Storytime...

me, my mother, and her music teacher

As some of you know, I am adopted.

It was interesting how it all went down but that’s another story for another time. Case in point, I wasn’t officially adopted until I was 14.

My name was Sally Taylor until 8th grade - that’s damn near my whole childhood.

Carolyn (my biological mother) and Betty (adoptive mother) were friends. Betty would babysit me - I am leaving out a whoooole lot - and that’s how she ended up raising me from 1st grade on.

I would see Carolyn from time to time but her life ended abruptly so the last time I saw her, I was only 19 or 20.

I spent a lot of time being mad at her but eventually I wasn’t so angry anymore. I got to a place when I wanted to know everything about her and no one could really answer all of my questions.

I have always had a lot of questions about my biological parents. I want to know everything. EVERYTHING!

• how they sound

• their handwriting

• what music did they like

• what scents did they like

• what work did they enjoy

• what foods did they like

• were they funny

• on and on and ON

It’s basically me trying to see WHO AM I LIKE? Where do I fit?

Even though I knew her and had seen her, I only had a handful of memories of what she looked like. I wanted a picture of her.

And.

NOBODY HAD PICTURES!!!! How does this happen!?!? How?

Mind you, I only had a couple of people to ask - a brother and an aunt.

Being the persistent researcher I am when I am after something, I went to work. This was pre-internet / Google.

I called the high school she attended. I talked to a few people and left messages.

Time passed and eventually a retired music teacher called me and said she had a yearbook with my mother in it.

I drove about two hours to visit her. She had the yearbook set aside waiting for me. She had a large copier in her house and we made several copies.

She remembered my mother. YES I was emotional!

For many years that was the only picture I had. I was able to share it with my brothers (they grew up with her). It has been one brother’s screensaver for years.

I am forever grateful that her music teacher went above and beyond to give me such a beautiful gift.

I am sure you can think of a time when you were passionate about something and you’re trying to get help or express it to someone and they just aren’t giving you what you want from them (e.g. their full attention, understanding, etc etc…).

In my mind, that music teacher put herself in my shoes and helped me.

Here I am 20+ years later filled with gratitude, all because she chose to pick up the phone, pull a yearbook from her shelf, and make me a copy.

Carolyn | December 3, 1950 - March 24, 1990

THAT’S IT Y’ALL - see ya here next Sunday at 3:33p CT

I’m always open to dialogue and feedback.

You can message me on Instagram @SallyMcMullin

Hugs & LOVE Y’all,

Sally Mc