Here goes version number two of this annual letter. Version number one was already written, its prose, pace and measure crafted to a fine edge, when events intervened, forcing a revised draft. It’s hard to produce great art twice, but we’ll try.
We began letter number one by noting that 2006 will go down as the Year of the Wait. It could also be Year of the Weight, as Girard found himself ballooning in the midsection as he, with trusty sidekick Jessie, spent a good deal of time laying on the couch, resting and waiting. Still plagued by bouts of extreme fatigue, he often thought it best not to push it. He and Jessie also have a new couch with which to wait on. Jessie loves the new view out the window from the top perch. She has claimed this spot, plus one of the three cushions. Girard gets two cushions, and Raelene gets a whole new loveseat to herself.
So we waited, and waited. We put a lot of effort into it, and the reward kept getting delayed. First we heard rumours that it would happen in a matter of weeks, then months, but nothing happened. We’re referring, of course, to Girard’s fantasy football championship trophy, which he won back in January. All that glory and still nothing to show for it.
During the Year of the Wait, we not only had to deal with the agonizing wait for Girard’s fantasy football trophy, but there was also the matter of our oft-delayed adoption from China, which was another pretty important part of our lives in 2006. A person can only sit on a couch for so long, so after six months of that, in July, we started preparing for the arrival of “Miss X”. We built things, sold things, rearranged things, bought things. By December, we had accomplished almost everything on our to-do list, except cutting down on alcohol consumption. Raelene went on a buying binge, as women are wont to do, hunting through bargain bins for baby clothes. Miss X has lots of clothes and shoes and toys, and she also will have her own room (which was painted three times before the perfect colour was found), something Girard didn’t have until he was 23 years old, not that it matters. She also has a new car to ride around in, or at least newer. We bought a 2003 PT Cruiser this year from a widow who didn’t drive it very much. And that’s the truth. Raelene feels funky driving it around, Girard in his delusions thinks the girls watch him when he cruises by.
We also took in a few concerts this year while we were waiting but it seemed as though nothing could really take our minds off what we were waiting for.
On Monday, Dec. 4, at 9:30 a.m., we got a call from our social worker — come down and see our proposed child, if we have time, that is. Psychic that she is, Raelene had taken that day off thinking it would be the day. We had other plans, but sure, we’ll come right away to see our baby. Raelene doesn’t remember much after that, brain swimming, eyes tearing. We loved her on the spot. The wait was forgotten, it was a long, emotionally tough year, but the past melts as we await the joys the future will bring.
We are proud to introduce you to Bryn Jenna CaiXing Hengen, originally named Yu Cai Xing, born Feb. 10 in Xinyu, China. We had never heard of the place, now it’s the centre of our universe. Somewhere, a mother and father had to make a very hard decision, and we think of them and would thank them, if we could, as if words would be enough. We never started this with the intention to “save” a life, but that’s what’s going to happen. The three little pictures below saved our lives. We travel in February to pick her up, so 2007 will be a good year.
We wish you a Merry Christmas and healthy, happy New Year.
Girard, Raelene, Bryn and Jessie
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