Adopted
Continued from Page 6
returned to me. I was depressed.
On the letter it stated that "Mrs.
Hick” was no longer at that address
and had left no forwarding address.
Where could I go from here? My
adoptive mother’s advice was to
call the city’s directory assistance.
After doing that, I found that the
number for "Desmonda Haynes,”
my biological mother, was unpub
lished. "Another dead end — oi
maybe not. My next step was to call
the operator and explain my situa
tion. I decided to have her call the
unpublished number and to give
Desmonda a message to call me.
She called right away.
I n the midst of our crying voices,
my mother said, "I knew 1 would
hear from you someday. How have
you been, baby?"
It was the happiest day of my
life. I was speaking to this woman,
my mother, for the very first time. It
was quite emotional. The feeling
that came over me was a need to be
auie 10 loucn, to noia, 10 nug tne
mother that I had never seen. We
both vowed we would work to get
the funds and to plan our reunion.
Before hanging up the phone, I
expressed my love to my mother. I
didn’t know, and it didn’t matter,
what events led us to not be to
gether.
After hanging up the phone, I
immediately phoned my adoptive
family in Ord My mom, as well as
the rest of the family, was excited to
hear about my accomplishment of
finding my biological mother. My
father asked if I had plans to visit
my mother and offered to pay for
the trip. A prayer was answered.
Within two weeks, I wason a plane
on the way to New York City.
“Please fasten your seat belts,"
said a flight attendant. The plane
was getting ready to take oil. My
son a nd I were on a jou rney to New
York City, a place where I hadn’t
been in 10 years. I was returning to
the city of my birth. 1 explained that
to my son, who was 2 at the lime.
I also h a d to ex pi ai n tha t the people
we were going to visit were rela
tives of ours whom I had never
seen before
The flight was spectacular! One
could look at the large skyscrapers
for which New York is so famous.
This sight sticks in my mind even
today. The beauty of the city from
the sky seemed to be overwhelm
ing for my son as well. Even now,
whenever my son sees a plane, he
questions, "Is that New York?"
The plane landed. I was full of
excitement and I wondered, how
would I know who she was? “Take .
it easy," I told myself. "Just look for
someone like yourself.” The walk
to the wailing area to my family
seemed liked an eternity. Every
step was heavy with anticipation.
Finally, I reached the wailing
area. From a distance, I spotted a
dark-complexioned woman in a
flowered dress. She had shoulder
length hair and a healthy body
frame. I asked myself if this woman
could possibly be my mother. But
when ou r eyes met, I knew she was
my mother. We ran for each other,
wrapping ourselves around one
another, our eyes filled with tears.
“Oh baby, it’s so good to see ya!"
she said. I replied, “Mommy,I love
you!" At that point we drew a way to
look at one another. It was like
Yolanda Avidano gives thanks to her adoptive parents ywfio
helped her to find her biological family roots.
1 _ _ 1 • . . - r- . . - . # .
tuuKiug in n mirror, i iouna myseii
amused. She had a very dark-toned
complexion. I often had wondered
why 1 was so dark, and now 1 knew
it was passed to me from my mother
and from her father. She could give
me the answers to all my questions
and all my concerns about my be
ing! I was beginning to understand
more about myselfT
We pulled ourselves together
enough to gather my luggage and
prepare for our trip home. My
mother introduced me to my brother
George and my baby brother
Quamel. I, in turn, introduced my
mother to her grandson and my
brothers to their nephew. We all
hugged one another. My mother
said my grandmother, her mother,
was waiting in the car for us. 1 then
met my grandmother and her hus
band. It was so overwhelming; I
had never been so happy.
On the ride to the apartment, I
began to feel right at nome. As I
I „ ^1__J _ Z. _ • - J _.• •_
iwnv^u uui ii iv, vai wiiiuw w f v IOIWI to
of the childhood that I spent in the
city seemed to pass me by.
