1 00:00:03,920 --> 00:00:11,319 Speaker 1: It's that time, time, time, time, luck and load. So 2 00:00:11,520 --> 00:00:17,080 Speaker 1: Michael Very Show is on the air. What love is this. 3 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:27,880 Speaker 2: That calms our hearts, whispers the promise into the dark 4 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:34,440 Speaker 2: that we are love, Yes, we are love. 5 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:47,960 Speaker 3: Until forever, though we were homeless in need of rest, 6 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:58,240 Speaker 3: gave us a name and daily break how we are love, 7 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:14,120 Speaker 3: Yes we are unco forever. So we are. 8 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:15,080 Speaker 4: We are now. 9 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:19,840 Speaker 5: Every year for many years we are. We do our 10 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:23,000 Speaker 5: Adoption Special So was my favorite show of the year. 11 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:31,600 Speaker 5: And this year we with the election, like everything else 12 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 5: in our lives, we had pushed everything till after the election. 13 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:38,440 Speaker 5: We can't think about it till we get past the election. 14 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:43,280 Speaker 5: And then we woke up and we were so giddy 15 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:46,600 Speaker 5: that all we wanted to do was talk about the election. 16 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:49,280 Speaker 5: We started getting closer and closer and closer. And we 17 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 5: always do it before the Thanksgiving break because many people 18 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:58,600 Speaker 5: travel during that week, and so we don't We don't 19 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:02,080 Speaker 5: have as big an audience as we would every other time. 20 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:07,120 Speaker 5: And now the podcast listening goes through the roof, which 21 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:09,640 Speaker 5: is good because then people start listening on the podcasts 22 00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:12,840 Speaker 5: that are normally broadcast listeners. But be that as it 23 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:17,079 Speaker 5: made and the Friday before Thanksgiving is when we do 24 00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:21,400 Speaker 5: our Thanksgiving show again in case people are out, so 25 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:25,680 Speaker 5: that we get more interactive calls and engagement, and we 26 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:29,359 Speaker 5: really enjoy that the things for which you're grateful, thankful, 27 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:35,320 Speaker 5: and there are so many right now, which meant we 28 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:38,800 Speaker 5: started looking at the calendar and realizing we had to 29 00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:43,760 Speaker 5: do it today. So we start prepping and reading through 30 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:47,840 Speaker 5: all the materials and building show parts and different elements 31 00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:48,520 Speaker 5: that we use. 32 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:50,560 Speaker 6: And I said, you know, let me. 33 00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 5: Look up when National Adoption Day is, and why do 34 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:54,840 Speaker 5: you know? 35 00:02:54,919 --> 00:02:55,680 Speaker 6: It's Saturday. 36 00:02:57,160 --> 00:02:59,920 Speaker 5: So it would look like we were going to do 37 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:04,520 Speaker 5: our adoption special on National Adoption Day, but we couldn't 38 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:08,120 Speaker 5: because it was Saturday and here, but actually we just 39 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:10,840 Speaker 5: got lucky. But my story is we were going to 40 00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:14,000 Speaker 5: do it on adoption National Adoption Day, and because it 41 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:17,160 Speaker 5: was Saturday, and then tomorrow is our Thanksgiving, that's why 42 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:17,959 Speaker 5: we do it today. 43 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:20,640 Speaker 6: And what ends up happening. 44 00:03:20,919 --> 00:03:23,959 Speaker 5: You know, when I was growing up, people don't say 45 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:26,040 Speaker 5: this anymore, but it was a joke, and it was 46 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:28,040 Speaker 5: meant as a money, funny joke. It was never meant 47 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:31,440 Speaker 5: it with a mean spirit. But when I was growing up, 48 00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:36,720 Speaker 5: if you were hitting with your sibling. People would say, 49 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:39,760 Speaker 5: you know, you know, Bobby, you're adopted, and that was 50 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:41,960 Speaker 5: a way of saying, you know, you're not really one 51 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:47,080 Speaker 5: of us. And adoption was one of those things that 52 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:53,400 Speaker 5: was talked about in that way. It was also one 53 00:03:53,440 --> 00:03:56,680 Speaker 5: of those things it was hidden away. There were so 54 00:03:57,000 --> 00:04:01,280 Speaker 5: many adoptions, but people weren't comfortable with it. 55 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:03,160 Speaker 6: They didn't embrace it then. 56 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 5: And a common thing to happen was that if a 57 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:15,440 Speaker 5: young lady in high school had a baby, that her 58 00:04:15,480 --> 00:04:20,880 Speaker 5: parents would just adopt care for that child. She would 59 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:24,520 Speaker 5: go on about her life, and later in life an 60 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:27,720 Speaker 5: adult or a late teen would find out that their 61 00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:32,360 Speaker 5: older sister was actually their mom, and yeah, there might 62 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:35,359 Speaker 5: be some resentment at first, but it usually turned out okay. 63 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:38,360 Speaker 6: There were all these different. 