Dear Friends,
Thank you all so much for your help and your support on my behalf in looking for a miracle. I don’t have enough words to tell you how much I appreciate it.
Unfortunately, the “facts” of my case lead nowhere. My goal is for someone to recognize something in the “facts” that might be true and trigger a memory of long ago. My second goal is the hope that someone might look at my photos and see a strong family resemblance.
When and if this ever happens, I promise you all that I’ll shout it from the roof tops right here.
Thanks a million for your encouragement and your help.
Sincerely,
Grannie Annie aka Anita
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
The Black Hole
A new access bill, HB 2190,l has been filed in MASSACHUSETTS and it has the same insane “Black Hole” provision as last year’s bill. Adopted adults can request and receive their original birth certificates so long as they weren’t born between July 14, 1974 and January 1, 2008.
The rationalization for the black hole is that this bill acknowledges an “implied promise” of confidentiality made to some birth parents who relinquished during that time period.
Grannie Annie says:
An "implied" promise? How can a promise be implied? A promise either IS or it ISN'T. Period. Oh, such crap!
The rationalization for the black hole is that this bill acknowledges an “implied promise” of confidentiality made to some birth parents who relinquished during that time period.
Grannie Annie says:
An "implied" promise? How can a promise be implied? A promise either IS or it ISN'T. Period. Oh, such crap!
Monday, February 19, 2007
GRANNIE ANNIE NEEDS MIRACLE
ADOPTEE GRANNIE ANNIE
NEEDS MIRACLE
Please Forward Me Everywhere!
Grannie Annie aka Anita Field aka Anita Walker Field
Anita5000@comcast.net
www.grannieannie.org
I am an adoptee. I need your help. I have been searching for any biological relatives since 1993 with no success I cannot find one single person, living or dead, who even
remotely resembles any name in my adoption file. My only hope now is for
someone, somewhere to recognize my birth story or see a resemblance in my face.
I need national, or international exposure. How else but the Internet to get
seen around the world fast? Please forward this blog freely to every person,
Email List, organization, blogsite, etc. that you can think of. You have my
grateful permission to send me around the world..
I was a gray market baby, bought and paid for, and I came with falsified
records. I have two different dates of birth. My place of birth, particularly,
is in doubt and that is why the federal government did not want to issue me a
passport. I may have been "shipped" to Chicago from a baby farm and then given
up for adoption. Or, my birth mother may have come to Chicago just to give
birth. She could have been housed in one of the illegal maternity homes which
were thriving right in the very same Chicago Uptown/Edgewater neighborhood where
both my adoptive parents and my birth mother resided.
MY BIRTH STORY
Name of Infant: empy line on birth certificate. – no name entered, not even Baby Girl. Adoption Decree - Baby Girl Walker, adopted Anita Mae Abramson, married
name Anita Field, aka Anita Walker Field and Granny Annie.
Date of birth: August 6th or 9th, 1937.
Place of birth: Will Rogers Memorial Hospital, 6970 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL.
[This hospital changed names many times. In Feb. 1938 it became Rogers Hospital,
Rogers Park Hospital or Doctor’s Hospital.]
Attending physician: Alice Teola Wilson, MD, 4611 N. Broadway, Chicago, IL
Legitimate? No
Maiden Name of birth mother: Margaret Walker
Name of birth father: "Mr. (first name unknown) last name Walker"
Birth mother’s residence at time of birth: 4840 N. Magnolia St., Chicago, IL
Birth mother’s age at time of birth: 17
Birth mother’s place of birth: Gary, Indiana
Adoptive parents: Charles & Tillie Abramson
Adoptive parent’s residence at time of birth: 5240 N. Sheridan Rd. Chicago, IL.
Adoptive parent’s attorney: Theodore Kahn, 188 Randolph, Chicago, IL.
Private Placement: Approximately 5 days to 2 weeks after birth.
Believe Me, Folks, I’ve Really Tried!
I have been continuously searching for my biological relatives since 1993 with
no success. But not for the want of trying.
court appointed social workers from Midwest Adoption Agency spent two years on
my case, only to ask for its dismissal after 2 years because they could not find
even one person, living or dead, who even remotely resembled any person named in
my adoption file.
was to pay her $2,900. After 6 months, Ms. Lee dismissed my case because she was
not successful in finding anyone. I still had my money - but no family.
Lake County, Indiana, a gentleman from Kansas, and a searcher in Chicago.
Nothing.
Dept. of Public Health. In my petition, I asked that all my adoption files as
well as my original birth certificate be turned over to me. In January 1997, I
received these documents. The "information" in my vital stats is from my original
birth certificate and the adoption file. I know there are omissions,
contradictions, half-truths, and lies in these documents but when your adoption
isn’t legal, what can you expect?!
for searching adoptees, as well as becoming a vocal advocate for adopted adults.
I have made numerous contacts all over the globe and have had wonderful people
from all over trying to help me. God bless them all, but we found no
one.
messge board I can find. I’ve taken out personal ads in both newsapers and
magazines, but no one knows me.
I really need a miracle.
THANKS AGAIN AND GOD BLESS.
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Saturday, December 23, 2006
NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
By Grannie Annie
By Grannie Annie
Twas the night before Christmas
And all through his house,
St. Nick at the North Pole
Was as busy as a mouse.
Rudolph was ready,
Pawing the ground,
Waiting for St. Nicholas
To tell him their rounds.
St. Nick was still working,
Tuning up his GPS.
Feeding in the coordinates,
Don’t want any mess.
The place where we’re going
Is very hard to find.
Bastard Nation is our destination.
It lives within Bastard’s minds.
So our job tonight,
Said Santa to his reindeer,
Is to find all the Bastards
Who live in this sphere.
I’m bringing them a message
Of Christmas cheer.
Sealed records and baby dumps
Must disappear!
The bastards are nestled
All snug in their beds,
With visions of open records
Dancing in their heads.
Bastards’ stockings are hung
By their chimneys with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas
Soon will be there.
Through the night sky
The coursers they flew.
With a sleigh full of court orders
And legislative bills too.
He was a right jolly old man,
All in red he was dressed,
With a Bastard Nation T-shirt
Proudly covering his chest.
First stop. Ohio.
Bastard Mother Marley lives here.
No more baby dumps,
Oh founding foundling dear.
