The difference...

To add to the fact that I'm wrestling with my own demons, my puppy is suffering from a serious swelling reaction to a mysterious something (probably all the ice he ate last night), my mom finally responded to not wanting to talk to her.

Adoptive Mom:
I will miss you.
Love
Mom

I also received this gem yesterday in which I realized what maternal instrinct REALLY is. Okay, true, she hasn't been through everything I put my parents through (although she does know about most of it), but she raised two of her own and it shows why their such great kids...

Birth Mother:
Oh my baby,

I'm sorry that you're hurting so much. I don't know whether it'll help, but both my folks and Ian and I eloped. Your Gram and Poppa, because they knew that it'd have been a huge financial burden... one of the eldest of ten, once the guest list hit 250 ... eloped on April Fool's Day. With Ian and I, they offered either the story book wedding, which I knew would have cost a fortune given the size of our family, or 5000.00 in cash ... a no brainer. I have little use for the formality of the wedding stuff. You've been with Craig for years now, and he supports you, in the best sense, through it all. He is already your husband, much more so than Ian was ever mine, though we lived under the same roof with two children. You already have so much more. You want the whole girly thing. Beth does too. It was completely lost on me. I can't believe that your Mom's being so hard on you after all you've seen each other through. Don't be too tough on her, you're all she has, and if you've been telling it like it is, she loves you like a Mom loves. You'll know it soon enough. Get on with the business of family, however that manifests itself, and those you love, clearly there are many. You're a lucky girl.

I can't tell how mad my life's been for the last few months. I swear though that if you don't make it here through the holidays, I'll be there first chance in January. Where is Craig's family? If you're facing a turkeyless holiday, we'll have to see about that. Love ya, Sheil.