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Dear Chris,
I can't sing the praises for you enough. During the years leading up to my decision to search and find (I mean really search) I often reviewed the stories in your Vanguard Letter as well as lots of other resources available. Most of the stories really touch your the heart deeply. I contacted you several times over a 6 to 8 year period sometimes unsure if I really deep down wanted to know. Well I finally decided that at 42 if I didn't go ahead with it soon then I ran a greater risk of doing it too late. I contacted you in mid August and received the notice of your success on August 29th and the information on my birth family on August 30th my 43rd birthday (WOW!). What great timing!
Once I received the information I called my wife and we quickly departed for a short drive of less than an hour to ride by her home. Armed with your info on how to handle the phone conversation with my mother my wife wrote down notes and we talked about how it would or could go during the phone conversation. Not having a clue as to what I was going to do or say I just knew everything would be OK. As we arrived and rode by her house we saw her in the front yard and it all started, my heart began to race, my mouth got dry and I became really nervous. The day I had dreamed about for so long was now here. I won't kid anyone, I was scared to death. We drove past the house and stopped just down the road to catch my breath. I picked up my cell phone and called her and when she answered my heart almost stopped. I followed your instruction as best I could introducing myself and then she asked if she knew me. I explained that we had met briefly 43 years ago today in DC and that I had been adopted through the CHS in Greensboro and that I thought that she is my mother. Talk about a lump in your throat! She paused and then agreed that yes this could be true. I could tell that she was as nervous as I. We talked for a while and she told me that I had a sister and brother and that her husband (not my b-dad) knew about me but the kids did not. I pushed it a little further and asked if she would like to meet me. Within an hour of calling her we were sitting in her den talking. I strongly favor her side of the family. We have been out to dinner on several occasions since and to their house and them to ours for dinner. She got the courage up and told my sister and brother about me. I met my sister at my house in October and my brother at Thanksgiving. I have also met her brother (my uncle) and my grandmother. They have all been wonderful and welcomed me into the family. We all spent a day together over Christmas. Since then we get together all the time and talk on the phone several times a week. She has asked that I call her mom and the bond just continues to grow stronger and stronger. Her husband (my stepfather) deserves a medal for his understanding of the whole thing. He is the greatest guy… and has a beautiful family, one to be envious of. I am glad to be a part of their lives and to have them as part of mine.
I could never thank you enough.
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