We arrived at the enormous courthouse and after asking for directions to our assigned destination, we approached courtroom 999. A uniformed guard took our “notice of hearing” paper to determine its accuracy with his document. As he checked off our presence on his list of hearings, he handed us our document and instructed us to wait until our name was called. Soon the kinship with my son would be sealed as a legal one as his adoption by me became reality. As we waited, my mind wandered back to that morning in May of 1985 as we anxiously watched the sun rise over Long Island Sound before making the drive to the airport in New York. We watched as the plane made its way to the arrival gate and my heart raced faster as the woman escorting our son on his journey from Calcutta to his new home in Connecticut with two who could love him like no others. As we lifted him from that hand woven basket that had been his travel crib and looked into that angelic sleeping face the bond of love was sealed. Suddenly, we were back from the past as the clerk called our name for the hearing to begin. The judge stated the petition of “Millner to adopt adult Jahan Garassino” would begin. The hearing was under way. Judge to Jahan: “Are you older than twelve and do you consent to being adopted?” The thirty year old six foot one and two hundred plus pound man responded; “yes”. The judge turned to me and asked: “Do you wish to adopt this man?” I responded with a resounding “absolutely!” The judge then stated; “petition is granted.” Finally, what was accomplished in my heart thirty years ago that morning in May was legally acknowledged that fourth day of November in 2015. With arms of gratitude I hugged my son and whispered “I love you” through the welling of thankful tears. Since the first day I saw him he has been my son. Now the legal designation has caught up with the position of my heart.
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