15 Comments
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Diana C.'s avatar

I held my breath reading this and was so relieved to discover a piece of your identity found that profound and unexpected closure. This was genuinely one of the most touching essays I have ever come across, May.

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May More's avatar

TY Diana - I truly appreciate your opinion. I am so glad it touched you

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Marie A. Rebelle's avatar

Reading this again now, all emotions I felt that very first time ran through me again. This is such a powerful essay, and it shows how important it is for us to know our identity, to know where we come from.

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May More's avatar

yes indeed - it matters to our self esteem or something like that - thx Marie <3

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Ute Luppertz's avatar

This kept me spellbound from beginning to end. What a biography you have. I am so glad that you found out about him. Did you ever have another conversation with your birth mom about him?

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May More's avatar

TY Ute - no I am not in contact with my brth mum - as u know from my stories, I met them all - but am only in spasmodic contact with my youngest half sibling and tbh that’s cause somehow my eldest daughter found her way to him online and she has a relationship with him and his family now.

It was all too overwhelming for me!

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Ute Luppertz's avatar

I hear you ✨

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Chingmay Anaïs Jo's avatar

This is such a touching piece, and it is so beautifully written. I felt as if I were there watching you and feeling all your emotions. I nearly shed a tear when I read that you received his photo. I felt like I wanted to give you a big hug. This is a masterpiece in writing and content. Thank you for sharing.

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May More's avatar

Ty so much Chingmay. So happy you felt it! I think this is one of my best ever personal essays. It was nominated on Medium by Carol and refused the boost. I had read and written far worse that were boosted and I think that day I lost my faith in Medium's ability to know what readers want to read. They boost the author more than the story (imo)

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Chingmay Anaïs Jo's avatar

What a pity! I don't understand their boost concept at all.

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Carol Finch's avatar

Still pisses me off that they didn't boost this.

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May More's avatar

u know when they didnt boost this i think i knew then something was off lol - i had worse stories of mine than this boosted - and read far worse (boosted) from others too. It’s partly why I don’t write serious essays on Medium now.

But appreciate what editors like you did/do on PP

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Carol Finch's avatar

Way too unpredictable. The stuff that doesn’t get boosted still blows my tiny brain.

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A. Njoto's avatar

I'm emotionally invested in how bittersweet this story is, May. I'm glad it ends with a sense of peace, even without the chance to meet him in person. It's a rare kind of closure that only a few ever find. Thank you for sharing this brilliantly truthful piece. ❤️‍🩹

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May More's avatar

TY - I sit comfortably with my decision as I don’t think it can help those I’d need to contact to find out more - if I chose to do that - and to see his image and learn about his job is more than I had before last spring - appreciate your words

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