schmoozing

So this past weekend I flew to Southern California to go to a Georgian Reunion. That would be Georgia the country, not Georgia the Peach State.

It was a lunch in San Diego attended by a bunch of folks who have adopted kids from the Republic of Georgia. Most of them had used the agency I'm considering using, but not all. All of them brought their kids, which was cool. The kids were all just running around and screaming for much of the event, and seemed pretty much like any other kid.

The parents were all over the map - some I really liked and connected with, some not so much. The only thing they had in common, after all, was the country from which they adopted.

But, it was cool to hear their stories and their opinions. Once family was there with a 7 year old boy they had brought home just 2 months before - and he was great, totally adjusted and attached. Amazing.

I did the requisite arse-kissing with the Georgian facilitator, who was in the US for the week. And it was good to meet the agency owner and director personally - I had been emailing with both of them, but it was so nice to put faces with names. I think I earned some brownie points by going all that way just to meet them.

With the exception of one couple who have received a referral and are just waiting to travel, I was the only one there without a kid... kind of weird. And, one of only two single folks. Made me a little bummed out again that I'm doing this on my own.

But, the net effect of all the chatting and schmoozing was that I'm psyched about moving forward with adopting. Even the people who got stuck during the revolution, and who had pretty hellish stories to tell about adopting, were so happy in the end. Everyone there was so clear and so positive - they all firmly believe it was worth it. Something to keep in mind when this process gets tough.