A few months ago, while reading someone else’s blog, I came across a reference to the essay, “Welcome to Holland” which is often shared as a metaphor for what it’s like to have a child who is diagnosed with some sort of disability (perhaps specifically Down Syndrome?  I’m not certain…).  The author of the blog described the essay as being one that is thought-provoking and meaningful the first time you read it, but tiresome after the 50th time someone refers to it.  If you’ve never read it, click on the link above and read through it.  It’s short.  I’ll wait.

Doodedoodedooo….  Hmhmmmhmmm….. *various elevator music songs play here*

Okay, are you done reading that one?  Well, we got a big packet of mail today from our Texas adoption agency and one of the many brightly colored pieces of paper inside was a photocopied Dear Abby column that included a new variation for adoptive parents (who have struggled with infertility) that she titled, “Different Trips to the Same Place” which doesn’t have nearly the catchy ring of the other essay’s title, but we’ll forgive that.  Luckily, some other clever person has already typed that one up and posted it on the web too, so click on the title above to read the full (also short) essay.  (I was tickled by the title of the blog that the link goes to!)  Anyway, I found the essay to be moving and meaningful, but we’ll see how I feel about it in a year or so.