D

A Story About a Baby Given Up for Adoption

Loyal readers of the “print product” will recall this story from 2004 written by Harvey Lacey. Harvey’s not a writer, really, though he writes a lot. He makes his living by building cool stuff (bridges, ponds, etc.). But he’s also a faithful FrontBurnervian, and we’ve corresponded for a few years. One day, out of the blue, Harvey sent me an e-mail about the time his 16-year-old daughter “came up pregnant” and he helped her make the decision to give up the child for adoption. The story was too touching to stay in my in-box, and so that’s how it wound up in the magazine.

Last night, Harvey sent me an update on his daughter. And you’ll never guess how his story in D Magazine went on to become required reading in certain circles. Harvey writes:

Evening, Tim. I done did the deed today, made my electronic X for my man Obama. Found out Wylie is having a record turnout. 194 Tuesday, 199 yesterday, and today was running at a record pace when I went into the polls at lunch time.

The reason I’m penning this is because of something I want to share with you and the staff at D, including Wick, of course, double doggone darn his Republican soul.

A couple of weeks ago in Murphy, Texas, I gave a client an estimate on a gate. As we were making conversation, the topic of grandkids came up. He drug out some pictures of his latest grandchild. He then went on to tell me about the trials his daughter and son-in-law had with getting a child the conventional way and how this one was adopted.

I told him about our story in D and suggested he do a look up and send the link to his daughter.

Today we talked again. He told me he had read the story and it made tears come to his eyes.

I asked if he’d sent a copy to his daughter up in Indiana.

“You’re famous, man,” he said. “It was required reading for their preparation for adoption. Your story was a topic for group discussion.”

I personally think that’s wonderful. It would be nice to think it’s about my daughter and our family. But we all know that’s only half of it. Without D and you editing and publishing the story, it would be just a story that meant a lot to our family. As it is now, I believe it’s made a difference in some others lives out there.

I would appreciate you passing this on to the staff and telling them that they are appreciated.

I would also like to pass on a couple of updates for those who might remember the story. My daughter will be 30 this year. The little girl in the story will be 13 the second week of August. August 7 will be the second birthday of my newest grandchild. Her due date was the 14th, believe it or not but things worked out where she came a little early, a good thing. This June my grandson, the boy in the story, will be 4.

My daughter works as a professional in Dallas. Always the proud father, she’s still my hero. I like to brag about when she went back to work after maternity leave for the little girl, she got a sizable raise. She was missed evidently. The kids are healthy and doing great. My son-in-law telecommutes so he’s the house daddy. My daughter took my advice about looking at men as the father of her children evidently. She’s married a man that’s a much better father than I ever was.

There are happy endings. I’m glad we can share this one.

– Harvey