Adoption - finding my biologicals

Wow.
I'm finally unpacking the boxes of books, and I came across a set of forms from 1992 - the forms are for identifying the biological parents of adoptees; in 1990, Georgia opened its adoption records, allowing adoptees to gain access to their biological information and possibly contact with their biologicals.
This is something I'd actually considered in 1992, however Faye was still alive and I promised never to search for my biologicals while she was still alive. Due to the circumstances of both my and Jolene's adoptions, I expect that money changed hands, and things might not have been exactly by the book.
Which means, Andrea, that the adoptions were black market; I've wondered and indeed fantasized whether I might not have been one of my cousin's teenage "accidents", however aside from a basic resemblance, I'm doubtful. A psychologist would probably identify that as a desire to actually belong biologically, however peripherally, to the family unit I was raised with.

So, now the issue becomes do I seek out my genetic information, and possibly contact my biological parents? I'm not so concerned with the people as I am the genetics.
I need to know what I'm predisposed to genetically - for example, does diabetes run in the family, or is my current course of treatment just a temporary thing?
How about heart issues? Cancer? Baldness? These are things I need to know - so I'm going to initiate the paperwork to find these things out.
According to the law, there are two categories I can apply for information under - one is genetic information only, no identifying characteristics, and the other is genetic information with the possibility of contact.
I'm going for the contact option. There are a number of questions I need answered about other possibly genetic quirks that can only be asked in person, such as psychic ability (and if that doesn't get me shown the door or hung up on I don't know what will) and other siblings.
Wow. To finally get some answers.
What a head rush.

Spirituality

Lets see - I started life raised as a Conservative Jew, (the reason that Conservative is capitalized is because there are considered to be 3 "traditions" in Judaism - Orthodox, Conservative and Reform - it has absolutely nothing to do with political views) -

From early childhood, I knew something was different about me - strange things happening around me, knowing things I shouldn't have, being able to do things I theoretically shouldn't have - all contributed to my early acknowledgement of my "abilities" and my lifelong quest to understand and work with them.

As a result, I've been all over the map spiritually and indeed, what a long strange trip it's been - and have come to the conclusion that everyone is right - for themselves.

My Path is not yours and yours is not mine. We might walk side by side for a while, and we're going to end up at the same Place, but your Path is not mine.

I believe that there is indeed only One Ultimate Being, however It is so Ultimate that we are unable to comprehend It as a whole and have to break it into separate Truths. But no matter what, they are aspects of the One.

Anyway, my Pedigree as it were - early teen years, dabbled in La Vey magick (psychic puberty) because it was raw Power and it was fun.

Mid teens, (17) began study at Ravenwood - or as I affectionately call it, "Famous Witch School" - here I was taught in an amalgamation of Traditions: Gardnerian, Alexandrian, Brittani, Strega and Celtic, all of which eventually coalesced into what is now the Ravenwood tradition.

At about the age of 20, I came across a book called "The Spiral Dance" and it signalled the beginning of the end of my active relationship with Ravenwood - I became disenchanted with the politics and became Solitary - interacting only as a social function not as a religious one.

All the while, continuing my research and work - after moving to Miami in 1983, I became involved with a rather diverse group of folks, Burt, Mark, Vicky, Renee, George and Ben; together we explored everything from medium work to Santeria (disclaimer: at no time during study was an animal involved )

These experiences helped me to realize the Truth behind All is that there is only One.

After moving back to Atlanta in early 1985, I continued my Solitary path, however kept in association with my friends in Miami, going down on occasion to celebrate Samhein or Beltane, and act as a sort of Elder in addition to maintaining peripheral ties to Ravenwod.


I came across a group in Lawrenceville around 1989 - while my association with them didn't last long due to a basic philosophical incompatibility (I'll cover this for you later, Andrea) it did serve to create a study group consisting of Shawn, Amy, Greg, John, and Bryon.

Of this group, Amy was Wiccan, Greg was Wizardyn, John was Spiritual, Shawn was whatever, and Bryon was questioning. It was shortly after this group dissolved that I met your Grandpa Don.

To this day, I have refrained from active involvement in any group because I don't like politics mixed with my religion. No matter the group and no matter how well intentioned, politics eventually come into play and if you're not prepared, will end up tainting the group.

I think this covers enough basics for now; if I'm still around when you're capable of understanding what I've written on a deeper level, come tell me and I'll try to fill in the blanks for you.

Townhouse pics

The laundry area, with its new curtains

This is how it looks against the laminate

See how well the paint color does against the slate tile?

Living room - wrecked but painted !!

Dining room

This is the entry hall with the new paint job.

