It’s me again… just me… [I look up at Vincent who is tapping a pencil on the edge of his desk as he’s scanning someone’s Psychology paper.] again…

So, I finally got him to confess that he agreed to creating a blog because he thought it would be good “introspective” time for me… what a professor. [I say “Professor” out loud just because I know it bothers him. Vincent looks up at me from the tops of his reading glasses and narrows his eyes.] So, back to my post, he thought I should talk about my adoption. 

My adolescent life, what I remember, was very simple. Until I was nine, I lived with other foster children in a shelter up in the Ozark mountains. I think my parents and I tried to wipe that experience from my mind because until I met Vincent and took a trip to visit the shelter, I didn’t remember anything from that time in my life. [I looked up at Vincent, who was still absorbed in the paper he was grading.] However, driving up to the house and seeing Marida, the shelter mom, brought back memories I had tucked away. I honestly think my Mom tried to bury them to prevent me from feeling as though I didn’t belong in the family. 

So, at age nine and completely freaked out, I was transported from the shelter to my Parent’s home. It was some time before I was ready to really join their family. But, just a few months later, Elixabeth came along and the pressure was on to connect with them. Although, we fought for many years, our interests changed and we weren’t so invested in annoying the other. Also, Elixabeth got an iPad when she was five, so YouTube became her new obsession and the only time she really annoyed me was when she found out she could send me videos… [Insert actual eye roll here…] I’ve never seen so many “Funny Cat” videos in all my life. Oh, and you better believe she checked that you watched every minute of it by talking about every single one and asking which was your “favorite”. I digress… 

For many years it was just the four of us. My Mom and Dad… look at their cute couples’ shot from when they got engaged. [Vincent looks up at me and I realize I’ve been staring at their picture for the past few minutes. He gulps and shrugs his shoulders. “I’m fine, just looking at my parents.” Vincent smirks and returns to the paper he’s grading.] They were married for about seven years before they adopted me. Dad called that time their, “Honeymoon. All seven years of it!” Although, I think my Dad controls the house a little too much, they do love each other and I know behind closed doors Mom lets him have it when she needs to.  She’s respectful, but I know she’s got some spice in her, too… 

The boys… well, they’re boys. We were all so excited when we found out that we were going to have twins in our family. On the other hand, we weren’t so excited about twelve weeks later when we found out they were both boys and then even later to top it off, identical. [Vincent put down the paper he was grading and came over to my side. “How much more do you have left? I am starving!” I turn to him and smile, winking instead of replying. He shakes his head and wraps his arm around my shoulders.] No matter how annoying they are or how crazy they act, we know they belong to us because they’re so similar to my Dad. I think he’s proud that they’re so much like him and so, he spoils them rotten. Since they’ve been sleeping in their own beds, he’s tucked them in and read them stories about dinosaurs and dump trucks. 

Although, I never felt like I was super attached to my family, I miss them. I miss waking up on Saturday morning with the boys running around and Elixabeth helping Mom make chocolate chip pancakes. I miss my family home life where you sit down in the living room and watch t.v. regardless if it’s cartoons or not. However, I think Vincent has tried to help give me a place similar to that by opening up his home for me. [Vincent typing: Technically it’s her home, too. So, I’m just giving her back the key.] Anyway, it’s been nice to have a place to escape when college begins to get too real. 

Jane & (One line: Vincent)