT OF THEIR BUSY LIVES AND COMING TO LAUGHLIN TO MAKE MARY SO VERY HAPPY WITH THEIR VISIT.

THE VISIT WENT SO WELL AND WE ENJOYED OURSELVES SO MUCH THAT THE "JACK" AND BEERS JUST SLID DOWN, AND WE HAD TO PULL OUT OUR S.O.P. (STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES) AND DITCH THE CAR IN A CASINO PARKING GARAGE AND RENT A ROOM.

WHILE SITTING IN THE PEANUT BAR MY CELL PHONE RANG AND IT WAS PAULIE. HE HAD E.O.'D (EARLY OUT) FROM WORK AND WANTED TO KNOW IF WE HAD TIME FOR A BEER. WHAT LUCK, I SAID, WE HAVE A ROOM IN LAUGHLIN AT THE GOLDEN NUGGET COME ON DOWN !!!

PAULIE ARRIVED AT 12:30 AM AND WE FULLY INSPECTED THE NEW TOYOTA TACOMA PICK-UP IN THE PARKING GARAGE. THE TRUCK HAS THAT NEW VEHICLE SMELL AND ONLY 300 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. IT'S A FOUR DOOR PICK-UP, CHARCOAL BLACK IN COLOR AND VERY COOL. I APOLOGIZE FOR THE BAD PHOTO I GUESS I WAS HAVING A LITTLE FOCUS PROBLEM, AND I DON'T MEAN THE CAMERA.

WE TALKED ABOUT "VEGAS 80" AND ARE BOTH VERY EXCITED TO HAVE OUR FAMILY COMING SO FAR TO NEVADA TO PARTY WITH US.

16 DAYS AND COUNTING !!!

2007 Revisited

I need to go back to 2007. I was justifiably chastised for not mentioning the birth of two grandsons in 2007. It wasn't that I forgot about them, but Rex had just talked about it in his year end blog. So I am apologizing to Randy J and Joey for not including their arrival in my 2007 blog!!

Now I am to talk about the exciting news I got in November. After work on November 13th the following e-mail was in our inbox:

"Dear Mary,

I read an article yesterday on MSNBC about adoptive parents and children and came across a website to see adoption contacts. Based on all the information I have, I believe you must be my birth mother. My name is Dave and I will be 32 years old tomorrow. I was raised in Janesville, Wisconsin and have lived in Colorado for nine years now. I am married (no kids) and I am an accountant.

Please let me know if you receive this email since I noticed that your post was made in 2001. I am agreeable to finding out about you and my birth family.

Sincerely,
Dave"

Wow....

How exciting and wonderful to have gotten this e-mail and yes I am Dave's birth mother. Since this first e-mail we have e-mailed back and forth. Of course, Dave and his wife, Jean, are now daily blog readers and that has really helped them get to know us.

Today was a milestone...Rex and I actually got to meet Dave and Jean. They have come to Laughlin to visit us and I am thrilled!! Today we had lunch, and I mentioned that we would like to put this wonderful news on the blog...and they said, ya we've been waiting to see it there. Cool!!

Tomorrow we are going though 32 years of pictures and I am so looking forward to that!!

Welcome to the family Dave and Jean!!

DAY # 9

TODAY IS FINALLY DAY #9 OF NINE STRAIGHT DAYS OF WORK. I'VE FOUND MYSELF MAKING MORE MISTAKES AT WORK LATELY DUE TO THE NINE DAY STRETCH. I GUESS A FIVE DAY WORK WEEK IS BEST.

THE NEW "GODFATHER" FROM LAS VEGAS TOOK DELIVERY ON A NEW PICK-UP TRUCK THIS WEEK, I WONDER IF HE WILL LET UNCLE NEIL TRY 4-WHEELING IN THE DESERT AT "VEGAS 80"?

I GUESS I BETTER EXPLAIN "GODFATHER" FROM LAS VEGAS. MY GRANDSON, JOEY, WAS BAPTIZED IN ALABAMA LAST WEEK-END WITH GRANDMA STANDING IN FOR THE NEW "GODFATHER", PAULIE. THIS WAS ALL MADE POSSIBLE, I UNDERSTAND, DUE TO PAULIE'S "GODMOTHER" DOING THE NECESSARY PAPERWORK FOR THE CATHOLIC CHURCH FROM POSTVILLE, IA.

ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE A GANGSTER MOVIE PLOT WITH AN OLD AND FRIENDLY ALLIANCE BETWEEN THE SWISS AND IRISH?

I WONDER IN 20 YEARS WHAT KIND OF FAVORS THE YOUNG MAN, JOEY, WILL ASK OF HIS LAS VEGAS "GODFATHER"?

DESPITE THE "WAR" BETWEEN THE PACKERS AND THE BEARS PAULIE AND HIS "GODMOTHER" COVERED EACH OTHER OVER THE YEARS AND STAYED IN CONTACT, AND I'M SURE TERESA WILL CHEER FOR THE PACKERS IN THIS YEARS SUPER BOWL, JUST AS PAULIE BACKED THE BEARS, MOMENTARILY, IN LAST YEARS SUPER BOWL.

(PICTURES OF THE NEW TRUCK TO FOLLOW)