Vital Statistics

Births. Deaths. Marriages. The components of vital statistics. In one week we've had all three. Last weekend my brother got married. Thursday, Bud's last surviving uncle died. Today my great-grandson was born.
Adoption is another vital statistic for a lot of people. It may be one my eldest has a problem with as he applies for a passport so he can go sailing in the Carribean this winter. He was legally adopted by his step-father, but wanted to go back to his birth name after his natural father died. I had a lawyer file the necessary papers. At least I think I did. I never received a bill from the lawyer and when I tried to get a copy of the updated birth certificate at the county courthouse, I was told I would have to get it from the state. Something I never followed up on.
My son may have an interesting time trying to get a certified copy of his birth certificate, especially with the changes since 911. Hopefully it was all handled as it was supposed to be and there won't be any problems.
I have long been a reader of obituaries. They are about the first things I read online every morning. I think I read them as much to learn family connections as I do to know who has died. I wrote the obituaries for both my parents and one of my grandmothers. I'm going to write my own one of these days. Control person that I am, I want to make sure it's right. I can have it all written down except for that last vital statistic.