Friday, December 28, 2007

Mighty Aphrodite

Justin and I spent Christmas at my dad's place in Tampa this year. Since Justin is Jewish, the merry-go-round of where to spend the holidays is a trifle more simplified than if his family celebrated Christmas. I say a trifle because as the childless couple, we still seem to spend a lot of Christmases rotating through my mother's, my father's and my sister's. Having young children seems to grant you an instant pass on travel, should you choose to take it. Understandably so, as I've seen the safari it requires to get my sister and her two boys mobile and travel-ready. I can still see her limping towards security, a permanent dent in her shin formed from the car seat banging into it as she hefted it from car to plane to baggage.

I wonder if it will be me next year, declining travel with a weary sigh. B the G might be almost two by then. It might add a whole new wrinkle in the Christmas destination discussion. I tend to think however, that unless I adopt a troll, I'm going to be toting that child from location to location and basking in the glow of people fawning over B the G, as I have fawned and fussed over all the children I come across. Whether I'm in the fawning mood or not. I've got a little beaming and strutting coming my way and I intend to make the most of it.

That being said, though, I do have remarkable role model moms to look to when I do heave that weary sigh. My sister, the above mentioned travel martyr (my words, not hers), who once paused in the middle of a phone conversation with me to untie a shoestring that her youngest had tied around his penis. I can still hear the calm and patience in her voice through the phone she had put down as she said, "Yes, I see it's tight. That's why it's not a good idea to tie things around your penis." Like she might have been explaining why you should brush your teeth or wear a helmet. Just an all around good idea.

And then there is Jen whose adoption process and subsequent journey into the extreme highs and lows of of this business allow me to feel slightly less bipolar and manic. Or at least a little less lonely while I'm riding it out.

And another friend who shall remain nameless, but who gave up her own child for adoption some 15 years ago. Her honesty, bravery and vulnerability both then and now are inspirational to me and have shown me a different facet to motherhood and adoption than I will know, but so greatly affect me and my future B the G.

I could extend this list quite a ways now that I think about it and realize I am surrounded by these wonder women who motivate me in this quest. The patience, the perseverance, the selflessness it takes to do this job well. Well, I started this entry writing about future holiday travel plans, but this one turned out to be a jam for the ladies.

Friday, December 7, 2007

Christmas Condi

Wow, that was quire a prolonged absence, but I have been doing a tremendous amount of traveling lately with the holidays. Lots of driving time which led to a lot of highway thought about B the G. No more news as of yet from the agency, but right now I'm taking that as a good sign.

I'm watching Condi Rice closer than I've ever cared to, mentally willing her to sweet talk her way into Russia's heart over the Iran sanctions issue. I don't know if sweet talk is her strong suit, but I'm sending her the vibe just the same. I can't afford any international diplomatic breakdowns or even political gaffs to put a hold on Russian international adoption.

I know it's enormously egocentric of me to put my impending adoption on par with nuclear weapons development. But if they could all agree over some caviar and vodka,-and really how can you disagree with caviar and vodka involved- it would ease my mind a bit. Interesting that the countries that are holding out on imposing these sanctions are Russia and China. Maybe Guatemala and Kazakhstan will join in to make it consistent.

Speaking of that, my adoption agency just opened up adoptions in Liberia, which makes me happy. I like to see new countries open up those possibilities for their children and for waiting parents. Although I suppose it also indicates deeper socio-economic troubles for said country. Silver linings and clouds, and all that it implies.

So to to stick with my GOP theme here, this season I am simply staying the course. As GW so eloquently stated, I've got to be ready for any unforeseen event which may or may not happen.