Crossing the Blue Willow Bridge: A Journey to My Daughter's Birthplace in China

Title Page, Copyright, Dedication

“In prose both graceful and unsentimental, Nancy McCabe tells the story of the search for identity and the yearning for connection that is at the core of the mother-daughter relationship. As she returns to her adoptive daughter’s birthplace, as she struggles with the cultural divide she sees at home, as she watches her daughter, a budding gymnast, ‘throw herself into empty space toward the high bar,’ McCabe learns both to love and to let go. This is a book for every mother, adoptive and biological, who watches her daughter with love, awe—and bated breath.” — L AU R E N K E S S L E R , AU T H O R O F M y T e e n ag e W e r e W o l f : a M oT h e r , a D au g h T e r , a J o u r n e y T h r o u g h T h e T h i c k e T o f a D o l e s c e n c e “With lyrical sensitivity and frank humor, the author of Meeting sophie explores the myriad logistical and emotional facets of international adoption. Nancy McCabe is keenly aware of the challenge in reconciling her daughter’s American and Chinese identities as they travel to Sophie’s birthplace—a journey that’s less a closure than an aperture. crossing the Blue Willow Bridge is a brave, balanced, nuanced narrative, offering a complex answer to the simple question: what is home?” — S A R A H S A F F I A N , AU T H O R O F i T h a k a : a D au g h T e r’ s M e M o i r o f B e i n g f o u n D “In this heartfelt memoir, McCabe shares a touching journey as she travels to China to introduce her adopted daughter to the places and people from her past. The resulting story radiates wisdom about crosscultural connections, while acknowledging the struggles of child-rearing. crossing the Blue Willow Bridge offers lessons in love and patience that will apply not only to mothers and fathers of adopted children, but to all parents.” — L AU R A B RO D I E , AU T H O R O F o n e g o o D y e a r : a M oT h e r a n D D au g h T e r’ s e D u c aT i o n a l a DV e n T u r e “Nancy McCabe has written one of the most compelling books I’ve ever read. I read it on the plane, on the train, on vacation, at every opportunity till I’d gobbled it up. Here is a truthful story for every parent and child about their love, hope, and frustration with one another.” — S E N A J E T E R N A S LU N D , AU T H O R O F a h a B’ s W i f e A N D a Bu n D a n c e , a n oV e l o f M a r i e a n To i n e T T e Crossing the Blue Willow Bridge Crossing the Blue Willow Bridge A Journey to My Daughter’s Birthplace in China Nancy McCabe University of Missouri Press Columbia and London Copyright © 2011 by The Curators of the University of Missouri University of Missouri Press, Columbia, Missouri 65201 Printed and bound in the United States of America All rights reserved 5 4 3 2 1 15 14 13 12 11 Cataloging-in-Publication data available from the Library of Congress. ISBN 978-0-8262-1942-8 This paper meets the requirements of the American National Standard for Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, Z39.48, 1984. Jacket designer: Susan Ferber Text designer: Stephanie Foley Typesetter: FoleyDesign Printer and binder: Thomson-Shore, Inc. Typefaces: Adobe Garamond and Humana For Sophie, as always ...