All deformers and dimwits
Get nothing but coal.
Bastards get equality -
They already have soul.
Santa spoke not a word,
As he opened his sack.
Filled all the stockings
With shiny keys from his pack.
All decorated with bows
Were these sparkly golden keys.
They open all the right doors
To set every adoptee free.
Freedom Keys, I call them,
Said dear old St. Nick.
And I’m counting on the Bastards
To use them all - quick!
It was a long journey
For St. Nick and his team.
Now he’s on his way home
He’s fulfilled Bastards’ dreams.
But I heard him explain, ere he flew out of sight,
Happy Christmas to Bastards . Keep up the good fight.
Grannie Annie wishes everyone peace and joy
during the holiday season and in the new year.
____________________________________ Sunday, December 10, 2006
NEW JERSEY BILL S1087
BastardGrannyAnnie
NEW JERSEY BILL S1087
ORIGINAL BIRTH CERTIFICATES: RIGHT OR PRIVEILEGE?
When you pass out privileges, you pick and choose.
When you pass out civil rights, it’s all or nothing.
The Bastardette at http://bastardette.blogspot.com wrote an eloquent blog about New Jersey Bill S1087 and the New Jersey Dimwits associated with it, some of whom support the bill as amended and others who think the bill is giving away the farm.
I’d like to say a few words about the Deformers in New Jersey who continue to support this bill with the conditional amendments added in a Senate Committee. The Deformers are as much the enemy of equal rights for all adoptees as are the Dimwits.
Deformers, unlike Dimwits, are for the most part adopted men and women who have worked very hard for many years to see an equal access bill pass in New Jersey. They are not governmental officials. They are adoptees just like you and me. They want original birth certificates be issued to adopted adults. Their hearts are in the right place. But heads are needed too, in order to pass legislation that will benefit ALL ADOPTED ADULTS.
The Deformers in New Jersey have fashioned a “Mother, May I?” amendment allowing birthmothers 12 months following passage of the bill in which to file an affidavit of nondisclosure. This means that if a birth mother signs a statement saying she doesn’t want her identity known to her child of adoption, then that adoptee doesn’t get his or her birth certificate- possibly forever.
New Jersey is actually handing over its constitutional responsibility of issuing birth certificates to birth mothers who claim they want their privacy. These are the same birth mothers, I might add, who legally and irrevocably gave up all legal rights to their children at the time of the relinquishment.
Giving birthmothers this veto power is a crucial point in adoptee rights negotiations. And it is at this point where the Bastards part ways with the Deformers.
Bastards believe ALL adopted men and women are entitled to unconditional access to their original birth certificates. Bastards believe that “Mother, May I?” clauses are demeaning to all adopted adults. Bastards believe that endowing birth mothers with veto powers turns the issuance of original birth certificates into a privilege rather than a right. Bastards believe that equal access for ALL citizens to the documents of their birth is a human and civil right.
When you pass out privileges, you pick and choose.
When you pass out civil rights, it’s all or nothing.
I’m not a deformer and I can’t speak for them. But I don’t understand why they chose to fold at this crucial moment. I don’t understand why Deformers are willing to sell out for less than unconditional records for all adoptees. And I don’t understand how Deformers can rationalize leaving some adoptees out in the cold. How can it be okay for the state to give original birth certificates to some, but not all adoptees?
Passing a bill is a long and arduous task. Going back to the legislature for changes the following year isn’t realistic. History has proven that once conditional legislation has passed, it is not revisited any time. Deformers, remember the old saying, “Be very careful what you wish for. It might come true.”
Besides dividing adoptees into two classes, I wonder if Deformers seriously consider the reality of setting precedents. When one state passes a controversial law, its effects are felt in other states. New Jersey is a very large state. Other states will look towards the bigger ones when it’s their turn to craft an adoptee rights bill. If it’s okay with all those millions of folks in New Jersey, then it must be okay for us. Deformers - that’s what it means to set a precedent. It’s dangerous.
BOTTOM LINE
S 1087 is a search and reunion bill. Both the Dimwits and the Deformers will agree on this. They both blabber about how much or how little the state should be in the business of managing the private affairs of adopted adults and birth mothers. Some want more state interference, others will settle for less. Bastards want no part of a search and reunion bill. Bastards want no government interference in the private issues of adopted men and women.
The state sealed the records long ago and the time has come for the state to unseal them. Reunions, good or bad, have absolutely nothing to do with adoptees having equal access to their original birth documents.
Bastard Nation leaves no adoptee behind. Bastard Nation will never support conditional legislation where some adoptees will be left to the whims of the birth parents who legally relinquished all claims to them many years ago. We have always opposed those equal access bills that contain conditional sections and we always will.
Bastard Nation is working to bring ALL adopted adults the same equal access to their original birth documents that non-adopted people take for granted. We’ve done it in Oregon. We’ve done it in Alabama. We’ve done it in New Hampshire. And we are working for similar laws until the government treats ALL adopted adults in America equally.
As New Hampshire State Senator Lou D’allesandro said on the eve of his state passing its equal access bill, “It’s the right thing to do.”
NEW JERSEY BILL S1087
ORIGINAL BIRTH CERTIFICATES: RIGHT OR PRIVEILEGE?
When you pass out privileges, you pick and choose.
When you pass out civil rights, it’s all or nothing.
The Bastardette at http://bastardette.blogspot.com wrote an eloquent blog about New Jersey Bill S1087 and the New Jersey Dimwits associated with it, some of whom support the bill as amended and others who think the bill is giving away the farm.
I’d like to say a few words about the Deformers in New Jersey who continue to support this bill with the conditional amendments added in a Senate Committee. The Deformers are as much the enemy of equal rights for all adoptees as are the Dimwits.
Deformers, unlike Dimwits, are for the most part adopted men and women who have worked very hard for many years to see an equal access bill pass in New Jersey. They are not governmental officials. They are adoptees just like you and me. They want original birth certificates be issued to adopted adults. Their hearts are in the right place. But heads are needed too, in order to pass legislation that will benefit ALL ADOPTED ADULTS.
The Deformers in New Jersey have fashioned a “Mother, May I?” amendment allowing birthmothers 12 months following passage of the bill in which to file an affidavit of nondisclosure. This means that if a birth mother signs a statement saying she doesn’t want her identity known to her child of adoption, then that adoptee doesn’t get his or her birth certificate- possibly forever.
