She likes Elvis. I thought I'd mark the occasion of giving up my emotional crutch of the last five or so years by giving her a gift. I looked for an Elvis collectible, but I didn't know what that was. Then I looked for an item of true daffiness - an Elvis toilet roll holder, an Elvis Tea-made - that sort of thing. I could find none. So I settled on a manufactured Elvis effigy - a plastic though high-quality model of Elvis at a significant moment in his history. I forget that moment now, though I know she liked the fact that it was about a come-back and he was wearing leather.

We spoke about the process of counselling and where the last 5 years had lead me. We spoke about how much more I was in control. We spoke about how my relationship with wifey was so much better. We summarised just how far I'd come; that's inarguable - I'm in a better place and I know how to heal and become "Whole" and I know how to forgive myself.

Then the hour was up and uncomfortably we said goodbye. We hugged and I wanted to hold on to her forever, but I couldn't and I said goodbye and walked over the threshold of her home and that's that.

Well, it's almost a month since my adoptive parents visited and I've just about recovered.  I'm back on the waggon, ...   more »

I'm not sure why my adoptive parents wanted to visit my wife and I given all the bad blood between ...   more »

Well, you're here because you've read some or all of "Reconstructing Stephen", my autobiography and adoption story.  If you haven't, ...   more »