Introductions

I have written a lot about Zach's birth mom, brother, sisters, and his cousin.  I have not shared their names, initially out of a desire to protect their privacy.  When we met just a few short weeks ago, our family didn't know theirs, they didn't know us, and none of us knew how this relationship would evolve.  I am aware that whatever goes on the Internet can never be taken back and felt that it was appropriate not to reveal names. 

However, as the days have gone by, I have found that the words "birth mother" and "bith family" no longer feel right.  Instead of protecting the family's privacy, I now feel like by not using their names, I am hiding them or appearing to want to distance myself, when nothing could be further from the truth.  They are amazing people and our families are joined forever through Zach.  I am proud and honored by this. 

So without further ado, I would like make some introductions.

This is Mary, Zach's birth mom.  She is from a family of eight.  She grew up mostly with her paternal grandparents here on Majuro.  She spent nine years in the US, attended and graduated from high school in Massachusettes, worked for a while and attended community college, but then had to come back to the Marshall Islands because he father was quite ill.  She has been here since and all of her children have been born here.  She is planning to go to college, hopefully starting in January, to become an elementary school teacher. 

Zach's oldest brother is Wallace.  He is almost 7 years old.  We have not been able to have much time with Wallace because he goes to school in Laura, which is about an hour from here.  The time we have spent with him has been great.  He is clearly adorable and has a heartmelting smile.    

Zach's oldest Marshallese sister is Tyna.  She is 5 years old.  She is very outgoing and warm and she and Meghan had a great timing playing together.  I still remember them laughing hysterically as they chased each other at the airport the night Ted and Meghan left to go home.

  

Zach's youngest sister is Monica, who will be 4 years old in December.  She is quite shy and although I have spent a lot of time with her, I don't feel that I know a whole lot about her.  She tends to keep to herself and that combined with the language barrier has not really enabled me to break through and get her to warm up to me (yet).       

Cally is Zach's cousin.  She is a very bright young lady who is almost finished with a 2-year program here at the College of the Marshall Islands.  She is hoping to go to the US in a year or so on a scholarship to study business, specifically accounting.  She clearly adores Zach and has become as much of our life and Mary, Wallace, Tyna, and Monica have.


To give you an idea of how our relationship hsa evolved, today is a perfect day to use as an example.  Mary and I were planning to try again to go to the copra factory where they make coconut soap and other coconut-related things.  She was supposed to come by at 2 pm.  Around 2 pm Cally showed up instead.  She played with Zach while I washed some bottles.  Time went by and at about 3:15, I asked her when she thought Mary was coming.  She said Mary had told her 2pm.  I said I thought the same thing, so I wondered what had happened.  She then laughed and said not to worry because Mary is always late for everything.  I replied that in the past she had always been very punctual so if she is now allowing herself to be late with me that must mean that she likes me and is comfortable enough now to be herself.  I'm thrilled by this!

We then spent the afternoon just "hanging out".  Cally watched a movie and played with Zach, while Mary and I talked.  At one point Mary then browsed through a magazine that I had given her.  Then Mary and Cally started speaking in Marshallese, which they don't normally do in front of me.  Mary didn't want me to feel uncomfortable so she explained that they were planning a surprise for me and this was the only time they might see each other so they had to plan it right then and there!  A surprise?  Seriously?  I have no idea what they are intending to do, but whatever it is I know I will love it because it was planned by them.