New Jersey is actually handing over its constitutional responsibility of issuing birth certificates to birth mothers who claim they want their privacy. These are the same birth mothers, I might add, who legally and irrevocably gave up all legal rights to their children at the time of the relinquishment.
Giving birthmothers this veto power is a crucial point in adoptee rights negotiations. And it is at this point where the Bastards part ways with the Deformers.
Bastards believe ALL adopted men and women are entitled to unconditional access to their original birth certificates. Bastards believe that “Mother, May I?” clauses are demeaning to all adopted adults. Bastards believe that endowing birth mothers with veto powers turns the issuance of original birth certificates into a privilege rather than a right. Bastards believe that equal access for ALL citizens to the documents of their birth is a human and civil right.
When you pass out privileges, you pick and choose.
When you pass out civil rights, it’s all or nothing.
I’m not a deformer and I can’t speak for them. But I don’t understand why they chose to fold at this crucial moment. I don’t understand why Deformers are willing to sell out for less than unconditional records for all adoptees. And I don’t understand how Deformers can rationalize leaving some adoptees out in the cold. How can it be okay for the state to give original birth certificates to some, but not all adoptees?
Passing a bill is a long and arduous task. Going back to the legislature for changes the following year isn’t realistic. History has proven that once conditional legislation has passed, it is not revisited any time. Deformers, remember the old saying, “Be very careful what you wish for. It might come true.”
Besides dividing adoptees into two classes, I wonder if Deformers seriously consider the reality of setting precedents. When one state passes a controversial law, its effects are felt in other states. New Jersey is a very large state. Other states will look towards the bigger ones when it’s their turn to craft an adoptee rights bill. If it’s okay with all those millions of folks in New Jersey, then it must be okay for us. Deformers - that’s what it means to set a precedent. It’s dangerous.
BOTTOM LINE
S 1087 is a search and reunion bill. Both the Dimwits and the Deformers will agree on this. They both blabber about how much or how little the state should be in the business of managing the private affairs of adopted adults and birth mothers. Some want more state interference, others will settle for less. Bastards want no part of a search and reunion bill. Bastards want no government interference in the private issues of adopted men and women.
The state sealed the records long ago and the time has come for the state to unseal them. Reunions, good or bad, have absolutely nothing to do with adoptees having equal access to their original birth documents.
Bastard Nation leaves no adoptee behind. Bastard Nation will never support conditional legislation where some adoptees will be left to the whims of the birth parents who legally relinquished all claims to them many years ago. We have always opposed those equal access bills that contain conditional sections and we always will.
Bastard Nation is working to bring ALL adopted adults the same equal access to their original birth documents that non-adopted people take for granted. We’ve done it in Oregon. We’ve done it in Alabama. We’ve done it in New Hampshire. And we are working for similar laws until the government treats ALL adopted adults in America equally.
As New Hampshire State Senator Lou D’allesandro said on the eve of his state passing its equal access bill, “It’s the right thing to do.”
Monday, December 04, 2006
New Jersey S1087 - Vote No
BastardGrannyAnnie
Honorable Senator:
I am a 65 year old adopted woman. I urge you to vote "NO" to S1087. This bill contains a disclosure veto which will allow birth mothers a year in which to file a veto prohibiting their names from being disclosed to adoptees’ on their original birth certificates.
A disclosure veto presumes that receiving one’s original birth certificate from the state is a privilege rather than a civil and human right of all citizens of the state.
It was the state who sealed ALL the original birth documents and it must be the state that reinstates the issuance of original birth certificates to ALL adopted adults.
How can the state possibly rationalize turning over to birth mothers its constitutional responsibility of issuing original birth certificates? These are the same birth mothers, by the way, who irrevocably terminated all legal rights to their children when their children were adopted.
I urge you to reject Senate Bill 1087 and return to the drawing table. Craft a bill that enables adopted adults to join the ranks of all other citizens of New Jersey. Restore to ALL adult adoptees their right to UNCONDITIONALLY access the records of their birth.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Anita Walker Field
Honorable Senator:
I am a 65 year old adopted woman. I urge you to vote "NO" to S1087. This bill contains a disclosure veto which will allow birth mothers a year in which to file a veto prohibiting their names from being disclosed to adoptees’ on their original birth certificates.
A disclosure veto presumes that receiving one’s original birth certificate from the state is a privilege rather than a civil and human right of all citizens of the state.
It was the state who sealed ALL the original birth documents and it must be the state that reinstates the issuance of original birth certificates to ALL adopted adults.
How can the state possibly rationalize turning over to birth mothers its constitutional responsibility of issuing original birth certificates? These are the same birth mothers, by the way, who irrevocably terminated all legal rights to their children when their children were adopted.
I urge you to reject Senate Bill 1087 and return to the drawing table. Craft a bill that enables adopted adults to join the ranks of all other citizens of New Jersey. Restore to ALL adult adoptees their right to UNCONDITIONALLY access the records of their birth.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Anita Walker Field
Saturday, December 02, 2006
A letter to "Ask Amy"
BastardGrannyAnnie
Dear Amy,
I write in reply to “the adoptive family” whose letter was published on Saturday, November 18, in the Chicago Tribune. This family wrote to express its gratitude to an invisible birth mother for their adopted son and his seven grandchildren. And your answer was as expected: everyone is grateful to the ghost birth mother who made all this happiness possible.
Beyond the expected "gratitude," where are the feelings for these birth mothers? Don’t you think that almost every birth mother would want to meet the wonderful family she created? Why must these “tough choices” be forever? Why can’t adults decide for themselves with whom they want to associate.
I am a 65 year old adopted woman. I have two wonderful children and three marvelous grandchildren. Not one day goes by when I don’t wish that my birth mother, “Margaret Walker,” and her family could know my wonderful family. She made it all possible and I would love for her to share in the joy.
Sealed records laws in 45 states in our country, Illinois included, make this feat daunting if not impossible for most of us adoptees. Our birth records are impounded at and sealed in perpetuity at the time our adoptions are finalized. The state governments have made it just as difficult as possible for us ever to be able to meet our first families.