64 00:04:39,480 --> 00:04:43,960 Speaker 5: Elements of the adoption process, but they were never talked about, 65 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 5: and many people have just never really talked about it. 66 00:04:49,960 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 5: And every year somebody will reach out to me. Years ago, 67 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:57,760 Speaker 5: it was David Malsby at Camp Hope, the executive director 68 00:04:57,880 --> 00:04:59,640 Speaker 5: that he has adopted and he tells me every year 69 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 5: my face Fvorite show. 70 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:01,360 Speaker 6: I look forward to it. 71 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:05,360 Speaker 5: And he said, you know, I don't do any meetings 72 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:08,640 Speaker 5: during that time, I just sit, I cry. I think 73 00:05:08,839 --> 00:05:13,240 Speaker 5: I process. I'm grateful, but I really it's a cathartic 74 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:16,920 Speaker 5: process for me. Every year he'll send me some long 75 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:19,800 Speaker 5: email before it and afterwards, which he didn't fail to. 76 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:20,479 Speaker 6: Do again this year. 77 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:23,360 Speaker 5: So this morning, I'm talking to a friend of mine 78 00:05:23,760 --> 00:05:29,520 Speaker 5: and I'm asking about a City of Houston issue. And 79 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:33,760 Speaker 5: I have not talked to this friend in years, but 80 00:05:33,839 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 5: I needed some insight on something that's going on with 81 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:40,640 Speaker 5: regard to the finance at the City of Houston. And 82 00:05:42,120 --> 00:05:44,760 Speaker 5: he said, so, I'm gonna try to see if I 83 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:48,719 Speaker 5: can't listen to the show? Are you The show is 84 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:50,920 Speaker 5: my life. You don't act like it's I don't know 85 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:52,680 Speaker 5: if I'm gonna have a bag of Cheetos or not. 86 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:55,640 Speaker 5: Just don't say anything. I might see if I'm want. 87 00:05:56,080 --> 00:05:58,159 Speaker 5: So I said, I'm gonna see if I can listen 88 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:01,760 Speaker 5: to the show again. What's the time up? Oh man, 89 00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:05,279 Speaker 5: I had two strikes. Why don't you not listen? 90 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:09,240 Speaker 6: That's okay? You just you pierced my little ego. 91 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:13,320 Speaker 5: And he said, what's it going to be about today? 92 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:18,680 Speaker 5: And I said, and he went into what I had 93 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:22,239 Speaker 5: just asked him about, and I said, no, that wouldn't 94 00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:28,160 Speaker 5: fit with today. Today is actually our adoption special. 95 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:30,000 Speaker 6: We do an adoption special. 96 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:32,840 Speaker 5: He said, oh, I've heard that in the past. I 97 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:34,480 Speaker 5: didn't realize that was today. And I said, well, we 98 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:35,720 Speaker 5: just kind of make a day up. 99 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:36,600 Speaker 6: It is today. 100 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:40,800 Speaker 5: And he said, do you know that so and so, 101 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:44,960 Speaker 5: a very good mutual friend of ours is adopted. And 102 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:48,080 Speaker 5: I said no, I didn't. And he told me the story, 103 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:53,479 Speaker 5: and I thought, I'd love to send a message to 104 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 5: our mutual friend and say, this guy's in his sixties. 105 00:06:56,320 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 5: I didn't realize you were adopted. And it was kind 106 00:06:57,960 --> 00:07:01,320 Speaker 5: of one of those He was at the hospital and 107 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 5: his now mother was the nurse and came home and 108 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:07,600 Speaker 5: told her husband there's this child and the child's going 109 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 5: to be taken to Austin. They're trying to place it 110 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:13,800 Speaker 5: for adoption. It's the most beautiful child. And the husband said, 111 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:16,280 Speaker 5: are you wanting to bring this baby home? 112 00:07:16,360 --> 00:07:18,800 Speaker 6: And she said yes. They had two daughters already, and 113 00:07:18,840 --> 00:07:19,840 Speaker 6: he said, well, that's fine. 114 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:23,560 Speaker 5: That's men in the fifties sixty seven. 