This is the new storm door I recently hung - to the right you can see the new kitchen window.

Finished - the painting is done

Well, it's taken 3 days, but the painting is now done, and in addition I have replaced the verticals at the back/patio door.
The only issue I'm having with the new paint job is that there's too much of it. (The color that is)
It's the same issue I have with white walls - it's too blank.
Getting the artwork back up and moving the furniture around will help I'm sure, but I can't help but think in terms of an accent wall just to keep things interesting.
I got an Oops paint for the laundry room, about 2 shades lighter than the peanut butter I have in the rest of the downstairs. The only issue is that there's only one gallon of it, and frankly the laundry room has priority.
I'll think of something once the art's up and the rooms are back to functional.
More later.

The family tree (Reader's Digest Version)

So as you can see, I haven't exactly led a boring existence to date.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg, Andrea - You see, being gay and a Witch in a family of (alleged) wife beaters, serial divorcee's, savvy businessmen (think Hillary and Whitewater) has made (and makes) me the proverbial "black sheep" of said family.
Of course, the fact that I don't pull punches socially does make me a wild card, however in my defense, I only fire off a bon mot when the situation calls for it.

I'll post more about my spiritual views later - hopefully it'll help you see that indeed, there is more to Heaven and Earth than is dreamt of by mortal man.

Back to the subject at hand, here's the breakdown of my family tree - (use this when I mention a relative) my mother Faye came from a family of 5 children, 2 boys and 3 girls, all first generation American. My father came from a family of 3, two boys and a girl also all first generation American.
Faye's brothers were Julius, & Herm, her sisters Babe and Pattye. Julius married Fanny, Herm married Arlen, Babe married Milt, and Pattye married Harry.
From these unions, Julius' son is Ronnie, Herm's daughter is Jody, Babe's sons are Rodney, Barton and Darryl, Pattye's son is Blake.
On my father Sam's side - his brother's name is Max, and his sister's name is Lucy - Max married Janet and Lucy married Marty - Max has a son and 2 daughters, Matt, Rosalie & Cheryl, and Lucy's sons are Eric, Allan and Jesse.
My mother's family was and is Atlanta bound, while Max lives/lived in Indianapolis while Lucy lives/lived in San Diego.
Make sure your Grandpa Don tells you about his side of the family too.

After all, crazy ain't just a Southern thing.

Life update November 2007

It occurs to me that the whole reason I'm writing this is so that my Great Niece Andrea will have some record of her Great Uncle Merlin and why he was such a fun wack job.
So, in that vein, here's what just happened.
I scheduled a visit with a new MD, partly on Sheba's recommendation, since he happens to be her Dr, and she loves him, and mainly because 1) I haven't had a physical in over 3 years, and 2) I want to get a Dr I can see every time, instead of getting whoever's got the duty at Emory Clinic.
With that in mind, I see the Dr.
I discussed various complaints with him, and during the discussion, managed to say enough that he put me down for a sleep study, for diagnosis and treatment of suspected sleep apnea.
Then, I have to pee in a cup - that gets analyzed, and he sees sugar in my urine. Not a good thing.
Then, I surrender 5 tubes of blood for further analysis.
I got the results Friday - aside from a serious abnormality in my blood sugar, (I'm close to 400 when I should be closer to 100), I'm healthy.
However, the blood sugar issue is being addressed by 10 units of subcutaneous insulin daily, and 2 doses of Metformin .
As of diagnosis, treatment is outlined as the insulin injection, oral medication and ideally to lose 50 more pounds.
I currently weigh 253 pounds and stand 6'4" tall, so when I reach the target weight of 200 or so pounds, I will look like a stick or probably a scarecrow.
Personal aside to Andrea: Your Uncle Merlin really was fat and jolly once upon a time -
Kinda like your Grandpa Don is now.
Personal aside to Don: By the time she reads and understands this, you will be fat and jolly, so shut up, bitch.
Now on another front, home renovations.
I'm so damn proud of myself at this point i can hardly stand it.
I have had new windows installed; top of the line, dual pane, gas filled, UV protected windows.
And in front of those windows, I have 2 inch faux wood blinds I hung myself.
I also hung a new storm door all by myself - matches the new windows.

I'm currently (literally) in the middle of painting the downstairs, having found the ideal color for the walls.
Of all things, it's called Peanut Butter (you'll have to search for the color yourself should you click the link, I couldn't capture it)
It makes the slate and the laminate stand out, the white trim really pops out.
I don't know if I'll still have this townhouse when you're older or if I've sold and moved to a single family house on some land.
I guess I'll have to get pictures up just in case. Let me finish painting first, though.
On that note, it's back to painting and I'll post again after awhile.