Dear Amy,
I write in reply to “the adoptive family” whose letter was published on Saturday, November 18, in the Chicago Tribune. This family wrote to express its gratitude to an invisible birth mother for their adopted son and his seven grandchildren. And your answer was as expected: everyone is grateful to the ghost birth mother who made all this happiness possible.
Beyond the expected "gratitude," where are the feelings for these birth mothers? Don’t you think that almost every birth mother would want to meet the wonderful family she created? Why must these “tough choices” be forever? Why can’t adults decide for themselves with whom they want to associate.
I am a 65 year old adopted woman. I have two wonderful children and three marvelous grandchildren. Not one day goes by when I don’t wish that my birth mother, “Margaret Walker,” and her family could know my wonderful family. She made it all possible and I would love for her to share in the joy.
Sealed records laws in 45 states in our country, Illinois included, make this feat daunting if not impossible for most of us adoptees. Our birth records are impounded at and sealed in perpetuity at the time our adoptions are finalized. The state governments have made it just as difficult as possible for us ever to be able to meet our first families.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
November - National Adoption Month
BastardGrannyAnnie
President George W. Bush has once again declared November as National Adoption Month. He calls upon all Americans to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities to honor adoptive families and to participate in efforts to find permanent homes for waiting children.
I think that finding homes for children who need them is the very essence of adoption. It’s a process that goes on all year long. It doesn’t need a special month.
I’m sick and tired of National Adoption Month because every year since it’s been in existence it’s focuses on little homeless baby adoptees going to wonderful forever famines, which is good. What is not good is that not once has anyone expressed an interest in following these children of adoptees into adulthood. Not once has anyone bothered to inquire about the rights of adopted adults. I’m naive and each year I would wrote lots of letters and articles trying to use National Adoption Month as a segue to the rights of adopted adults. It didn’t happen.
Next year the president should set aside a month to focus on the needs and rights of adopted adults. Then I’ll celebrate.
President George W. Bush has once again declared November as National Adoption Month. He calls upon all Americans to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities to honor adoptive families and to participate in efforts to find permanent homes for waiting children.
I think that finding homes for children who need them is the very essence of adoption. It’s a process that goes on all year long. It doesn’t need a special month.
I’m sick and tired of National Adoption Month because every year since it’s been in existence it’s focuses on little homeless baby adoptees going to wonderful forever famines, which is good. What is not good is that not once has anyone expressed an interest in following these children of adoptees into adulthood. Not once has anyone bothered to inquire about the rights of adopted adults. I’m naive and each year I would wrote lots of letters and articles trying to use National Adoption Month as a segue to the rights of adopted adults. It didn’t happen.
Next year the president should set aside a month to focus on the needs and rights of adopted adults. Then I’ll celebrate.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Madonna Adopts a Child
BastardGrannyAnnie
All sorts of do-gooders are rallying the media into a frenzy about Madonna’s adopting a little boy from an orphanage in Africa. They are outraged because poor unfortunate David is being torn from his own culture. His ethnicity and ancestry are being stolen from him.
That’s true all right. Little David will grow up in a family that is totally different from that of his biological parents. So what else is new? This is exactly the same thing that happens to every child of adoption right here in the good old USA. I was adopted in Chicago many years ago. Once the judge signed my adoption decree, I became a new person, just like David. As soon as the ink was dry, all of my adoption records and my original birth certificate were impounded by the state of Illinois and sealed in perpetuity.
But little David’s ancestry will not be sealed away from him forever. Madonna has announced that she intends to take David back to his country on a regular basis so that he can learn about his ancestry. Even if Madonna never keeps this promise, when David reaches the age of maturity, his biological heritage will be there for him for the taking. That’s because in the UK, where Madonna currently resides, adult adoptees have been able to access their original birth records since the mid 1970’s. The Brits understand that adults who were once children of adoption should have the same rights as all other citizens to access the records of their birth.
And Madonna? She’s adopting a child who needs a home. Isn’t that what adoption is all about?!
All sorts of do-gooders are rallying the media into a frenzy about Madonna’s adopting a little boy from an orphanage in Africa. They are outraged because poor unfortunate David is being torn from his own culture. His ethnicity and ancestry are being stolen from him.
That’s true all right. Little David will grow up in a family that is totally different from that of his biological parents. So what else is new? This is exactly the same thing that happens to every child of adoption right here in the good old USA. I was adopted in Chicago many years ago. Once the judge signed my adoption decree, I became a new person, just like David. As soon as the ink was dry, all of my adoption records and my original birth certificate were impounded by the state of Illinois and sealed in perpetuity.
But little David’s ancestry will not be sealed away from him forever. Madonna has announced that she intends to take David back to his country on a regular basis so that he can learn about his ancestry. Even if Madonna never keeps this promise, when David reaches the age of maturity, his biological heritage will be there for him for the taking. That’s because in the UK, where Madonna currently resides, adult adoptees have been able to access their original birth records since the mid 1970’s. The Brits understand that adults who were once children of adoption should have the same rights as all other citizens to access the records of their birth.
And Madonna? She’s adopting a child who needs a home. Isn’t that what adoption is all about?!
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Friday, October 13, 2006
SUCCESS IN OREGON
About a month ago, I wrote about my granddaughter’s nanny who was born and adopted in Oregon. She was not aware that she could now get her original birth certificate.
On Sept. 11th, I downloaded the application for her. She sent in the application the next day with her $20 and on September 23rd, just TWO WEEKS later, she received her original birth certificate.
I was dancing on Cloud Nine all evening. Here was an adopted adult. someone I know, who was treated like a NORMAL PERSON by the state of her birth.
Oh, it could be just as easy for every other state to be the same way! What’s going on?!
On Sept. 11th, I downloaded the application for her. She sent in the application the next day with her $20 and on September 23rd, just TWO WEEKS later, she received her original birth certificate.
I was dancing on Cloud Nine all evening. Here was an adopted adult. someone I know, who was treated like a NORMAL PERSON by the state of her birth.
Oh, it could be just as easy for every other state to be the same way! What’s going on?!
Friday, September 22, 2006
REUNION STORIES
BastardGrannyAnnie
Two different reunion stories were carried by the two major Chicago newspapers during September, only 6 days apart. The first appeared on September 11th in the Chicago Sun Times and the second was in the Chicago Tribune on September 17th.