115 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:24,720 Speaker 6: If that's what you want to do, that's fine. 116 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:27,640 Speaker 5: Another mouth feet, that's fine, but would be a good dad. 117 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:30,880 Speaker 5: It just always amazes me. And one of the things 118 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:34,679 Speaker 5: I enjoy most about our adoption special is that people 119 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:38,120 Speaker 5: who are always a little embarrassed or maybe not quite 120 00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:41,040 Speaker 5: embarrassed but shy about it, or felt weird or felt 121 00:07:41,040 --> 00:07:45,760 Speaker 5: odd or felt different, suddenly kind of come into the 122 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:48,840 Speaker 5: light and go, wait a second, I can embrace this. 123 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:52,600 Speaker 5: Today is my day. It's a special day. And that 124 00:07:52,760 --> 00:07:57,760 Speaker 5: makes me very, very happy. We believe in adoption. There 125 00:07:57,800 --> 00:08:00,800 Speaker 5: are so many different elements to the adoption. There is 126 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:04,520 Speaker 5: the person who's adopted and is just grateful that when 127 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:06,920 Speaker 5: they were helpless, because you come into this world helpless 128 00:08:06,920 --> 00:08:11,360 Speaker 5: and squawking, that somebody stepped forward and said I will 129 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:13,600 Speaker 5: care for and love this child. 130 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 6: That's the best. 131 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:17,280 Speaker 5: Then there are parents who cannot have a child, or 132 00:08:17,280 --> 00:08:21,600 Speaker 5: maybe already have a child and choose to adopt, and 133 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:22,560 Speaker 5: the joy they. 134 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:22,960 Speaker 6: Find in that. 135 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:26,560 Speaker 5: And then there's always later in the show, a mother 136 00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 5: who gave up a child, which I think is a 137 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:31,080 Speaker 5: very courageous thing to do, who will tell that story. 138 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:34,040 Speaker 5: Then there are other reconnections, people who meet up with 139 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 5: their biological parents and that experience or a biological brother. Uh. 140 00:08:39,800 --> 00:08:42,120 Speaker 5: It is my favorite show of the year and I 141 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:45,960 Speaker 5: am excited. Seven one, three, one thousand, your stories of 142 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:47,160 Speaker 5: adoption coming. 143 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:47,440 Speaker 2: Up here. 144 00:08:54,280 --> 00:09:05,559 Speaker 1: The Michael Berry. 145 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:21,560 Speaker 7: Go stop crying, just take my hand. Ohta a little 146 00:09:21,559 --> 00:09:24,320 Speaker 7: bit to you from all around. 147 00:09:27,640 --> 00:09:29,800 Speaker 8: Oh, I'm so excited to be here. This is my 148 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:34,400 Speaker 8: first time at the laugh Factory. Thank you, thank you. 149 00:09:35,240 --> 00:09:37,000 Speaker 8: I got a lot of friends, a lot of family here. 150 00:09:37,080 --> 00:09:39,360 Speaker 8: Unfortunately my mother couldn't make it, but I told her 151 00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:43,040 Speaker 8: I was performing here tonight, and she said, oh, I'm 152 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:50,400 Speaker 8: sure you will bring great shame to a Emily yep. 153 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:53,760 Speaker 8: Been going on my whole life. Finally, I said to her, mom, 154 00:09:53,880 --> 00:09:56,480 Speaker 8: you gotta stop talking to me like that. Okay, first 155 00:09:56,480 --> 00:09:59,560 Speaker 8: of all, I'm a grown woman. But more importantly, you 156 00:09:59,679 --> 00:10:08,880 Speaker 8: are not Asian. I'm adopted. You're white. 157 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:12,920 Speaker 9: You know that. 158 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:16,480 Speaker 5: One takes a minute. You got to know that she's 159 00:10:16,559 --> 00:10:23,400 Speaker 5: Asian to do that. How many people remember do you 160 00:10:23,520 --> 00:10:29,040 Speaker 5: remember the call from Chaos on our show? I don't 161 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:31,960 Speaker 5: remember how many years ago it was, but we've saved 162 00:10:32,080 --> 00:10:38,120 Speaker 5: that that call in our archive of adoption show materials, 163 00:10:38,960 --> 00:10:42,000 Speaker 5: and I was planning on playing it on the evening 164 00:10:42,040 --> 00:10:46,760 Speaker 5: show today. We may play it on this morning show. 165 00:10:46,840 --> 00:10:51,240 Speaker 5: We'll we'll see. But it's it's just one of those Wow, 166 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:58,520 Speaker 5: this is I was out of paper, and Emily has 167 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:02,840 Speaker 5: drawn my ire by not refilling my paper. And so 168 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:06,600 Speaker 5: in the middle of the show, I'm tiptoeing around trying 169 00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:09,600 Speaker 5: to replace my printer paper. Because I'm ninety years old. 170 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:11,000 Speaker 5: I like to print everything out. 171 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:11,840 Speaker 6: I can't. 172 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:14,840 Speaker 5: These young people today, they don't know what a printer is. 173 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:19,200 Speaker 5: They don't know about the horror that is the printer 174 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:23,240 Speaker 5: ink industry. And it's I mean, it's worse than heroin. 175 00:11:23,280 --> 00:11:24,959 Speaker 5: They get you hooked. They'll give you a free printer 176 00:11:25,080 --> 00:11:27,440 Speaker 5: just to get you hooked on the printer ink. Printer 177 00:11:27,520 --> 00:11:30,800 Speaker 5: ink becomes the bane of your existence. It's worse than alcoholism. 178 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:32,640 Speaker 5: Just battling the printer ink. 179 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:38,840 Speaker 6: Dilemma. Yeah, you're right. People have done dirty things for 180 00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:40,560 Speaker 6: printer ink. So I went in. 181 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:44,120 Speaker 5: I had all these adoption related things I needed to 182 00:11:44,160 --> 00:11:47,040 Speaker 5: print out, and my printer was out of paper and 183 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:49,040 Speaker 5: there was no printer in my studio. There's no printer 184 00:11:49,080 --> 00:11:51,559 Speaker 5: paper in my studio, no printer anyway, I'm running late. 185 00:11:51,640 --> 00:11:53,040 Speaker 5: I can't go all the way down the hall to 186 00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:56,520 Speaker 5: get it. So I go into Ramon's office and I said, 187 00:11:56,600 --> 00:12:01,480 Speaker 5: may I please, sir, may I have another like Oliver Twist. 