Mama Kisses

My sweet love, you are now fifteen. Taller than I, and wearing size eleven shoes, your voice has hit the bottom register. Darling, gorgeous, and sweet, you are good to others and to your mother. More importantly, you are a decent, kind and loving human being. I am so proud of my sweet son!

The bone graft was successful; braces have straightened your teeth and filled in gaps where your teeth were missing. You now face one, final surgery. Rhinoplasty will straighten your nose and deviated septum, and just this once, you mother has given you permission to "pick your nose." Like most teenagers, you are not adverse to the idea of an altered profile, and eagerly anticipate your "new look."

This year you start ninth grade in a new school. I am excited. Your sophomore and freshman years will see you spending two days a week in community service, helping to build homes for the homeless, or working in food kitchens. Your junior and senior years will provide internships in your chosen profession. You are thinking about the culinary arts or veterinary medicine. How exciting this will be for you!

Your new school has students who have been accepted into Yale, Harvard, Columbia, and other great universities in the U.S. such as Ohio State University. It is a great opportunity.

You play the guitar, and have moved from acoustic to six-string. Soon you will be studying bass guitar - not bad for a kid only three months into the program! Your teacher, Robert Gage, is very proud and excited about your advancement.

You can cook, help with the laundry, clean the house, and do various favors for the neighbors. They appreciate your efforts in helping with yard work, or setting up and cleaning after parties.

You are highly respected in our community and in your school. Christopher Bullfrog Catcher is well received, and you have touched the hearts of thousands of people.

I think back to the woman who told me that you were incapable of learning, and instead of anger, I now feel pity. How narrow her world must be, and how many lives she must have impacted. I am concerned with how many futures were altered because of her negativity, and breathe a sigh of relief that you are not among her casualties.

I am thankful that I could shun her prognosis, and look back to the children I grew up with, my own neglected and violent childhood, and the example of friends who helped their children. We all defied statistics, and learned to thrive.

I am thankful that I was sent to "boot camp," and survived it intact, so that I could fall back on my experiences to help you reach your potential.

Mostly, I am thankful for you, my sweet boy. You have made my life far richer than I ever thought possible. You have given me more joy than I could have imagined existed. You have given me...you.

I want you to remember, Christopher, that though death will eventually separate me from you, it will not still my love for you, my faith in you, or my hopes for you. Mama kisses don't go away. They last...for eternity.

To be continued.

I Am From

I am from the beautiful fragrance of coffee, musky dog smell, and Dawn detergent.

I am from the antique house, over a beautiful diamond lake.

I am from the pink, white, and scarlet petals of roses and shiny, green ferns.

I am from family Thanksgivings on an island in Maryland and farmers who grew food. I am from the wonderful, old name Welch which is from Ireland. I am from the Viking name of Shiveley. I am from the French name of Gaffin.

I am from people who like to write. I am from generations of authors.

I am from peaceful people in a wonderful, peaceful community. I am from the nickname of "Monkey" to Chris and from cleft lip and palate to repaired.

I am from a Catholic mother and Presbyterian father. I am from the sweat lodge of the Lakota. I am from a God who cares about all living things.

I am from the quiet town of Westerville. I am from the German and Irish, the Vikings, French and the Cherokee, a beautiful mix. I am from dairy cows and wheat. I am from adoption.

I am from the peaceful state of Ohio and from war veterans. I am from the man who walked into Dora and liberated the Jews there. I am from the compassion and the bravery of my mother.

I am from the beautiful pictures of my mother and my father as kids. I am from the sketch of me on the wall. I am from the pictures of my grandparents in the living room.

I am from love.

Christopher Shiveley Welch

Excerpt from Son of My Soul -The Adoption of Christopher ISBN: 1894936930 Debra Shiveley Welch, Saga Books
Warning: All poems/articles/works by the author are protected by copyright laws against the risk of plagiarism. To safeguard the author, a regular search of the Internet is provided to ensure this law has not been broken! Any Website/Blog/Forum which displays Debra's work MUST have received her permission to do so. (Permission to adopt statement given by its creator, Debbie Stevens.)
ISBN: 1894936930 Debra Shiveley Welch, Saga Books