Both of these articles were about heartwarming and really rather extraordinary reunions between young female adoptees and their biological fathers.
The first story came from Minnesota. “Adopted Daughter learns biological dad was 9/11 hero.” Within the text of the article it said that this young woman was able to find out who her father was because she got her birth certificate from the state. Oh yeah?! The article failed to report that Minnesota does not give out any original birth certificates unless birth mothers first consent.
I wrote a letter to the editor of the Chicago Sun Times correcting the facts that were omitted in the article. My letter wasn’t printed.
The second story, from West Virginia, was entitled, "Role emerges for actress as real princess.” This article told about a young adoptee who decided to hire a private investigator to find her biological father. The investigator found her father in less than three hours and to her amazement - this adoptee learned that her father is a chieftain of a tribe in Sierra Leone, Africa.
I wrote to the Chicago Tribune but they didn’t print my letter either. Well, thank goodness for Blogs. Here’s my letter to the Trib:
Dear Editor:
I truly enjoyed the story, "Role emerges for actress as real princess" in Sunday’s Chicago Tribune (Sept. 17th) I’m an old adoptee who as a youngster regularly dreamed of being found by her real parents, who just happened to be the king and queen of some far off country. The king and queen would then carry this little orphan Annie off to their castle where we would all live happily ever after. End of fairy tale!
As an old Grannie Annie, I can only ask (for at least the billionth time): Why must adopted adults hire investigators, as described in Sarah Culberson’s story, to find out who they are? Why must adopted men and women jump through impossible hoops set up just for them by the 45 states in our country, Illinois included, in order to find out who they are?
Every week, you can count on reading another "good" reunion story, though admittedly Sarah Culberson’s ending is unique. I figure that the media wouldn’t be printing these reunion stories so often if their readers didn’t love to read about them. Everyone seems to love a regular diet of stories with a good cry and a happy ending. Sometimes it’s a puppy who finds its way home and other times it’s an adoptee. Both make great press!
Yet whenever a group emerges to change the laws to allow all adopted adults to be treated the same as all "non-adopted" citizens, these readers are no-where to be seen. They have been struck dumb. And worse! The very same newspapers that print the reunion stories either clam-up entirely or run editorials with impossible reasons why the state should not treat adopted adults on a par with all other citizens of the state.
You love to read about us, but you don’t really want to help us.
Two different reunion stories were carried by the two major Chicago newspapers during September, only 6 days apart. The first appeared on September 11th in the Chicago Sun Times and the second was in the Chicago Tribune on September 17th.
Both of these articles were about heartwarming and really rather extraordinary reunions between young female adoptees and their biological fathers.
The first story came from Minnesota. “Adopted Daughter learns biological dad was 9/11 hero.” Within the text of the article it said that this young woman was able to find out who her father was because she got her birth certificate from the state. Oh yeah?! The article failed to report that Minnesota does not give out any original birth certificates unless birth mothers first consent.
I wrote a letter to the editor of the Chicago Sun Times correcting the facts that were omitted in the article. My letter wasn’t printed.
The second story, from West Virginia, was entitled, "Role emerges for actress as real princess.” This article told about a young adoptee who decided to hire a private investigator to find her biological father. The investigator found her father in less than three hours and to her amazement - this adoptee learned that her father is a chieftain of a tribe in Sierra Leone, Africa.
I wrote to the Chicago Tribune but they didn’t print my letter either. Well, thank goodness for Blogs. Here’s my letter to the Trib:
Dear Editor:
I truly enjoyed the story, "Role emerges for actress as real princess" in Sunday’s Chicago Tribune (Sept. 17th) I’m an old adoptee who as a youngster regularly dreamed of being found by her real parents, who just happened to be the king and queen of some far off country. The king and queen would then carry this little orphan Annie off to their castle where we would all live happily ever after. End of fairy tale!
As an old Grannie Annie, I can only ask (for at least the billionth time): Why must adopted adults hire investigators, as described in Sarah Culberson’s story, to find out who they are? Why must adopted men and women jump through impossible hoops set up just for them by the 45 states in our country, Illinois included, in order to find out who they are?
Every week, you can count on reading another "good" reunion story, though admittedly Sarah Culberson’s ending is unique. I figure that the media wouldn’t be printing these reunion stories so often if their readers didn’t love to read about them. Everyone seems to love a regular diet of stories with a good cry and a happy ending. Sometimes it’s a puppy who finds its way home and other times it’s an adoptee. Both make great press!
Yet whenever a group emerges to change the laws to allow all adopted adults to be treated the same as all "non-adopted" citizens, these readers are no-where to be seen. They have been struck dumb. And worse! The very same newspapers that print the reunion stories either clam-up entirely or run editorials with impossible reasons why the state should not treat adopted adults on a par with all other citizens of the state.
You love to read about us, but you don’t really want to help us.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
OREGON
WHAT GOES AROUND………
Today, I have experienced one of the top two or three moments in all my years as an activist for adoptee rights! Here’s how it came about.
My granddaughters’ nanny, Miss Deb, had recently mentioned to my daughter in law
that she was adopted. "Deb wrote to the state of Oregon nearly 20 years ago to
get her birth certificate," said my daughter in law. Deb thought, as so
many of us did, that we adoptees could NEVER get that information from the state
- any state - in our country.
"Have I got someone for you!" said my daughter in law. And of course, she was
referring to me.
I met Miss Deb a few days ago. She greeted me with, "Hey, we’ve got something in
common." We hugged each other because we do have something very much in common -
we were both adopted - and we felt a special bond forming that day. When I heard
that Deb was born in Oregon, I jumped so high I touched the sky.
Deb told me that although she was born in Oregon she had no idea that she could
now get her original birth certificate. I told her about Measure 58. But it was
hard for her to take it all in at once.
"But I don’t know my birthmother’s name." Deb said, thinking that this fact
would still preclude her from getting any records. I explained the beauty of
Measure 58.
"You mean I’ll get a copy of my original birth certificate with my birthmother’s
NAME on it?!!"
"Yep," said I, feeling like Ed McMahon handing out the million-dollar
sweepstakes check. "Her last name too?" asked Deb. "Yep," I said, handing over
another million.
"Next time I come," I assured her, "I’ll bring you all the details."
