"Sometimes you want to go...

...Where everybody knows your name
And they're always glad you came
You want to be where you can see
Our troubles are all the same
You want to be where everybody knows your name"

If you're old enough to remember this song from the tv show Cheers, then you may have fond memories of laughing out loud - even when you were alone. That's one of my memories from the late '80's. My tiny one bedroom apartment in Kitsalano (that was only $415/month!)that I loved. Where I would watch Cheers on my little 12 inch tv screen, without a remote!

The song came to me today as I was thinking about how far I've come in my journey to not isolate myself when the going gets tough. Although my preference would still be to go back to bed (with my nice toasty electric blanket), I have made the shift to talking to those who understand, asking for help, and attending a support group (one that I don't facilitate!)

And yes, the going is very tough right now. I know I'm not the only one struggling. At any given moment, many of us who are parenting by adoption keep having to revisit issues from our own, as well as our childrens' past, that keep popping up just when we thought they were behind us. Frankly, it sucks!

But clearly, ignoring things doesn't work. And pretending to everyone else that everything is "fine, thanks" doesn't work either. I want to be where I can see, our troubles are all the same.

And since you now probably have that song stuck in your mind, here's the full set of lyrics...

ARTIST: Gary Portnoy and Judy Hart Angelo
TITLE: Where Everybody Knows Your Name

Making your way in the world today
Takes everything you've got
Taking a break from all your worries
Sure would help a lot
Wouldn't you like to get away

All those nights when you've got no lights
The check is in the mail
And your little angel
Hung the cat up by its tail
And your third fiancée didn't show

Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name
And they're always glad you came
You want to be where you can see
Our troubles are all the same
You want to be where everybody knows your name

Roll out of bed, Mr. Coffee's dead
The morning's looking bright
And your shrink ran off to Europe
And didn't even write
And your husband wants to be a girl

Be glad there's one place in the world
Where everybody knows your name
And they're always glad you came
You want to go where people know
People are all the same
You want to go where everybody knows your name

Where everybody knows your name
And they're always glad you came
(Sounds to me as if the writers are adoptive parents...?)