Storyteller

the Storyteller

Are You My Mother?

It all started in a foster home somewhere on a farm south of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. MaryAdele
was to become the best foster baby the old couple would care for. After being named Denise by
her birthmother, she was named Caroline (after Caroline Kennedy) until her adoptive parents
finally named her after her two grandmothers. MaryAdele struggled in her attempts to answer
the question "who am I?" during her adolescence which led to some rocky years. In fall of 1995,
MaryAdele's search for answers to her questions ended when she found her birthmother after 7
years. This is a very personal story of her journey to find her birth mother, the process of getting
to know each other, and their continued relationship 15 years later. You will be moved by details
of her birthmother's decision to give her up for adoption and the birth. You will be amazed to
hear how the two families were so close yet so far from each other over the years. You will be
brought to tears hearing about their first meeting in an airport. You will hear MaryAdele's
struggles in trying to figure out how her genetic family fits with her adoptive family.

Helping Them Die - The Gift of Hospice

To be there at the time of death for a loved one is a true gift for the living. MaryAdele
had the honor of witnessing the last breath of two of her beloved aunts. In both cases
she sat vigil for days, comforting each woman in her last hours and responding to their
last requests. MaryAdele had help from Hospice in both cases and gratefully learned
first hand of their important work. This is a very intense and personal story of death
and what it means to die. She advocates for the role of Hospice, patient's right and
explores the debate around euthanasia.

Waiting for My Brother To Die

For whatever reason, MaryAdele and her oldest brother have a had special
connection since they were young. She chalks it up to both being adopted or maybe
it is her desire to mend her brother's injured soul. He began to drink and abuse drugs
in his early teens and after decades of continued abuse, the expected happen.
Beginning in mid-November 2007, MaryAdele sat at the bedside of her brother who
was in ICU for over a month. As she sat vigil, wondering if today would be the day
he would die, she therapeutically wrote him a letter every day. Hear these letters
full of sadness, madness, and loss of hope. Then enjoy listening to her brother's
journey of recovery and the progress he has made today.

What has happened to the art of story telling? Has it been replaced with the one line tweet or the new three
sentence status update on Facebook? Have we become a society addicted to high drama and devastation? Are people
so consumed with other people's stories that they forget the lessons to be learned in their own lives?

MaryAdele believes that the power of the "average person's story" is what many people are missing today. They don't
have to be these highly publicized tales of super stars or famous criminals, but the stories of every day life that are
shared around a kitchen table or camp fire are the stories worth sharing.

Through her own unique life experiences, MaryAdele hopes to tell stories that bring back the familiar. Familiarity in
circumstances, actions, consequences, emotions and lessons to pass on.

The Feminist and the Farmer

This is an unique love story. One that represents a perfect example of how
opposites attract. They met each other on Match.com which is ironic since they
don't have much in common. MaryAdele is a self-proclaimed feminist who has
traveled the world and works for the betterment of people and communities. The
Farmer, more apt to be conservative and comfortable in small town living, is
focused on taking care of family, capitalism, and growth of crops. This story is full
of funny anecdotes of the Feminist getting adjusted to farm life and the Farmer
getting used to the Feminist. Enjoy the tales of compromise, hard work and
organic gardening that maintain the foundation of love and respect in this love
story. For the most up to date adventures, follow the blog.

MaryAdele in foster home, Dec. 1970

Adolescent Brain Blog