And so, in anticipation of our visit tomorrow, I just came from the Oregon
website where I downloaded copies of the procedure, the application form, and
even a little of the history for Deb. I feel extraordinarily happy today! All
those years of battering brick walls, hoping to crack open one of them, has not
been in vain.
COMES AROUND...
Part of why I’m feeling so elated is because I was on the spot, literally, when
Measure 58 was born. It happened at the first Bastard Nation Conference, "Birth
of a Bastard Nation," in July 1997 in Chicago. The keynote speaker at the
conference was Randy Shaw, an activist whose books include "The Activist’s
Handbook" and "Reclaiming America: Nike, Clean Air, and the New National
Activism."
After Mr. Shaw’s stirring address, he was milling with the crowd. And there I
was, right there in that same crowd as Randy when he casually turned to a
stranger who was standing next to me. He asked her politely where she was from.
"Oregon," she told him. "Oregon! That’s a great state for ballot initiatives. "
replied Randy, "We need to talk." Helen Hill was that woman!
Later that day, we all took to the streets of downtown Chicago in a torrential
downpour to march in front of the James Thompson Illinois Center. There were
tornado warnings that day - but it didn’t stop us. In the pouring rain we
marched around the plaza at lunchtime in the heart of downtown Chicago, chanting
and handing out flyers. We heard all sorts of comments from passers by - and
many of those comments weren’t very nice! But we were too heady with enthusiasm
to let that bother us. We were so excited we didn’t even know to come in out of
the rain. And as we marched with our hand made posters, I remember thinking,
"There’s that pleasant woman again, still in a huddle with Randy Shaw."
Not three weeks later, Helen was back home in Oregon already researching ballot
measures. Flurries of email posts were flying furiously back and forth between
Helen, Shea Grimm, and many other Bastard Nationals on our email list. Helen had
already started the research. She was bound and determined to make it work in
Oregon and she was ready to finance the venture herself if necessary. It turned
out that she personally funded Measure 58 to a tune of $120,000, money left to
her by her adoptive father.
And the rest is history. On November 3, 1998 there was an overwhelming victory
at the polls. The people said YES. The opponents didn’t want to listen to the
people and so a two-year court battle ensued at both the state and federal level.
Finally, on June 12, 2000, the battle was won! Oregon adoptees were now able to
begin requesting and receiving, unconditionally, their original birth
certificates! To date, over 8,000 adoptees have taken advantage of Measure 58.
Helen Hill, Shea Grimm, Marley Greiner, Damzel Plum, Ron Morgan, Cyn Holub and
too many other wonderful Bastards to name here exhibited the most incredible
energy, perseverance, and dedication I have ever witnessed. The seed planted by
Randy Shaw back in July 1997 become a hard fought reality. I was there when it
all started and here I am today to experience the feeling of Oregon open records
in full bloom.
What a momentous and exhilarating time that was. Victory was so sweet. And
today, it’s become a lot sweeter because I met Deb.
"Don’t ever let anyone tell you that one person cannot make a difference."
http://www.plumsite.com/oregon/
Today, I have experienced one of the top two or three moments in all my years as an activist for adoptee rights! Here’s how it came about.
My granddaughters’ nanny, Miss Deb, had recently mentioned to my daughter in law
that she was adopted. "Deb wrote to the state of Oregon nearly 20 years ago to
get her birth certificate," said my daughter in law. Deb thought, as so
many of us did, that we adoptees could NEVER get that information from the state
- any state - in our country.
"Have I got someone for you!" said my daughter in law. And of course, she was
referring to me.
I met Miss Deb a few days ago. She greeted me with, "Hey, we’ve got something in
common." We hugged each other because we do have something very much in common -
we were both adopted - and we felt a special bond forming that day. When I heard
that Deb was born in Oregon, I jumped so high I touched the sky.
Deb told me that although she was born in Oregon she had no idea that she could
now get her original birth certificate. I told her about Measure 58. But it was
hard for her to take it all in at once.
"But I don’t know my birthmother’s name." Deb said, thinking that this fact
would still preclude her from getting any records. I explained the beauty of
Measure 58.
"You mean I’ll get a copy of my original birth certificate with my birthmother’s
NAME on it?!!"
"Yep," said I, feeling like Ed McMahon handing out the million-dollar
sweepstakes check. "Her last name too?" asked Deb. "Yep," I said, handing over
another million.
"Next time I come," I assured her, "I’ll bring you all the details."
And so, in anticipation of our visit tomorrow, I just came from the Oregon
website where I downloaded copies of the procedure, the application form, and
even a little of the history for Deb. I feel extraordinarily happy today! All
those years of battering brick walls, hoping to crack open one of them, has not
been in vain.
COMES AROUND...
Part of why I’m feeling so elated is because I was on the spot, literally, when
Measure 58 was born. It happened at the first Bastard Nation Conference, "Birth
of a Bastard Nation," in July 1997 in Chicago. The keynote speaker at the
conference was Randy Shaw, an activist whose books include "The Activist’s
Handbook" and "Reclaiming America: Nike, Clean Air, and the New National
Activism."
After Mr. Shaw’s stirring address, he was milling with the crowd. And there I
was, right there in that same crowd as Randy when he casually turned to a
stranger who was standing next to me. He asked her politely where she was from.
"Oregon," she told him. "Oregon! That’s a great state for ballot initiatives. "
replied Randy, "We need to talk." Helen Hill was that woman!
Later that day, we all took to the streets of downtown Chicago in a torrential
downpour to march in front of the James Thompson Illinois Center. There were
tornado warnings that day - but it didn’t stop us. In the pouring rain we
marched around the plaza at lunchtime in the heart of downtown Chicago, chanting
and handing out flyers. We heard all sorts of comments from passers by - and
many of those comments weren’t very nice! But we were too heady with enthusiasm
to let that bother us. We were so excited we didn’t even know to come in out of
the rain. And as we marched with our hand made posters, I remember thinking,
"There’s that pleasant woman again, still in a huddle with Randy Shaw."
Not three weeks later, Helen was back home in Oregon already researching ballot
measures. Flurries of email posts were flying furiously back and forth between
Helen, Shea Grimm, and many other Bastard Nationals on our email list. Helen had
already started the research. She was bound and determined to make it work in
Oregon and she was ready to finance the venture herself if necessary. It turned
out that she personally funded Measure 58 to a tune of $120,000, money left to
her by her adoptive father.
