by Maxine Schleisner

Created on: July 09, 2008

I was invited to be the topic of a magazine article in England.

Much to my surprise I was sent to Delaware. Cost paid by them, for a photo shoot with my daughter who was taken 32 years ago by her father. She was found last year by me on the internet.

We have had a wonderful relationship since finding each other. I have a great son-in-law and great grandkids. We have alot in common and now she knows where she gets her good looks from.

The photo shoot was an all day job and I wish to speak about that. I have never in my life been through something so long and hard. We changed clothes more times than I can remember. We sat in more different positions than I liked and in more places from the park to the livingroom at her home. The mix of people in the picture changed from the different grandkids to just my daughter and I. It was just more difficult than most people would know. I felt for those who do these types of things for a living. Models, I just don't know how on earth you do it but I know why you get paid the big money.

The article is a two part article about how she was taken and how she was found. Those who would like to know about it might want to read another article I wrote about my missing daughter. I think the time spent with her was great and we had a small amount of time together when she was in my state and few months ago. That was our first visit and when she came the cameras were rolling at the airport and the news media was ready for the visit. We did articles for the newspapers and one television news station.

She really isn't much for the limelight but I on the other hand feel I am due because I waited for 32 years to see her again after she was taken when she was only three. I know it's a long way to England but I should be getting a copy or two in a few weeks. She did that article only because it was in England. She turned down many interviews in her home town because she said she doesn't want people at the store coming up to her and say anything to her, and besides she doesn't really want to make waves with her father even though she knows he did me wrong many years ago. She still lives very close to him and he does see the grandkids.

In closing, I have to say it opened my eyes to what a life is like on both sides of the camera. I was able to speak to and have some interesting conversations with a great photographer who has some great stories to tell. The trip went well and the grandkids who met me for the first time were very sweet and loving to a grandmother they never knew. All and all a grand way to see things and a state I had never been to as well.

I only spent a couple days there but I learned much about my extended family and their life and they do have a great marriage. The kids are great and have a wonderful life there. They hope to move here sometime in the future. I will enjoy that and so will my children here. My husband can't wait to met the grandkids either, he was unable to be there with me so it will be his first time. I hope they can visit before they move here and in a few months they can drive down for a visit.

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