188 00:12:01,920 --> 00:12:04,800 Speaker 5: He said, he pulls out I thought I was an 189 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:07,960 Speaker 5: office supply person. I thought I was, but until I 190 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:10,640 Speaker 5: met Ramon. He takes it to a whole different level. 191 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:16,240 Speaker 5: Everything has to be leather, old school heavy. I mean 192 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:20,199 Speaker 5: he's like the Aid de camp to Robert E. Lee, 193 00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:25,240 Speaker 5: a British aversion. It's very maybe Lord Wellington. And so 194 00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:28,240 Speaker 5: he pulls out, you know, as if it's the you know, 195 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:33,040 Speaker 5: the golden trundle. He pulls out his hammer mill thirty 196 00:12:33,160 --> 00:12:37,600 Speaker 5: two pound paper. If you don't know your paper weights 197 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:40,960 Speaker 5: in the printer, you if you print things, you probably 198 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:44,480 Speaker 5: use a twenty pound, which is standard and you wouldn't 199 00:12:44,520 --> 00:12:44,840 Speaker 5: think of it. 200 00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:47,920 Speaker 6: But it's lightweight paper. He uses a thirty. 201 00:12:47,960 --> 00:12:51,400 Speaker 5: He'll go higher. But man, when you print this thing out, 202 00:12:51,480 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 5: my printer was was struggling. It was needed to lax it. 203 00:12:55,400 --> 00:12:57,960 Speaker 6: It was push trying to push that paper out. It 204 00:12:58,000 --> 00:12:59,959 Speaker 6: couldn't get there. This is some heavy duty. 205 00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:03,760 Speaker 5: So now I'm holding this paper that I've printed on 206 00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:07,480 Speaker 5: his thirty two pounds. I mean it's substantial and it's 207 00:13:07,800 --> 00:13:10,440 Speaker 5: you've got something in your hands. When you've got this 208 00:13:10,600 --> 00:13:14,200 Speaker 5: paper in your hands, all right? Is our adoption special 209 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:16,199 Speaker 5: and we'll just go down the list. 210 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:18,280 Speaker 6: Derek Euroup, Sir, go ahead. 211 00:13:20,200 --> 00:13:23,840 Speaker 9: Hey, Michael, Hey, I had mentioned or heard you mention 212 00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:27,559 Speaker 9: Jordie Tallett maybe a month or two back when you're 213 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:32,920 Speaker 9: talking about the commissioning of the Super Bowl here. I've 214 00:13:33,400 --> 00:13:36,760 Speaker 9: been best friends with his oldest daughter since we were 215 00:13:36,880 --> 00:13:42,319 Speaker 9: seventeen or so, and we've been dating now for about 216 00:13:42,360 --> 00:13:49,640 Speaker 9: five years. And she was adopted by him. He met 217 00:13:49,920 --> 00:13:53,680 Speaker 9: her mom while her mom was pregnant with her and 218 00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:57,880 Speaker 9: went ahead and adopted her before she was born, and 219 00:13:57,960 --> 00:14:03,520 Speaker 9: her real dad followed them from California here to Texas 220 00:14:04,520 --> 00:14:08,560 Speaker 9: and lived nearby, but stayed out of the picture until 221 00:14:08,559 --> 00:14:13,000 Speaker 9: Amanda was eighteen, and then they met. And now Amanda 222 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:19,080 Speaker 9: has stepped up and is being the best mom ever 223 00:14:19,200 --> 00:14:23,880 Speaker 9: to my children. I have three children, and she's a 224 00:14:24,120 --> 00:14:25,040 Speaker 9: wonderful mom. 225 00:14:26,760 --> 00:14:32,000 Speaker 5: I love it, Derek til Jeordie, I said hello, just 226 00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:35,600 Speaker 5: so you know, for those who think that this or 227 00:14:35,640 --> 00:14:38,520 Speaker 5: that doesn't qualify as adoption, it does on this show. 228 00:14:38,720 --> 00:14:39,520 Speaker 6: So does fostering. 229 00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:44,800 Speaker 5: Our concept of adoption is not limited to the idea 230 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:47,800 Speaker 5: of a husband and wife who cannot have a baby, 231 00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:54,360 Speaker 5: and the coordination through usually intermediaries with a mother who 232 00:14:54,400 --> 00:14:57,800 Speaker 5: is giving birth or has given birth, and them taking 233 00:14:57,840 --> 00:14:59,800 Speaker 5: that baby. That is what most people think of as 234 00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:05,360 Speaker 5: a adoption. Adoption for me is the idea that a 235 00:15:05,480 --> 00:15:10,400 Speaker 5: child deserves love and that if the traditional relationships are 236 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:18,000 Speaker 5: not in place for whatever reason abandonment, imprisonment, death, then 237 00:15:18,640 --> 00:15:23,200 Speaker 5: someone else steps in. Whether that's because that's a part 238 00:15:23,240 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 5: of the human experience they want to enjoy and have 239 00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:30,760 Speaker 5: not been able to biologically, or whether it's their daughter's child, 240 00:15:31,040 --> 00:15:34,040 Speaker 5: or whether it's they're a nurse and it's someone's child 241 00:15:34,040 --> 00:15:38,720 Speaker 5: that's abandoned, all of those situations, whatever, they may be 242 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:42,520 Speaker 5: a stepdad who is so beloved by his children that 243 00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:46,000 Speaker 5: they say, would you adopt us? We would like to 244 00:15:46,040 --> 00:15:49,760 Speaker 5: refer to you as dad. I don't refer to my 245 00:15:49,840 --> 00:15:52,480 Speaker 5: children as adopted children. I don't want them referred to 246 00:15:52,520 --> 00:15:54,760 Speaker 5: his adopted children. People will sometimes, you know, he has 247 00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:57,880 Speaker 5: two adopted children from Ethiopia. Now I just have two children. 