It started out as another mundane errand: one more sheet to add to the mountain of adoptive paperwork that bio families never see. First it is the dossier, then the INS forms, then the green card (yes! for a 3 year old) and then the re-adoption process, and the certificate of citizenship, and the list goes on.
Today I was on the trail of the elusive birth certificate. I was making my second trip to Somerville City Hall, presumably to doublecheck the spelling on ‘the form’.
I looked at all the entries, and there really isn’t much that can be done to mess up my last name or street of residence, but I dutifully checked everything until the double g’s and t’s started swimming before my eyes.
When I handed the form back to the clerk, she looked me in the eye and said “Now, raise your right hand”.
Surprised, I raised my hand. Was that a faint sound of a choir in the background?
She said “Do you solemnly swear by the Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that the information you have provided here is true and correct?”
I said, with hand raised, “I solemnly swear”.
She smiled and said “Congratulations, you daughter’s birth certificate will be ready in 6 weeks.”
I walked out, light of step, feeling slightly innaugural…
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