When we reached my mother’s
apartment, I became depressed with
the close surroundings. 1 had for
gotlen what city life was like. The
usy and noisy pace was a real
culture shock, so different from
Ord. I said goodbye to my grand
mother after she dropped us off
and promised to visit her before my
visit’s end. After entering my
mother’s apartment, I met my third
brother, Darrclle.
After settling in, I began to ask
my mother the questions that were
important to me. My mother ex
plained the circumstances of my
adoption. She also mentioned that
sne nau goucn in loucn witn my
birth father’s mother, and that I
should call to make arrangements
to have a reunion with my father as
well. I hadn’t given much thought
to the opportunity of meeting both
sides of the family.
My father’s name is Willie
Richburg, the name on my birth
certificate. I was also a mirror of
him. When I first saw him, 1 could
tell that I took after him maybe
morethanmy mother. Hewasatall,
slim man, dressed in a military
uniform. He had a very inviting
smile. We sat and talked for hours,
and he explained what had been
going on in his life when I was
born. He explained what had kept
us from being together. I explained
to him, as I had to my mother, that
it didn’t matter to me. I was just
happy to be able to meet my birth
iamny. me past behind me, I was
only concerned with whateverhap
pened from here.
I remained in New York forthree
weeks to visit my mother’s and
father’s families, which included
my brothers, my grandmothers, my
great grandmother, my great aunt,
my u ncles, my sister. I talked on the
phone to another uncle and his
family.
When looking in the faces of the
people in my family, 1 see myself. In
some kind of way, that assures my
wholeness — my roots. I now can
pass this onto my son.
My visit with my family was truly
memorable. At last I fell the empty
space inside me filled. It is almost a
feelingthatl can’t explain. Ifl never
see my family again, I could go on
with the confidence of having met
them.
My life hasn’t been the same
since. I still keep in touch with my
motner and lather. wc iry lo visit at
least once a year. 1 now can say my
name with a sense of pride and
dignity, having had two families
that each have given me a taste of
what life and love is all about!
I truly love my adoptive family.
They brought me to eventually meet
my biological family, and they
thought it was best to share the love
ofhuman lifethatwasofihcir flesh
and blood.
Valentine’s Day will leave me
with loving thoughts of my unique
family, which I truly love. I will
cross many milestones in the jour
ney of gelling lo know my biologi
cal family, but it will be worth it.
Yolanda Avidano is a sophomore family
seicnee major and s Diversions contribu
tor.
SXTIsllE
Special Quest
SAIGON KICK
SUNDAY, FEB. 21
8 PM
MUSIC HALL
General Admission: $20
On sale at all Ticketmaster outlets
including Homer's, Pickles,
Younkers, Hy-Vee Food Stores in
Council Bluffs and the Omaha Civic
Auditorium Box Office.
(Subject to convenience charge except
at the auditorium)
Charge-by-Phone: (402) 422-1212
A Contemporary Presentation
f 1993
Homecoming
Steering Committee
Applications
University Program Council
\
Due Monday, February 15, 1993
Interviews: Week of Feb. 22
Applications will be available at: 117 NCI
200 NU
l_ 300 NEU J
l^==^=^===== ■ "" «
ATTENTION I
Students From Omaha:
Earn $8,000 this Summer and
Gain Valuable Real-World Skills
for your Resume.
COLLEGE PRO PAINTERS
has an excellent opportunity for 3 Responsible,
Mature students living in Omaha this summer. •
Presentation in the Student Union THIS FRIDAY
February 12, at 3:00 and 4:30 p.m.
Learn how to run and operate a small profitable |
business. Earn a lot of money, valuable skills §
for future employment or graduate school, and {
Intern Credit. 1
No experience or major preferred, No money 1
necessary. I
Contact: Wade Costello
Before Friday A M. Call Collect (303)449-5253
or leave message. |
Friday: (Cornhusker Hotel) 474-7474 j