248 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:01,760 Speaker 5: I just have two children. There they're not you don't 249 00:16:01,880 --> 00:16:05,240 Speaker 5: refer to them as to right handed kids or to 250 00:16:05,480 --> 00:16:08,280 Speaker 5: black kids. I hate that they're just two kids. They're 251 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:10,400 Speaker 5: just my kids. I love my kids the same way 252 00:16:10,440 --> 00:16:12,240 Speaker 5: you love your kids. I may love my kids more 253 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:13,000 Speaker 5: than you love your kids. 254 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:13,520 Speaker 6: I don't know. 255 00:16:13,880 --> 00:16:15,760 Speaker 5: You may love your kids more than I don't know. 256 00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:19,480 Speaker 5: We don't know. I just know that it's not. I 257 00:16:19,520 --> 00:16:22,600 Speaker 5: don't see them as adopted. I don't see them as black. 258 00:16:22,680 --> 00:16:24,840 Speaker 5: I don't see them as anything else. I see them 259 00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:27,480 Speaker 5: as my kids, with all the highs and lows and 260 00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:34,000 Speaker 5: foibles and errors and successes and need to be disciplined 261 00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:35,880 Speaker 5: and need to be loved and need to be provided for. 262 00:16:35,920 --> 00:16:39,160 Speaker 5: It's the same thing. It's no different than anything else. 263 00:16:39,480 --> 00:16:41,800 Speaker 5: It's not an adopted child, just a child, just a 264 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:45,600 Speaker 5: child where you participate in their lives in the way 265 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:46,000 Speaker 5: that you do. 266 00:16:46,280 --> 00:16:48,520 Speaker 6: Let's go to Leslie. Leslie, you're on the Michael Berry Show. 267 00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:51,720 Speaker 6: Go ahead, sweetheart, good morning. 268 00:16:52,080 --> 00:16:55,960 Speaker 4: I'm falling in as a birth mom. I was sixteen 269 00:16:56,960 --> 00:16:59,640 Speaker 4: when I had my child, and she was placed for 270 00:16:59,680 --> 00:17:04,320 Speaker 4: adult option. She actually turned twenty nine last week, and 271 00:17:04,480 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 4: so it's been a pretty story she. I found myself 272 00:17:10,320 --> 00:17:13,240 Speaker 4: pregnant in February of nineteen ninety five and she was 273 00:17:13,280 --> 00:17:17,359 Speaker 4: born November fifteenth of that same year, and kept in 274 00:17:17,400 --> 00:17:19,919 Speaker 4: touch with her throughout the years. Wrote letters back to 275 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:23,720 Speaker 4: her adoptive mother, and she would send me pictures and 276 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:26,120 Speaker 4: huts and gifts and things, but I didn't see her 277 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:30,119 Speaker 4: in person again until her eighteenth birthday. She wanted to 278 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:34,000 Speaker 4: meet me, and so we did that, and we've intermittently 279 00:17:34,000 --> 00:17:37,800 Speaker 4: seen each other, you know, over the years and text 280 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:40,800 Speaker 4: each other and if she comes to town, visit and 281 00:17:40,840 --> 00:17:41,480 Speaker 4: things like that. 282 00:17:41,600 --> 00:17:43,080 Speaker 9: So it's a pretty story. 283 00:17:43,600 --> 00:17:45,440 Speaker 6: It's a beautiful story. 284 00:17:45,560 --> 00:17:48,760 Speaker 5: You brought life into this world and you had a 285 00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:57,000 Speaker 5: choice not to, and you literally birthed into being a 286 00:17:57,119 --> 00:17:59,840 Speaker 5: beautiful child of God. I think that's an incredible thing thing, 287 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:05,639 Speaker 5: an incredibly selfless thing. And you know, it wasn't the 288 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:07,800 Speaker 5: first year that we did our adoption special that a 289 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:11,560 Speaker 5: birth mom called. It may have been several, but it 290 00:18:11,640 --> 00:18:13,680 Speaker 5: was one of those moments that you could have heard 291 00:18:13,720 --> 00:18:16,359 Speaker 5: a pen drop because it was such a powerful moment. 292 00:18:17,080 --> 00:18:20,280 Speaker 5: And since then we have consistently always had at least 293 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:22,360 Speaker 5: one birth mother call in. 294 00:18:23,800 --> 00:18:25,960 Speaker 6: You know, we're not going to talk about. 295 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:28,960 Speaker 5: Abortion today in the politics behind it, but if we're 296 00:18:28,960 --> 00:18:31,720 Speaker 5: going to celebrate life, we have to understand that it's 297 00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:34,840 Speaker 5: imperfect and that everybody has to play a part, and 298 00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:37,320 Speaker 5: that is the woman who has a childhood but whatever 299 00:18:37,320 --> 00:18:38,719 Speaker 5: reason is not going to be able to care for it. 300 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:41,840 Speaker 9: Michael Berry's. 301 00:18:45,760 --> 00:18:48,719 Speaker 8: And the Old Man's Bag Coat found. 302 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:51,880 Speaker 5: It is our annual adoption special. It's also a very 303 00:18:51,880 --> 00:18:55,080 Speaker 5: happy birthday for our friend Chris Conrad was a public 304 00:18:55,160 --> 00:19:01,000 Speaker 5: boot company, his labor of love, his passion project Generation Texan. 305 00:19:02,040 --> 00:19:06,359 Speaker 5: We're going to make custom boots and outfit folks in 306 00:19:06,440 --> 00:19:09,920 Speaker 5: all things Texan. I got a picture the other day 307 00:19:10,440 --> 00:19:13,920 Speaker 5: that I was authorized to receive and it was Val 308 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:17,520 Speaker 5: Kilmer sitting in one of the chairs there holding a 309 00:19:17,520 --> 00:19:19,000 Speaker 5: pair of boots that he was. 310 00:19:20,640 --> 00:19:21,440 Speaker 6: Contemplating. 