Nor do I wish I were, really.  Shit, would THAT get complex.  But I wish her and her sister and their extended families all the best.  And of course, adoption activist that I am, I had to submit an online congratulatory note via Oprah's OWN website along with the advice that Oprah use her not inconsiderable clout to help other families separated by their circumstances of birth, and raise awareness of America's extremely arcane and punitive sealed records laws.  Only six states in the U.S. allow access to an adopted adult's original birth certificate (and under varying conditions; some with contact vetos, preference systems, grandfather clauses — only two who have always had complete, unfettered access — Kansas and Alaska).

I suffered the same loss, of both my mother and daughter, and am happy to say that we also all reconnected, and in a very positive way.  It is not always so, and I often caution people to approach tracing family with the "11th Beatitude" approach: blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall not be disappointed.  It isn't always a wondrous and healing rebinding of family like mine, or a delightful mid-afternoon surprise on national television like Oprah's.  But we all deserve the answers...whatever they may be. 

In lieu of a full-on OS rant on the topic, I'll simply post up a link to the recent documentary I filmed with RTÉ Ireland here http://www.rte.ie/player/#v=1089797.  I spent a hectic week in Dublin, Cork and Swindon UK (with my natural mum, Josie) last October filming the piece, part of RTÉ's Would You Believe? series.  It was initially to air in late November.  But with sudden and prolonged preemption by the insufferable face of Irish PM Brian Cowen and the antics of his Fianna Fáil cronies along with a financial flogging from NAMA and a crumbling Tiger economy, the programme didn't air until this past Monday.  

It ain't OWN...but it's my own.  And I have to say RTÉ has some pretty classy production values.