This is the story about how Ainsley came into our lives. How two middle-aged professionals managed to adopt a child without leaving our shores. You see, Ainsley is not from China, Ethiopia or Russia. She is a domestic product, manufactured right here in the United States. Finding her was no easy feat. In the pages that follow I hope to provide a feel for the travel, travails, and twerps one encounters upon entering the world of private adoption. This is not a tale for the faint of heart, the politically correct, or misers. Suffice it to say we had our ups, downs, and wrote a lot of checks. And, despite my continuing need for a nap, it was worth every expended minute and dollar.
About the Author: Eric C. Anderson is faculty member at the National Intelligence University. As a long-standing member of the U.S. intelligence community, he has written over 600 articles for the National Intelligence Council, International Security Advisory Board and the Department of Defense. In addition, he is a leading scholar on the rise of sovereign wealth funds. His book, Take the Money and Run: Sovereign Wealth Funds and the Demise of American Prosperity was published in March 2009. A long-time student of all things Northeast Asia, Mr Anderson published China Restored: The Middle Kingdom Looks to 2020 and Beyond in 2010. Prior to assuming his current position, Mr. Anderson served as a national security consultant and a senior intelligence analyst. He has worked for the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Multi National Forces-Iraq in Baghdad and at the U.S. Pacific Command in Hawaii. From 1990-2000, Mr. Anderson was an active duty intelligence officer in the United States Air Force-with assignments in Japan, Korea and Saudi Arabia. He remains on duty as an Air Force reserve officer. He has also taught for the University of Missouri, University of Maryland, and the Air Force Academy. Mr. Anderson has a PhD in political science from the University of Missouri, a MA from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, and a BA from Illinois Wesleyan University. He is a graduate of the Air Force Squadron Officer's School, Air Command and Staff College, and the Air War College. A long-time Harley rider, Mr. Anderson claims to have put over 200,000 miles on motorcycles during the last 20 years...and looks forward to his daughter joining him on the highways and byways that call every wind-blown gypsy.