311 00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:25,840 Speaker 5: And I said, am I okay to am I authorized 312 00:19:25,880 --> 00:19:27,760 Speaker 5: to tell this? And he said, yep, he knows, he 313 00:19:27,800 --> 00:19:32,440 Speaker 5: knows we're telling you, And so I did, and he said, 314 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:36,639 Speaker 5: I don't know if I told you, but we he 315 00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:40,320 Speaker 5: had he had come in sometime back and he wanted 316 00:19:40,320 --> 00:19:44,720 Speaker 5: some badass boots and so we collaborated with him on 317 00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:48,520 Speaker 5: that and we made them for him when he was 318 00:19:48,560 --> 00:19:53,840 Speaker 5: going through his awful throat cancer and he does tombstone 319 00:19:53,840 --> 00:19:58,360 Speaker 5: reenactment reenactments and he wears he wears these boots particularly 320 00:19:58,400 --> 00:20:01,760 Speaker 5: for that and it says say on the left boot 321 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:05,280 Speaker 5: and win on the right boot with a lightning bolt 322 00:20:05,359 --> 00:20:05,800 Speaker 5: on there. 323 00:20:06,160 --> 00:20:06,920 Speaker 6: It's pretty cool. 324 00:20:06,960 --> 00:20:10,560 Speaker 5: I just posted it to the Facebook, speaking of which 325 00:20:10,960 --> 00:20:13,880 Speaker 5: Facebook shut me down. The Facebook page, which is even 326 00:20:13,920 --> 00:20:18,120 Speaker 5: more complicated, is still up. The one that we had 327 00:20:18,160 --> 00:20:20,560 Speaker 5: for years that most of you follow or many of 328 00:20:20,560 --> 00:20:23,600 Speaker 5: you followed. We had to start a new one, and 329 00:20:23,680 --> 00:20:26,240 Speaker 5: so if you go poking around looking for Michael Berry, 330 00:20:27,640 --> 00:20:30,440 Speaker 5: it's the one that has our show logo. And somebody 331 00:20:30,520 --> 00:20:32,199 Speaker 5: kind of as a joke, took the old picture of 332 00:20:32,240 --> 00:20:35,520 Speaker 5: me from fifteen years ago and aged it. It's red, 333 00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:38,440 Speaker 5: white and blue. It should have about three thousand followers. 334 00:20:38,480 --> 00:20:40,240 Speaker 5: We've just been at this for a couple of days, 335 00:20:40,480 --> 00:20:42,840 Speaker 5: but I decided, rather than just keep fighting with them, 336 00:20:42,840 --> 00:20:45,600 Speaker 5: I would start another page without all the strikes and 337 00:20:45,680 --> 00:20:46,120 Speaker 5: all that. 338 00:20:46,320 --> 00:20:47,359 Speaker 6: And that's I. 339 00:20:47,359 --> 00:20:50,200 Speaker 5: Enjoy posting things like this because we don't have a video. 340 00:20:50,040 --> 00:20:50,840 Speaker 6: Element to the show. 341 00:20:51,160 --> 00:20:54,480 Speaker 5: So I'd appreciate it if you found us over there 342 00:20:54,520 --> 00:20:57,960 Speaker 5: and let me know that you found us on Facebook. 343 00:20:58,359 --> 00:21:01,360 Speaker 5: If you send me an email, my response has an 344 00:21:01,359 --> 00:21:04,080 Speaker 5: auto link to it and you can click there and 345 00:21:04,119 --> 00:21:08,000 Speaker 5: then you can follow the page that way. All right, Bruce, 346 00:21:08,280 --> 00:21:11,040 Speaker 5: You're on the Michael Berry Show. It's our annual adoption special. 347 00:21:11,080 --> 00:21:17,560 Speaker 10: Go ahead, my man, Hey Michael, Yes, sorry, yeah, I'd 348 00:21:17,560 --> 00:21:19,960 Speaker 10: just like to explain my story to you a little bit. 349 00:21:21,320 --> 00:21:24,040 Speaker 10: I'm a married man of twenty five years, happily married. 350 00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:30,320 Speaker 10: I have three biological children, but I raised six. When 351 00:21:30,359 --> 00:21:32,520 Speaker 10: I got together with my wife a long time ago, 352 00:21:32,800 --> 00:21:36,080 Speaker 10: twenty five years ago, she had a little girl. You know, 353 00:21:36,200 --> 00:21:38,480 Speaker 10: no one was really happy that she had that little girl, 354 00:21:39,520 --> 00:21:41,240 Speaker 10: and I was so happy. We were friends for a 355 00:21:41,280 --> 00:21:45,520 Speaker 10: long time before that, but you know, I didn't really 356 00:21:45,720 --> 00:21:48,280 Speaker 10: expect us to get together and end up the way 357 00:21:48,320 --> 00:21:51,679 Speaker 10: it was. But when I found out news that she 358 00:21:51,800 --> 00:21:55,199 Speaker 10: was pregnant, I was so happy for and you know, 359 00:21:55,320 --> 00:21:56,919 Speaker 10: years later she told me, you know, you were the 360 00:21:56,960 --> 00:22:00,359 Speaker 10: only one that was happy for that little girl. Little 361 00:22:00,359 --> 00:22:05,320 Speaker 10: girl now is my retired army daughter. She served four 362 00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:08,400 Speaker 10: years in the army and she got injured over there 363 00:22:08,400 --> 00:22:12,200 Speaker 10: in the sandbox. But man, I love her with all 364 00:22:12,320 --> 00:22:16,320 Speaker 10: my heart and so and so proud of her. And 365 00:22:17,680 --> 00:22:20,360 Speaker 10: you know, we never did the adoption papers, but I mean, 366 00:22:20,359 --> 00:22:23,199 Speaker 10: in my mind, she's my daughter, and her mind, I'm 367 00:22:23,280 --> 00:22:23,760 Speaker 10: her daddy. 368 00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:29,159 Speaker 5: You know, when you look at all the things that 369 00:22:29,280 --> 00:22:36,440 Speaker 5: confront societies before computers and airplanes and telephones, it is 370 00:22:37,560 --> 00:22:42,920 Speaker 5: the birthing raising and caring for children and then repeating 371 00:22:42,920 --> 00:22:47,480 Speaker 5: the process for the elderly. That's from the beginning of time. 372 00:22:48,400 --> 00:22:51,120 Speaker 5: These are the fundamental things that we should never lose 373 00:22:51,160 --> 00:22:53,840 Speaker 5: sight of. Jennifer, you're on the Michael Berry Show. Go ahead, sweetheart. 374 00:22:56,119 --> 00:22:59,040 Speaker 11: Hey Michael, I love that you're doing a show on adoption, 375 00:22:59,280 --> 00:23:02,320 Speaker 11: and I wanted to share my story because I know 376 00:23:02,520 --> 00:23:05,119 Speaker 11: other people think about it but don't do it, and 377 00:23:05,680 --> 00:23:09,240 Speaker 11: I'd like to encourage them to do it. Because my 378 00:23:09,359 --> 00:23:12,200 Speaker 11: husband and I we had one biological child and we're 379 00:23:12,280 --> 00:23:17,639 Speaker 11: unable to have another. So in twenty twelve, we brought 380 00:23:17,640 --> 00:23:21,040 Speaker 11: home a little girl and a little boy from Stoberpol, Russia, 381 00:23:21,600 --> 00:23:25,840 Speaker 11: about four months before the adoption band took place and 382 00:23:25,920 --> 00:23:29,800 Speaker 11: Putin took over. And I'll tell you what, it was tough. 