Passages

Today we had Mallory's senior portraits taken. It was a wonderful session. Three outdoor locations, two studio sessions, five outfits. Way more than the wicker chair and drape of my high school days. Way more money too.

I had put aside a little cash here and there to pay for it. Then the car died. The a/c broke. The dog died, not without spending some dough for her final days either. So we really couldn't afford to have the nice senior pictures. We should've just had a portrait done at the mall. Mallory would've understood. She's thrifty. Actually she's miserly.

But I couldn't cancel the session. We've been planning it for months, we did a ton of research. So we're all eating pancakes and tofu chili dogs for a couple of months. If you aren't my progeny, you're getting a picture of Mallory for Christmas.

The photographer was wonderful and spent three hours working with her.  I can't wait to see the shots. I texted Noelle during the middle of it and sent her some pictures. Another milestone towards adulthood. I was verklempt. Noelle was too. It seemed wrong that she wasn't there to squeeze my hand at the times Mal was so beautiful it took my breath away. Mal really reminded me of Noelle when we first met. Noelle was just a little older than Mallory is now. It hardly seems possible we've come this far.

Today's experience and Vidalia's comment on the last post made me think about some perspective on the "end" of our whole open adoption experience. Obviously these relationships will be life long, but if you had to put an end date, a date to look back, it seems like the next year is the logical place. Mallory is nearly 18. She'll graduate high school. She'll leave home.

I would love it if the three of us could sit down and write something about what this journey has been to us, both good and bad. I'll talk to Noelle and Mallory about it, in real life people have told us for years that we need to tell our story. I feel like I've done a lot of that through this blog, but it's been mostly my voice.

I'd like a forum for all of us to have more equal footing. I'm tossing some ideas around in my head.

We'll keep you posted.

Comments

[Heather]

I know I would love to read that.

[Songbird]

Me, too.

[Susie]

Wow, I'd really love to read that too.

[Jody]

I'd read that. But I love just reading you, too.

Congratulations on this milestone. Have a good supply of comfort foods on hand when the photos arrive. Not right next to them, obviously. And don't let any tears drip on them, either!

[Clover]

Wow- that would be great!

[Vidalia]

Can. Not. Wait. For that. Awesome idea.( "I'd like a forum for all of us to have more equal footing.") Wait. "Awesome, oh wow, Like, totally freak me out I mean right on..."