However some recent no-so-great events have got me thinking a lot about some of the really special people in my life. I'm lucky to have some pretty great individuals in a few areas of my life but one group of these awesome people in particular, are on my mind even more as of late.
As most people know, I am adopted. I grew up after the 8 day mark in a really good family. I was (and am) loved and was given opportunities to learn and experience many amazing things. Despite all this, I was always curious about "where I came from", which is a totally normal thing for us adopted folk to, at the very least, ponder. When I was in my mid 20s, I was fortunate to be able to track down my birth mom. We exchanged letters and emails and one Friday night met at an East Side Marios for the first time. I was very nervous (and she was too) but after a few minutes of looking at the face of someone who actually looked like me (a first for me), I felt oddly at ease.
The next night, I attended a BBQ where I think I met half of southwestern Ontario including most of the rest of my birth mom's side of the family. Most of the people in attendance had no idea that I even existed until just weeks before the "unveiling". Yet family and friends alike welcomed me into their community like someone who had just been away for a little while. That's where I truly got my first taste of how amazing this family (and all their people) were.
Over the years I have gotten to know them all better. I know who I share mannerisms with. I see where my love of animals might be a genetic thing. I know where I get my shyness and my creative clutter tendencies from (I won't name names). They have told me the story of all the things that lead up to my adoption and are always candid and open when I've had questions. They've let me into their homes on numerous occasions, and into their hearts too.
And I've learned so much from them. My birth mom and her sisters and the "kids" all seem to know when each other needs help - whether it be a ride or something from the store or a pet taken care of. They come together frequently and genuinely enjoy being together as a larger, extended family. They plan great dinners with everyone helping out in some way (and for the record I ave never eaten anything less than amazing at any of these meals). They step up without any effort or complaint and they make sure everyone around them is okay. They are fiercely loyal and supportive of their clan. I felt this the very first time I met them all, and it has only become more clear over the last 12 or so years I've known them. In short - they are awesome. I am a better person for knowing them all.
For the record, that's not to say my adoptive family doesn't share some or most of these traits. I think we were always just more spread out geographically and maybe didn't gel in quite the same way across all the family ties. It is simply a bit of a different family dynamic.
I remember when I was considering moving to Calgary, my boss at the time warned me "Sometimes, you are going to feel really far away". The last six months, with what my Mom has gone through, as well as my Grandma and now some things that my birth family members are facing, has made me really get what he meant. I feel far. Very far. I want to be able to step up and help them out the way I know they would for me if I needed it. Because my birth family, just like my adoptive family are my people.
For now, all I can do is think positive thoughts, and do the best I can to be there for them - because that is exactly what you do for your people.