383 00:23:29,960 --> 00:23:32,959 Speaker 11: It was really, really tough. They didn't speak our language 384 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:38,719 Speaker 11: at first. But they're twenty and seventeen now and I 385 00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:45,280 Speaker 11: cannot imagine my wife without them. The boy, he's twenty, 386 00:23:45,320 --> 00:23:48,320 Speaker 11: he's in college, he's got his head on straight, been 387 00:23:48,400 --> 00:23:51,960 Speaker 11: dating the same girl for five years, and he's going places. 388 00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:54,560 Speaker 11: In fact, he told his dad and I I'm not 389 00:23:54,640 --> 00:23:58,080 Speaker 11: wasting this opportunity. I'm going to make something of myself, 390 00:24:00,160 --> 00:24:03,440 Speaker 11: not that we expected that, but it's such a blessing 391 00:24:03,480 --> 00:24:05,359 Speaker 11: to hear it and we were just I just feel 392 00:24:05,480 --> 00:24:09,680 Speaker 11: so honored we both do to be their parents. And 393 00:24:10,040 --> 00:24:13,280 Speaker 11: my daughter my best little friend. I just I just 394 00:24:13,359 --> 00:24:17,760 Speaker 11: love her so much. Thank you for allowing me to 395 00:24:17,800 --> 00:24:18,560 Speaker 11: share my story. 396 00:24:18,760 --> 00:24:21,160 Speaker 6: You got it. Absolutely. 397 00:24:21,880 --> 00:24:22,000 Speaker 2: Uh. 398 00:24:22,560 --> 00:24:26,520 Speaker 5: The emails come rolling in and woman just email me, 399 00:24:27,119 --> 00:24:29,120 Speaker 5: I'm adopted and I've never told anybody. 400 00:24:30,960 --> 00:24:34,160 Speaker 6: Just told me. I love it. That's cool. 401 00:24:37,680 --> 00:24:40,000 Speaker 9: And what I see all over the place is people 402 00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:47,240 Speaker 9: who care about looking good while doing evil. Michael, please. 403 00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:53,919 Speaker 5: Can't back there. 404 00:24:58,240 --> 00:24:59,680 Speaker 6: That scene in. 405 00:25:01,520 --> 00:25:04,320 Speaker 5: That Mike Myers did with him in the double decker bus. 406 00:25:05,960 --> 00:25:08,360 Speaker 5: What do you think that did for the cool factor 407 00:25:09,280 --> 00:25:13,320 Speaker 5: of Burt mckerach. I was watching a documentary last night 408 00:25:14,840 --> 00:25:19,040 Speaker 5: on the song Betty Davis Eyes, and Betty Davis was 409 00:25:19,080 --> 00:25:24,879 Speaker 5: seventy three years old, and you know she was she was, oh, 410 00:25:25,160 --> 00:25:31,040 Speaker 5: she was forty years from her heyday. And Betty Davis 411 00:25:31,560 --> 00:25:34,440 Speaker 5: shoots to number one, it wins a Grammy for Song 412 00:25:34,480 --> 00:25:37,439 Speaker 5: of the Year, it wins Album of the Year. And 413 00:25:39,840 --> 00:25:43,600 Speaker 5: her grandkids, who knew that their grandmother had been kind 414 00:25:43,640 --> 00:25:48,960 Speaker 5: of famous a long time ago, all of a sudden, Rema, 415 00:25:49,520 --> 00:25:54,040 Speaker 5: you were the stuff man. We had no idea and 416 00:25:54,080 --> 00:25:56,280 Speaker 5: she said that for the first time ever, I was 417 00:25:56,359 --> 00:25:58,480 Speaker 5: cool to my kids. Here's a little trivia for you, 418 00:25:58,560 --> 00:25:59,480 Speaker 5: Ramon Jay Rotis. 419 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:05,480 Speaker 6: Who were the other two Silver screen stars mentioned in 420 00:26:05,480 --> 00:26:09,879 Speaker 6: that movie? See if you can remember Jean Harlowe very good? 421 00:26:10,600 --> 00:26:11,560 Speaker 6: Did he get the third one? 422 00:26:13,520 --> 00:26:18,159 Speaker 5: I'll accept Garbo, Greta Garbo. That's exactly right. Yeah, yeah, 423 00:26:18,200 --> 00:26:20,480 Speaker 5: there are two others paid tribute to. It is the 424 00:26:20,520 --> 00:26:22,880 Speaker 5: annual Adoption Special and we start with Chad. 425 00:26:24,119 --> 00:26:25,520 Speaker 6: Chad, you're on the Michael Berry Show. 426 00:26:25,720 --> 00:26:31,800 Speaker 12: Michael, I have Michael. I've been married for twenty three years. 427 00:26:32,560 --> 00:26:34,600 Speaker 12: When I met my wife, she had a one year 428 00:26:34,680 --> 00:26:40,040 Speaker 12: old daughter. I pretty much immediately became her father and 429 00:26:40,920 --> 00:26:43,600 Speaker 12: my wife's husband pretty much immediately we moved in together. 430 00:26:43,680 --> 00:26:47,439 Speaker 12: We had two other children after that. When my oldest 431 00:26:47,480 --> 00:26:51,960 Speaker 12: started school, it was about seven, she didn't have my 432 00:26:52,040 --> 00:26:54,119 Speaker 12: last name in school, and that really bothered me. I 433 00:26:54,119 --> 00:26:56,159 Speaker 12: always wanted an adopt it. That was always going to 434 00:26:56,240 --> 00:26:59,439 Speaker 12: be happening. So we started the process and then we 435 00:26:59,480 --> 00:27:01,360 Speaker 12: get a letter are in the mail saying that her 436 00:27:01,359 --> 00:27:06,480 Speaker 12: biological father had committed suicide, which the process just went 437 00:27:06,560 --> 00:27:09,560 Speaker 12: extremely fast after that, So next thing you know, we're 438 00:27:09,600 --> 00:27:12,680 Speaker 12: in the court and we're the first ones on docket. 439 00:27:13,400 --> 00:27:15,600 Speaker 12: The judge wanted us first because he had a lot 440 00:27:15,640 --> 00:27:17,960 Speaker 12: of cases that he didn't want to do after that. 441 00:27:18,240 --> 00:27:21,320 Speaker 12: They're not happy cases always in court, in family court 442 00:27:21,400 --> 00:27:24,840 Speaker 12: like you know that. So we got through. I finally 443 00:27:24,880 --> 00:27:26,560 Speaker 12: got through it. I was about very past that I 444 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:31,119 Speaker 12: couldn't see, just balling like you know, ugly man crying. 445 00:27:32,000 --> 00:27:34,879 Speaker 12: We go to the chambers. We went through that, took pictures. 446 00:27:34,920 --> 00:27:38,760 Speaker 12: It was amazing looking down. I just remember holding her. 447 00:27:40,160 --> 00:27:42,880 Speaker 12: I've never not been her father in her eyes. Never, 448 00:27:43,480 --> 00:27:46,720 Speaker 12: She's never not caught, never said that I wasn't her father. 449 00:27:47,520 --> 00:27:51,400 Speaker 12: I have two other daughters after her. They're awesome, they're 450 00:27:51,520 --> 00:27:53,760 Speaker 12: they're great friends. They don't want to talk about the adoption. 