Red's Wrap
Happiness. It's relative.
Tag: adoption
Home Field
This is the story of a magical day – a sterling day, so perfect that it could only have been a crafted, scripted waking dream. The gods created it, I’m sure, as a gift for our strained family and the troubled times we had… Continue Reading “Home Field”
Bear Watch
It’s funny how things work out. How we end up doing things we didn’t think we’d still be doing after already raising four kids. Every Friday, right around this time, we go on Bear Watch. Friday night to Monday morning – every week. Car seat,… Continue Reading “Bear Watch”
With Her Bare Hands
It was this time of year, on Indian Lake in the U.P., that I realized that my new 7-year old daughter could catch fish with her bare hands. I’d walked down to the dock from the funky little cabin where we were staying to check… Continue Reading “With Her Bare Hands”
Astonishing
I think this picture should be an ad for adoption. You know how most adoption family pictures are so posed? And everyone looks happy – but they kind of need to look happy because the meter’s running on some photographer’s time. Well, this picture… Continue Reading “Astonishing”
Too Dark
So how dark is too dark? Irrelevant, right? A kid’s a kid. An orphan’s an orphan. Or so I thought. I was so happy to get an actual child that I never thought about skin color before I became an adoptive mom although later,… Continue Reading “Too Dark”
Dumb Luck
There are people who make a living figuring out the right adoption ‘matches’. Who’s right for who? Can this kid’s needs be met by these prospective parents? Will this kid fit into these parents’ lives? Science. Social work. Analysis. For no apparent reason, this… Continue Reading “Dumb Luck”
Dew I Know You?
I’ve had a really bad attitude about Mountain Dew ever since I watched a PBS special about dental issues in Appalachia. So seeing my son walk into a funeral with a half-drunk MD in the back pocket of his jeans really put me around the… Continue Reading “Dew I Know You?”
Orphan Shoe
We did almost everything wrong, right from the start. My husband landed in Managua in the middle of a huge international dispute — appearing in Nicaragua to bring home our new son, Nelson Ernesto Bravo, the same day in 1986 as Gene Hasenfuss, a CIA operative… Continue Reading “Orphan Shoe”
I Got Your Back, Baby
My girl Jhosy is one tough cookie. Tough cookie, as in if I was in a dark alley and could pick only one buddy – I’d vote for Jhosy over some big muscle guy. Because she’s got grit, like you wouldn’t believe. The… Continue Reading “I Got Your Back, Baby”
Surprise
It was impossible to be happier than we were when our boys were little. Because of times like these but also because we were lucky and we knew it. This day at the beach in Marathon, Florida Keys, has stuck with us for a… Continue Reading “Surprise”
Snow Door | wisconsinacademy.org
Listen to Jan read her essay “Billy” presented on WUWM’s Lake Effect
Jan’s essay “At the Breakfast Bar” on WUWM Lake Effect
Jan’s essay “The Parish Hall,” on WUWM Lake Effect
“Fury Cannot Touch Me,” Modern Love, NYT, 9/29/11
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