And the rest is history. On November 3, 1998 there was an overwhelming victory
at the polls. The people said YES. The opponents didn’t want to listen to the
people and so a two-year court battle ensued at both the state and federal level.
Finally, on June 12, 2000, the battle was won! Oregon adoptees were now able to
begin requesting and receiving, unconditionally, their original birth
certificates! To date, over 8,000 adoptees have taken advantage of Measure 58.
Helen Hill, Shea Grimm, Marley Greiner, Damzel Plum, Ron Morgan, Cyn Holub and
too many other wonderful Bastards to name here exhibited the most incredible
energy, perseverance, and dedication I have ever witnessed. The seed planted by
Randy Shaw back in July 1997 become a hard fought reality. I was there when it
all started and here I am today to experience the feeling of Oregon open records
in full bloom.
What a momentous and exhilarating time that was. Victory was so sweet. And
today, it’s become a lot sweeter because I met Deb.
"Don’t ever let anyone tell you that one person cannot make a difference."
http://www.plumsite.com/oregon/
Friday, September 08, 2006
The Girls Who Went Away
BastardGrannyAnnie
Ann Fessler, an adoptee, has put together a wonderful new book, "The Girls Who Went Away: The Hidden History of Women who Surrendered Children for Adoption in the Decades before Roe v Wade.
This book should be on everyone’s “must read” list. Ms. Fessler talks with the girls who went away. They were from all walks of life, from all strata of society. They had just one thing in common: they got into trouble. One of the most interesting lines in the book, to me, was another young girl talking, a girl who didn’t go away. She said that she was doing the exact same things her girlfriends were doing, only she was one of the girls who didn’t get in trouble, and so she remained a “good girl.” What irony.
The book is loaded with insights into a desperate period in our history. After World War II, bumper crops of young unwed mothers were springing up all over. What to do with them? Send them away, hide them, keep them out of sight, make up new names, and keep secrets. If the unwed young women did as they were told, kept silent and gave up their babies to adoption as soon as they were born, the girls were sent back home and told that they should just forget all about what happened and begin a new life.
That’s a fairy tale ending. It never happened. The girls who went away didn’t forget! Ever!
Since I’ve never found my birthmother, I know nothing of the events surrounding my birth. Any one of these young women could have been my mother and I despaired to think of her being treated by society in such a shameless fashion. The only other time I felt this way was after watching the movie, "The Magdalene Sisters." I remained in the theater after everyone left, just sobbing my heart out, again thinking one of those young girls could have been my mother.
PEOPLE Magazine, Sept. 18th, interviews 3 birthmothers who are featured in Ann Fessler’s book. It’s worth the price of the magazine just to read this article.
Question: How do we as a society treat the “girls who get in trouble” nowadays?
Ann Fessler, an adoptee, has put together a wonderful new book, "The Girls Who Went Away: The Hidden History of Women who Surrendered Children for Adoption in the Decades before Roe v Wade.
This book should be on everyone’s “must read” list. Ms. Fessler talks with the girls who went away. They were from all walks of life, from all strata of society. They had just one thing in common: they got into trouble. One of the most interesting lines in the book, to me, was another young girl talking, a girl who didn’t go away. She said that she was doing the exact same things her girlfriends were doing, only she was one of the girls who didn’t get in trouble, and so she remained a “good girl.” What irony.
The book is loaded with insights into a desperate period in our history. After World War II, bumper crops of young unwed mothers were springing up all over. What to do with them? Send them away, hide them, keep them out of sight, make up new names, and keep secrets. If the unwed young women did as they were told, kept silent and gave up their babies to adoption as soon as they were born, the girls were sent back home and told that they should just forget all about what happened and begin a new life.
That’s a fairy tale ending. It never happened. The girls who went away didn’t forget! Ever!
Since I’ve never found my birthmother, I know nothing of the events surrounding my birth. Any one of these young women could have been my mother and I despaired to think of her being treated by society in such a shameless fashion. The only other time I felt this way was after watching the movie, "The Magdalene Sisters." I remained in the theater after everyone left, just sobbing my heart out, again thinking one of those young girls could have been my mother.
PEOPLE Magazine, Sept. 18th, interviews 3 birthmothers who are featured in Ann Fessler’s book. It’s worth the price of the magazine just to read this article.
Question: How do we as a society treat the “girls who get in trouble” nowadays?
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
BJ Lifton Booted from Adoption Conference: "Offensive Language Cited."
BastardGrannyAnnie
I am an adoptee who stayed in the back of a closet for the first half of my life, hiding, keeping secrets, and telling half-truths. My vocabulary was littered with euphemisms. I know about suffering - I’ve been there and done that.
A wonderful psychologist helped me to examine the truth about myself and a wonderful organization empowered me to speak the truth. Bastard Nation - unique, up front, transparent, and truthful. I am a different person today because of Bastard Nation - a better person. I’m no longer ashamed of being adopted. I am now one very proud Bastard!
What incredible irony we have here! We in the adoption arena are fighting for truth and transparency and along comes someone like Joe Soll who wants the esteemed Mrs. B.J. Lifton to expunge the term birthmother from her speech at his conference because there are people in the audience who find it offensive. B.J. Lifton’s books, all of them, use the word birthmother as do almost all other respected writing on adoption. Maybe Joe Soll needs to catch up on his reading.
The term birthmother is used ALL THE TIME, by attorneys, adoption agencies, the states, the courts, adoption reform groups across the board, lobbyists, social workers, psychologists, Google, AAC, CUB, NCFA, BN, and the media. I support B.J. Lifton 100% for pulling out of a conference where she isn’t afforded freedom of speech. And I applaud Bastardette for reporting it.
Bastard Nation fights for truth in adoption practices and for truth for all adopted adults. With Marley Greiner at the helm, Bastard Nation has fought in Oregon and Alabama and New Hampshire to bring truth to ALL adopted adults. We’re not locked up in hotel rooms talking about our issues. We’re out in the streets fighting for our issues. That’s the kind of organization we are.
I am an adoptee who stayed in the back of a closet for the first half of my life, hiding, keeping secrets, and telling half-truths. My vocabulary was littered with euphemisms. I know about suffering - I’ve been there and done that.
