this is so tender and full of hope and joy.
If it is autobiographical, I am happy for you. If it's not for you andyour family,......I am still glad........

So beautiful. There's nothing quite like becoming a parent to change you forever, for the better.

Beautiful. Sweet and sad.

Tight and moving. You tell us so much so succinctly.

This piece is exactly why "sudden shorts" need to be collected and read.

Procopius, if this is a true story and not sudden fiction; and if it refers to your own adopted child, I humbly suggest that you one day write it out on paper and give it to your son. This is the best of the "101" bunch so far... and that is saying a great deal considering the wonderful writing that this little 101 project has wrought.

(one other thing Proco, this little OS phenomenon was actually introduced by Somyr Perry. And she admittedly got the idea from Ommatidia.org)

Wow, thank you all for your very kind comments. Yes, it's a true story.

Edgar, thanks for the heads up, I have expanded my tribute accordingly!

Wow.

The tenderness of this is deeply moving. And it's beautifully rendered.

Oh my. How beautiful.

Oh, you know how to warm a heart and give my day a perfect ending. Thanks so much. Good night. Sweet dreams...

A story of true love and true hope...angst yes, sad no. New life in ways not expected, not planned. Who cares...really.

This was so affecting, how each of you in this story is such an example of the rewards of being generous with yourself....

Wowee. This one goes deep. Bless you. :)

So beautiful! I agree with Edgar and hope you will share this with your son.

Steve, this is such a welcome change to all the 101's. Personal, touching, evocative imagery.
Well done my friend, and your son is a lucky man and vice-versa.

Peace,
Greg

Beautiful! Thank you for this warm and loving post.

rated

thanks again to all of you who stopped by and commented. Adoption is a difficult process, and the events leading up to it can be very stressful. The rewards we have received have been amazing, though. We love the birth mother, and the sacrifice she made for her son is one that we cannot imagine, but she knows, and we know, she did the right thing. It's a story repeated hundreds or thousands of times every day.

Steve, a really moving story and beautifully stated in 101 words!

I'm with 'ella - Purple Puddles.

(thumbified for daddyness)

d & Jodi, thank you for your nice comments. I'm glad you stopped by.

Your son. Your son. Your son. How wonderful are those two words for all of you?

They are very wonderful, indeed. Thanks gracielou.

There is a young lady who is very close to our family. She adopted a child from China several years ago, a small infant girl. I've watched her grow, such a beautiful and carefree child. Whatever the reasons, adoption is wonderful. Genetics isn't what makes a family, emotional investment does.

Thumbed. Great story Steve, well-told.

Okay, I'm crying. This is beautiful.

I had to come back again, just so I could re-savor: "the electron orbiting wildly and purposefully around our nucleus"

Bill, there is a real subculture, for lack of a better word, of adoptive parents, and another subculture within that group who adopted from Asia. I'm glad for your friend.

m.a.h., thank you for the comment. Tears can be a good thing.

Sandra, he is a little electron. It's a joy to watch. It has been for nearly 8 years now.

Call it Grace, Call it Love, Call it the reason we are all here, call it whatever you choose----but this shout of joy is beyond words and well into music.

All the best my friend!

Roger

Gracias, Roger.

This gave me cold chills, you told this so very well. What a blessing you received.

Tears. This is so touching, human, real, life-affirming. Kudos.

I'm so pleased you shared this story with me.
"Will you protect me, accept me, give me love?"
What a fortunate day when that question was asked and answered by each one of you. And now you all are.
This touched my heart deeply.

Lunchlady, Rita, & Outside, thank you for your nice comment. I'm happy you found this ancient (by OS standards) post.

beautiful.