Chasing the White Rabbit

“Alice: How long is forever? 

White Rabbit: "Sometimes, just one second.” 

I am chasing the white rabbit.

Today while I sat at my desk within the school, I looked up to see him sitting underneath a small tree, nibbling on the soft underbrush among our concrete garden. He hopped over to the planter and seemed to kiss the edge. I now understand why the seeds haven't grown.

His regard seemed to evaluate me as his nose shrugged with each rapid chew. I looked deeply into those bright pink eyes and the clock on the wall inexplicably ticked a single second. This was quite odd since the battery had been dead for days. Just as quick as that, the white rabbit began hopping away and I doubted that the whole thing had quite happened.

And so the day ended and the clock remained still. 

A backpack laden walk took me across concrete, through an under construction building, and down a concrete and rubble ramp to the rainy season grass of mud. Across the field, next to my car... the white rabbit sat again regarding me.

How curious. I looked for his hole. I bent to collect some clover on long stem and I made my way to the white rabbit. While he didn't run, he casually kept a buffer between the two of us. Slowly he led me to a tall green hedge with a single small hole. The white rabbit turned to look at me as I held the clover in my hand, nibbled at the green of the hedge, and then disappeared through the hole

What else was I to do? What would you do?

I've read the account. I pressed my head into the hole.

The white rabbit was about a meter away to my left, scratching at an empty disposable water bottle. He seemed completely unsurprised of my intrusion. I watched as the white rabbit again eluded me, traveling ease along the undergrowth. I watched until I could see him no more and then withdrew my head from the hedge.

Ah yes... of course. There was a crowd of three gathered to watch as I bow-tied and jacketed stood from the hole. I snickered as I thought about shouting, "I'm late! I'm late!" It became even funnier as I considered that everyone is late in this country... that's one of the main reasons I love it.

How long is eternity Mr. White Rabbit?

Ah yes... you answered me with the single tick of a clock.

Sometimes just one second.

Perhaps you are correct.

I am still there now.

_______________________________

WANTED

The White Rabbit

-ALIVE-

REWARD 50Q.

Delivered to Mr. Shepherd's office.

____________________________

P.S. For another White Rabbit Adventure:

Down the Rabbit Hole

(Only for those who are willing to enter.)

Sterling Mei: (22) Down the Rabbit Hole

The leather on the tall, black executive chair that I sat in creaked as I leaned back. I reached for the white china tea-cup and gently lifted it from the matching saucer. The tea was smooth, warm, and calming. Although it was fresh from the silver pot, the temperature was perfect, with a gentle steam wisping up toward the massive chandelier. The table was a thick black glass and it held our documents. My daughter was eating cheerios from its surface.

The wall was made of glass, and through it I could see the revolving dining floor below. The dining room was also encased in glass and so we could see the towering buildings that surrounded us, disappearing into the clouds. 

My view from the looking glass.

I was held captive by evidence of wealth far beyond my reach. The space in which we sat was an inner sanctum of sorts, deep within an executive board room, beyond the VIP lounge at the top floor of the Garden Hotel, Guangzhou, Guandong Province, China.

Earlier in the week, while signing documents early in the day, we sat at the entryway of the VIP area. The staff was bustling about us, preparing for the high rolling guests who would walk through the massive elevator doors, wearing professionally tailored suits, designer original dresses, exclusive footwear, and stunning jewelry. Our agent slipped away to photocopy some documents, and I took the opportunity to explore beyond the area we had been permitted to view.

I had on that day found the board room that we sat in at this moment. I had stood in it, imagining the types of business that must be transacted in this place. I imagined smokey, backroom deals involving corrupt politicians, and those who could make things happen for a price. I imagined the opulence that must accompany those dealings. I did not imagine that in three days time, I would be sitting at that table, along with my wife, my newly adopted daughter, and two other nervous adoptive families as we scrutinized our documents that would forever alter our days.

The information we were completing was basic. Things such as: city of birth, wedding anniversary, mailing address, child's Chinese name, child's new American name, and current address. But, the documents had to be perfect… and things were a bit confusing. Depending on the document, you may need a European style date, or maybe dated in western tradition, or maybe you were supposed to list the name surname first, or maybe the middle and first names should be combined. Maybe you are supposed to sign here now, but don't sign there until the official is present. 