A wonderful psychologist helped me to examine the truth about myself and a wonderful organization empowered me to speak the truth. Bastard Nation - unique, up front, transparent, and truthful. I am a different person today because of Bastard Nation - a better person. I’m no longer ashamed of being adopted. I am now one very proud Bastard!
What incredible irony we have here! We in the adoption arena are fighting for truth and transparency and along comes someone like Joe Soll who wants the esteemed Mrs. B.J. Lifton to expunge the term birthmother from her speech at his conference because there are people in the audience who find it offensive. B.J. Lifton’s books, all of them, use the word birthmother as do almost all other respected writing on adoption. Maybe Joe Soll needs to catch up on his reading.
The term birthmother is used ALL THE TIME, by attorneys, adoption agencies, the states, the courts, adoption reform groups across the board, lobbyists, social workers, psychologists, Google, AAC, CUB, NCFA, BN, and the media. I support B.J. Lifton 100% for pulling out of a conference where she isn’t afforded freedom of speech. And I applaud Bastardette for reporting it.
Bastard Nation fights for truth in adoption practices and for truth for all adopted adults. With Marley Greiner at the helm, Bastard Nation has fought in Oregon and Alabama and New Hampshire to bring truth to ALL adopted adults. We’re not locked up in hotel rooms talking about our issues. We’re out in the streets fighting for our issues. That’s the kind of organization we are.
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Coincidence or Microcosm
BastardGrannyAnnie
A True Story
Conversations heard around the dining room table among several strangers paying their condolences at a Shiva ( a Jewish wake.)
For once in my life I kept my mouth shut. This was a house of mourning, after all, and it wasn’t the time to stir up any hornet’s nests. Instead, I listened quietly as the good and grateful adoptee… which seemed to make everyone feel very comfortable to tell their stories.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"We have two adopted daughters. We always wanted to help them find their biological mothers. They wanted to know "who they were" and I believe in that. In fact, I hired a searcher- friend to help find one of their birth mothers. Unfortunately, neither daughter had a good reunion experience …. [ followed by a description of "a slut birthmother who drinks, takes drugs, has lots of boyfriends yadda yadda yadda ] Our daughter cut off all communication with "that woman." It was too much for her."
ME: My mother would turn in her grave if I ever even mentioned searching.
"Oh no, Anita, not today she wouldn’t object. Things are different today."
ME: (To myself) OH YEAH?
"One of our daughters is of Swedish origins (father pulls out picture of young woman with blonde curly hair and pale skin). When she was in school, she came to us and asked us "What am I?." I told her she was Polish and Russian, just like us, her parents. And that was settled and she was happy. [ husband and wife, both short, pudgy Eastern European Jews, nodding their heads and smiling] "
ME: (To myself) ) OH YEAH?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"My daughter in law has found both her biological parents and is ecstatic! The whole family is so excited. We’re all going down to Florida next week to meet her mother and her grandmother and aunts and uncles. It’s just the most wonderful thing that ever happened."
Me: Your daughter in law’s parents; how are they taking all this? Are they going too?
"Oh no, they’re very quiet about it all. They never say anything. They’re very intelligent people but they don’t ever talk about any of this."
"You know, I always used to wish I were adopted. I just love the idea of being chosen."
Me: (To myself: OH YEAH?)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"We have two granddaughters, ages 16 and 18, both adopted from Korea. (proudly shows photos. Our 18 year old is spending 7 weeks traveling and studying in Israel this summer."
ME: Have your granddaughters ever expressed a desire to learn more about their Korean culture?
"Oh No Why should they? They’re American!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"I have an adopted daughter. She once thought of searching but then she said to me, ‘Ma, you and Dad have done everything for me. You are the only parents for me’."
Smiles, nods, "oh yes’s, " going all round the table.
"Twenty three months after we adopted our daughter, I gave birth to our son. My doctor told me this would happen and he was right. I had one of my own."
------------------
A True Story
Conversations heard around the dining room table among several strangers paying their condolences at a Shiva ( a Jewish wake.)
For once in my life I kept my mouth shut. This was a house of mourning, after all, and it wasn’t the time to stir up any hornet’s nests. Instead, I listened quietly as the good and grateful adoptee… which seemed to make everyone feel very comfortable to tell their stories.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"We have two adopted daughters. We always wanted to help them find their biological mothers. They wanted to know "who they were" and I believe in that. In fact, I hired a searcher- friend to help find one of their birth mothers. Unfortunately, neither daughter had a good reunion experience …. [ followed by a description of "a slut birthmother who drinks, takes drugs, has lots of boyfriends yadda yadda yadda ] Our daughter cut off all communication with "that woman." It was too much for her."
ME: My mother would turn in her grave if I ever even mentioned searching.
"Oh no, Anita, not today she wouldn’t object. Things are different today."
ME: (To myself) OH YEAH?
"One of our daughters is of Swedish origins (father pulls out picture of young woman with blonde curly hair and pale skin). When she was in school, she came to us and asked us "What am I?." I told her she was Polish and Russian, just like us, her parents. And that was settled and she was happy. [ husband and wife, both short, pudgy Eastern European Jews, nodding their heads and smiling] "
ME: (To myself) ) OH YEAH?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"My daughter in law has found both her biological parents and is ecstatic! The whole family is so excited. We’re all going down to Florida next week to meet her mother and her grandmother and aunts and uncles. It’s just the most wonderful thing that ever happened."
Me: Your daughter in law’s parents; how are they taking all this? Are they going too?
"Oh no, they’re very quiet about it all. They never say anything. They’re very intelligent people but they don’t ever talk about any of this."
"You know, I always used to wish I were adopted. I just love the idea of being chosen."
Me: (To myself: OH YEAH?)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"We have two granddaughters, ages 16 and 18, both adopted from Korea. (proudly shows photos. Our 18 year old is spending 7 weeks traveling and studying in Israel this summer."
ME: Have your granddaughters ever expressed a desire to learn more about their Korean culture?
"Oh No Why should they? They’re American!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"I have an adopted daughter. She once thought of searching but then she said to me, ‘Ma, you and Dad have done everything for me. You are the only parents for me’."
Smiles, nods, "oh yes’s, " going all round the table.
"Twenty three months after we adopted our daughter, I gave birth to our son. My doctor told me this would happen and he was right. I had one of my own."
------------------
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
