A Special Day

Today, is a special day. In fact, it has always been called my Special Day. You see, 30 years ago, to the day, my mom and dad saw me for the first time. I was 6 weeks old and in a foster home with a different name. In fact, the name that my mom and dad gave me would be my third name in my short 6 week life span. I started out as Kristen Nicole Shipley, then was Amy Holston, and then I became Jone Suzanne Johnson (pronounced Jonie).
You see, I am adopted. I was adopted on Feb. 11, 1982. The story that I always heard is somewhat intriguing. As a curious child, at three years old, I asked my mom if I came from her tummy. After dad arrived home from work that evening, they explained to me that I did not come from her belly but from someone else's. They told me that I was "special" because they got to choose me. They told me that they knew I was the one from the first minute they saw me. My mom and dad had to come to meet me at a church I think. When they walked in the building, they could hear me crying. When they got to the door, my dad could see me, but my mom (being only 5 foot even) could not. When they walked in, they told me I looked at them, and stopped crying, just like that. It was like I knew or something.
So from the day that I found out that I was adopted, I had two days, my birthday, and my "special" day to celebrate. Growing up, whenever kids asked if i was adopted I would always tell them yes and it made me special because my mom and dad got to pick me.
Unfortunately, as we all know, kids can be cruel. In third grade, some boys decided that their new game was going to be Make Jone Cry, and they did, everyday. They taunted and teased me about the fact that I was adopted. To them, I was "Orphan Annie", or "Reject" or "Unloved" or "Unlovable". They never onced tired of telling me that my own mother threw me away like yesterdays trash. I was second best. No one wanted me. I was like a reject toy at a factory being recalled because I had something wrong with me. Eventually, they stopped, it is funny now (not really) that one of those gentlemen died of an overdose, while the other is in jail. No, I am not bitter, but I know that the scars of bullies never truly heal, as when I fail at something, I can always hear them whispering "reject" in my ear. They are my ghosts, and I know that they will never truly ever go away.
These things do not define me, but help shape me into who I am. I am Dr. Jone Jones Boak. I have led a successful life. I am married to an amazing man. I have a dog who stole my heart from the moment that I met her. Then, I have this little life growing inside me. It is hard to think of a life any different than the one that I have now, and I know that had my biological mother decided to keep me, I would have lived a very different lifestyle. I am thankful for the fact that a 19 year old was unselfish enough to look at herself and say "I want more for my child." Now, I am not saying that all teenagers do not make good parents, some do, but some don't. But, a older, more established, married couple, who has planned for a child for a very long time is 99 % of the time going to be more prepared. I think my biological mother for realizing that she couldn't give me this life. It is hard to put myself in her shoes, and I have to admit, I do not care much for her, but I do thank her. Because all I know is that from the first time I saw and heard Baby Boak, I fell in love. I couldn't even imagine the pain of giving her or him away.