Suddenly I found myself completely perplexed by the most basic of questions. "What is your present address?" It become quite confusing. Were we staying in room 1216, or 1612? Are we staying at The Garden Hotel, or just Garden Hotel? Guandong & Guangzhou… which is the Province and which the city? Am I spelling that right? What was Sterling's name before I named her? Was it Luo or Lou? How do I spell her middle name now? Is it Mei, or is it Mie?

What happens if I spill this perfect tea on these perfect documents? I start to laugh with a release of tension… all present in the room look at me like I am nuts. I suddenly imagine myself the Mad Hatter at a tea ceremony in Wonderland… Ironically, there is a first edition copy of the story sitting on a shelf across the room. I find this absurd and laugh ever harder.

I have candy in my pocket that is the favorite of the children of China. I realize that it is called, "White Rabbit." I consider that I really may be insane, perhaps I have separated from reality and I am strapped to a board? Or maybe I am simply dreaming? How can I be at the top of a skyscraper in China, adopting a young girl, staring at a first edition of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, with a White Rabbit in my pocket while I participate in a tea ceremony?

I have to excuse myself and I wander aimlessly through several rooms, ignoring the words I cannot understand as the VIP staff follow me around and jabber at my back. I find the men's room and soak a towel in warm water and hold it to my face until I have again found my wits and climbed back up the rabbit hole. I have documents to complete. I must be sane to do this.

I return to the imagined mobster board room and complete the documents as Kellie wrestles a tired and hungry 14 month old girl. I get through it. We count out the cash. The stack of documents that I have completed is well over an inch high. It has taken 2.5 hours… all of us, including our agent, are visably relieved after we make the final review of each document. 

All is in order. Every number is correct. Every line is complete. The dossier we have completed holds the result of nearly 6 years of paperwork and waiting. It seems very fragile as I hold it in my hands.

Monday morning, 0755 we will make our way to the American Consulate. We will submit the documents. And then we will spend two days waiting. And hoping. And praying. We are sure that everything is in meticulous order… but our opinion holds no value. We are now at the judgment of officials of the U.S. Consulate. I think back through the stack of papers, and I can visualize each and every page. I remember every signature. I remember every stroke of my pen that I wish would have been clearer.

But, what is done… is what only can be. We have done our part. Tomorrow our job is to get up on time, have breakfast as a Dad, a Mom, and a Daughter. And then we submit the documentation of our desires to the system.

We have only until the 12th of this month to get everything correct before our adoption window expires. The margin of error is slight. And, while I still have my Lewis Carroll moments… I also know at the deepest level of who I am, the solid truth that I should not have gotten this far. I am here by the grace of One who is greater than these circumstances.

And that is enough. We sleep with peace. Sterling sleeps in peace in our arms. That is enough.

Lewis Carroll - Alice:
"If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?"


Lewis Carroll - Eaglet:
"Speak English! I don't know the meaning of half those long words, and I don't believe you do either!"

Aleksandra Elise: (10) The Kinship of a Bunny

The white Russian Birch trees seemed silently to stand in rows watching as we made our final circle to Orekhovo-Zuevo. We passed through the checkpoints without incident and made the now familiar turn into the complex. I knew this would be my final time here and I wanted to remember every detail so that I could someday tell my daughter about this incredible story that we all were able to live.

The Doctor and wonderful ladies
of the orphanage.

The entire staff came out to greet us as we entered the common room. All the caregivers that we had seen over our combined 12 days at the orphanage, the nurse, the doctor, and the director. Our guide Anastasia was there. She had been with us every step of the way. We had trusted her with our lives and our fortune and she had met every demand, and fulfilled every promise.

The appropriate papers were handed to the director, and Aleksandra was placed in the arms of my wife. As I looked at the faces of the Russian women who had been everything to my daughter, I was overwhelmed with the tears and love that they could not hold back as they said goodbye to Sasha. Through Anastasia's translation, we were told that Sasha had been their зайка, their Zayka, or  little bunny. My heart ached for them as we watched them say their goodbyes.