451 00:27:54,280 --> 00:27:56,720 Speaker 12: She just wants to be one of the family. To me, Oh, 452 00:27:56,760 --> 00:27:59,200 Speaker 12: I'm proud of it. I brag when I meet somebody, 453 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:03,800 Speaker 12: I tell them, tell him how amazing it is there 454 00:28:03,840 --> 00:28:06,000 Speaker 12: and just I have three daughters and my wife are 455 00:28:06,080 --> 00:28:10,360 Speaker 12: just unbelievable support team and it all started with her, 456 00:28:10,720 --> 00:28:12,080 Speaker 12: and I love it. 457 00:28:12,680 --> 00:28:16,480 Speaker 6: I love it. Chad James, you're on the Michael Berry Show. 458 00:28:16,480 --> 00:28:22,280 Speaker 13: Go ahead, sir, Good morning, Mike right quick. I met 459 00:28:21,640 --> 00:28:27,040 Speaker 13: my then girlfriend wife back in ninety three, late ninety three, 460 00:28:27,080 --> 00:28:29,439 Speaker 13: and you know, she had a young boy, it was 461 00:28:29,960 --> 00:28:33,520 Speaker 13: like three months old. A few years later we got married, 462 00:28:33,560 --> 00:28:38,680 Speaker 13: and a year after that, I adopted Cody, and I 463 00:28:38,680 --> 00:28:40,360 Speaker 13: think it's one of the best things I've ever done 464 00:28:40,360 --> 00:28:44,520 Speaker 13: in my life. A few years later, his mom changed 465 00:28:44,520 --> 00:28:47,120 Speaker 13: her mind about plans and everything, and she ended up 466 00:28:47,120 --> 00:28:50,520 Speaker 13: divorcing me. However, you know, it was a struggle maintaining 467 00:28:50,560 --> 00:28:54,600 Speaker 13: that relationship with with Cody from thousands of miles away. 468 00:28:54,680 --> 00:28:57,960 Speaker 13: Because I'm a Mariner. I worked in different countries and 469 00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:00,840 Speaker 13: all that, but I would always pay child support, and 470 00:29:00,960 --> 00:29:03,000 Speaker 13: every chance I could make it to Atlanta, I would 471 00:29:03,040 --> 00:29:08,520 Speaker 13: go and visit. And he turned eighteen and he's he 472 00:29:08,680 --> 00:29:10,840 Speaker 13: was out on his own, and as much as possible, 473 00:29:10,880 --> 00:29:13,760 Speaker 13: I would always try and influence him to read, learn 474 00:29:13,840 --> 00:29:15,720 Speaker 13: to read. I taught him to read at a very 475 00:29:15,760 --> 00:29:18,920 Speaker 13: young age. And here we are years later, He's thirty. 476 00:29:18,960 --> 00:29:21,600 Speaker 13: Won this past October. Mike, He's got four paths into 477 00:29:21,640 --> 00:29:24,760 Speaker 13: his name. He's so smart, he's so great as a 478 00:29:24,800 --> 00:29:28,360 Speaker 13: young man, and we play video games together. We talk 479 00:29:28,520 --> 00:29:31,480 Speaker 13: like we're we talk like we're brothers. Even though that 480 00:29:32,040 --> 00:29:37,280 Speaker 13: there's no question that I'm his dad, and I just 481 00:29:37,360 --> 00:29:40,840 Speaker 13: I'm so glad to call him my son, and uh, 482 00:29:41,160 --> 00:29:43,120 Speaker 13: it's one of the best things that's ever happened to me. 483 00:29:45,800 --> 00:29:46,000 Speaker 8: You know. 484 00:29:46,120 --> 00:29:49,200 Speaker 5: That's the important thing for people to understand. You're not 485 00:29:49,280 --> 00:29:54,080 Speaker 5: saving another person, You're saving yourself. The reason to do 486 00:29:55,160 --> 00:30:00,120 Speaker 5: a kind thing for another person, the reason to help 487 00:30:01,720 --> 00:30:06,600 Speaker 5: our veterans beating PTSD at Camp Hope is not because 488 00:30:06,600 --> 00:30:11,400 Speaker 5: there's some sad soul and you're swooping in to save 489 00:30:11,520 --> 00:30:14,600 Speaker 5: the day. It is to save yourself. Is the most 490 00:30:14,600 --> 00:30:22,480 Speaker 5: selfish thing you can do. It will give you such joy, happiness, fulfillment. 491 00:30:22,080 --> 00:30:22,760 Speaker 6: And purpose. 492 00:30:22,880 --> 00:30:27,120 Speaker 5: Jordan Peterson talks at length about this, is that the 493 00:30:27,160 --> 00:30:31,840 Speaker 5: pursuit of life should not be happiness. The idea that 494 00:30:31,880 --> 00:30:35,320 Speaker 5: we're going to achieve this giddiness, this happiness, and we're 495 00:30:35,360 --> 00:30:38,520 Speaker 5: just going to be smiling, and that will mean that 496 00:30:38,600 --> 00:30:41,640 Speaker 5: we don't have to work, and we are wealthy and 497 00:30:41,680 --> 00:30:44,960 Speaker 5: we can just buy things and people will attend to 498 00:30:45,040 --> 00:30:47,600 Speaker 5: us and we won't have to do anything. The idea 499 00:30:48,160 --> 00:30:49,920 Speaker 5: it will be so wealthy that we won't have to 500 00:30:49,960 --> 00:30:55,239 Speaker 5: do anything, and that that will lead to happiness, but 501 00:30:55,360 --> 00:30:59,479 Speaker 5: it never does. Actually, we think it would, but it 502 00:30:59,520 --> 00:31:06,360 Speaker 5: never does. What we should pursue is purpose, should pursue 503 00:31:06,560 --> 00:31:11,120 Speaker 5: a mission, a sense of accomplishment. All of the great 504 00:31:11,320 --> 00:31:14,360 Speaker 5: joys in life are as a result of sacrifice and 505 00:31:14,440 --> 00:31:20,040 Speaker 5: discipline and struggle and prevailing winning a Super Bowl. 506 00:31:20,040 --> 00:31:21,440 Speaker 6: I suspect is is good. 507 00:31:21,280 --> 00:31:23,480 Speaker 5: Or better than any drug you could ever buy without 508 00:31:23,520 --> 00:31:28,800 Speaker 5: the side effects, because it is hard to sacrifice raising 509 00:31:28,840 --> 00:31:31,400 Speaker 5: a child. The pride you have when your child walks 510 00:31:31,400 --> 00:31:31,920 Speaker 5: across that. 511 00:31:31,920 --> 00:31:34,560 Speaker 6: Stage at the graduation, because. 512 00:31:34,440 --> 00:31:36,360 Speaker 5: It's not just your child that's doing that. 513 00:31:36,600 --> 00:31:41,560 Speaker 6: You're there, You contributed to that. It's beautiful. 514 00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:45,280 Speaker 5: Brown. I'm sorry to interrupt our adoption special, but I 515 00:31:45,360 --> 00:31:48,520 Speaker 5: just got a message from Orange A search is underway 516 00:31:48,520 --> 00:31:50,760 Speaker 5: for men who held up the driver of a Brinks 517 00:31:50,800 --> 00:31:55,640 Speaker 5: truck and a credit union in Orange County, in Mauriceville. 518 00:31:55,880 --> 00:31:59,760 Speaker 6: This just does not happen. This is somebody I would 519 00:31:59,760 --> 00:32:02,600 Speaker 6: have gone on to school with and they have jacked 520 00:32:02,600 --> 00:32:06,840 Speaker 6: the Brinks truck. Don't listen. 521 00:32:07,000 --> 00:32:10,440 Speaker 5: Yes, I will accept a portion of it as a 522 00:32:10,480 --> 00:32:13,640 Speaker 5: peace offering, as your sort of pastoral figure for the 523 00:32:14,200 --> 00:32:17,160 Speaker 5: golden trailer makes your mind doesn't have any die pacts 524 00:32:17,200 --> 00:32:17,320 Speaker 5: in it. 525 00:32:17,520 --> 00:32:17,960 Speaker 6: Those things. 526 00:32:17,960 --> 00:32:21,800 Speaker 5: That's a mess.