From the US to Kazakhstan and Back
Friday, October 24, 2003
One of the girls at work came in today and mentioned that the internationally adopted children are "very lucky." I told her that I'm the lucky one.
She said they're "like Cinderella." But I explained, no, I'm the one who feels like Cinderella.
Maybe if I didn't come to get this little beauty, she'd have to grow up in the babyhouse but if she did, she'd never know the difference. She'd think that's how everybody lives and grows up. But me, I'd know what I'm missing.
So I really am the Cinderella in this story. I'm the lucky one. I get to have this beautiful child in my life and she'll call me Mommy, then Mom, then when she's a teenager, probably some names I don't want to think about.
Ask me again in about 10 years if I still feel like Cinderella, okay?
Hey! I'm figuring this thing out. Slowly but surely.
If you want to look at earlier blogs, just click on the appropriate date on the right hand side of the page.
TTFN - Back to packing.
**Panic!**
The Fed Ex Web site said my passport had arrived from the consulate and was happily awaiting my return from work. Got home, no envelope, no passport, no little note that said they left it at the rental office. I'm guessing it's near impossible to get a passport and visa in 3 days (2 of which are weekend days.)
Called the office, yes! They did have a delivery from Fed Ex for me! Yea! So, off I go to the office. It's a bit of a walk but I had the adrenaline. She walks up with a large package that's obviously not a Fed Ex envelope with a passport in it (Denise and Jim, I got the book.) She dug for another package for me. Nothing.
Okay, I'm emotional but the tears welled up and off I went to search every apartment back to mine, just in case it was on the wrong door. Nothing.
Then I looked down and peeking out from under the welcome mat, I see the corner of a piece of paper. This isn't odd. There are several feral cats out there who bring me gifts in return for food.
But today, it was a gift from the Fed Ex man...my passport, complete with visa.
Guess it's a good thing that happened. If not, I wouldn't have known the book had arrived and that would have been sad.
A Rose By Any Other Name
Several people have asked me if I'm going to change my little girl's name. The answer to that is yes. Superstition keeps me from actually revealing the name until the judge says she's really and forever my daughter. Yes, her name right now is beautiful. But I want her to have the name her mommy gave to her. And we kind of want to avoid Grandma's nickname of "Salsa" :)
Last day at work until mid-January. Wow! I felt a bit emotional but I made it through without crying. It's not like I'm going to war or anything. At least I hope not. Felt kind of good to clear out the queue, though. Many thanks to the good, old US Government for understanding that sometimes people just have to take time off to straighten out their real lives and instituting the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and thanks to the folks at Pervasive for understanding and supporting me in this.
Thank you to everyone who's wished us a safe journey! I'd love to answer all the emails but it would be impossible. My travel date would come and go and I'd still be writing. I do appreciate it, though. Have a burger for us while we're there eating horse meat and lamb :P
They tell me the bread is excellent there but I'll have to try the horse at least once. How do I know I don't like it if I don't try it? We have plenty of other food to tide us over, including Spam, unless the airlines see that as hazardous material and confiscate it. Don't groan, I like Spam. There must be a lot of people that like it, they just don't admit it. I think Mom's sending some peanut butter, too. We're not going to starve, for sure :)