Time to go home.

Shepherds, Lifords, & Pribyls

We passed through that heavy wooden door one final time, along with the Lifords and the Pribyls, two other adopting families that we had come to know over the past week. We all seemed to pause together and look back at that building that we had first seen nearly 6 weeks before. What had seemed so cold and foreign, now filled our hearts with wonder. So much love, hope, trust, and responsibility has been handed to us. We could never repay them for their sacrifice. What an incredible group of people who dedicate their lives by providing hope to the hopeless, and giving treasure to the barren.

Aleksandra, Hayden, & Samuel
They boys kept staring at
Aleksandra!

These moments were magical. The sunlight absolutely sparked down from the sky and the crisp air crackled through the branches of the trees. Aleksandra was wearing the little perfect pink dress that we had brought from home, given to us by my Uncle Stephen and Auntie Michele. Aleksandra had a pink hat that made her smile every time we put it on her head. To this day, that girl still picks out hats in every clothing store we enter! Her room is full of them.

First Automobile Ride!

U.S. Embassy

We made our way to the U.S. Embassy. As we passed through the gate and under the American Flag, we were greeted by U.S. Marines who declared to us that we stood on American Soil. At that moment, our daughter became a U.S. Citizen. We made our way into the building and through the corridors and found the Immigrations Officer who made it  official. We were ecstatic. She now was our legal daughter, and she had the full protection and guarantees of a United States Citizen.

First Bath!

Back at the hotel we had arranged a Pediatrician to meet us in our room, and a thorough exam was given to our daughter. Her findings were forwarded to Children's Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio where we had made arrangements for a full battery of immunizations and examinations our first week home.

First Gerber!

We also shared our first meal out with Aleksandra, and we were joined by our new life-long friends, the Pribyls & the Lifords. We were amazed at how strongly our daughter reacted to real food! Soon though, the reality of exhaustion found us all. We were dealing with real issues of physical and mental fatigue. Aleksandra had also hit her limit on stimulation. We left the restaurant in a rush with a lot of stares as we hastily made our way out the door with Aleksandra shrieking a full blown square-mouth scream.

As soon as we stepped out the doors, we all fell silent. We had walked to this T.G.I. Friday's in Moscow and it was no short trip. On our way there, the sky was bright and the wind was warm. In the short time we dined, the wind changed and blew a snow-storm down from Siberia... and now we found ourselves in the thick of it! Aleksandra was in her Baby Bjorn, inside of my shirt. She was deeply layered, but Kel and I were not! The wind whipped down the canyon of steel and concrete and blasted us with snow. Never again would we laugh at the layers the Moscovites packed on.

Our Suite

We finally collapsed into our beds after an impossibly long day, and found we could not sleep due to sore throats, stuffy noses, and a restless little baby girl. We were still euphoric, and we could not sleep. We had intended to take a 6 AM walk about 7 blocks away to get pictures in front of St. Basil's. We dragged ourselves out of bed and dressed, and then collapsed back on to the bed. We had promised to each other that we would stand on Red Square with our daughter... but we were far too spent.

We gathered our now lightened bags and made our way with a final van ride to our Adoption Agencies office for more endless tear-filled hugs and goodbyes, and then we were dropped off back at Sheremetyevo Airport. We purchased some final souvenirs, stood in the long line with the Russians (while in Rome...), and finally boarded the plane to New York. As the wheels chocked into their bays and the nose pulled up, we breathed easy, knowing that we would soon be home. Smooth sailing from here on out.

We were exhausted, slightly ill, and emotionally high. We had smiles on our faces that would not go away, and we were slap-happy. We took turns holding our beautiful daughter, watched Disney's Freaky Friday for the 4th time, tried to force down yet another meal of smoked salmon, and prayed please God let these wheels touch the ground!

Through hindsight I can tell you, it is good that we did not know what the next 36 hours had in store.

Orekhovo-Zuevo
Baby Orphanage
(Currently listing 120 babies)

To Continue, click on the link below:

Aleksandra Elise: (11) Are We There Yet?