Let me say, first and foremost, I am an American Idol addict. Every year, as they make their way through the auditions, I kick myself for never working up the courage to audition. Then again, due to my anxiety, I'd freeze up and be one of the horrid, awful auditions that the nation laughs at during these first few weeks of each season. And so, it's no surprise that I was watching last night's episode as the audition road took the judges to New York City.

While I've already picked out my favorite female (Sarah Burgess, also auditioned in NYC, from East Palestine, Ohio), my favorite male takes on a two-fold favoritism. Jenry Bejarano sang Gerald Lavert's "I'd Give Anything To Fall In Love." It was a beautiful, soulful rendition for a sixteen year old boy. I was actually shocked when he opened his mouth. It's the voice of a much more mature man. I instantly fell in voice-love. (Anyone coming from any kind of vocal background will understand that statement.)

What puts him further on the top of my list is this little factoid that we learn about Jenry:

Jenry was adopted into a Bolivian household when he was one.

Of course, this little factoid is further proof that I can't turn around without adoption smacking me in the face. I was just planning on watching people sing well and fall on their face last night. I wasn't expecting to begin wondering about a performer's biological connections! Good grief! However, if you saw the show, I'm quite interested in seeing what pair of genes made that beautiful child. Seriously! The comments on posts all over the internet seem to state that if the kid doesn't make it singing, he should give modeling a go. I can't say that I disagree.

As a birth mother, this type of things interests me to no end. Without knowing anything more than he was adopted, I can only assume that somewhere on this planet exists a mother that gave birth to him. I don't know if she's in the United States or in a different country. I don't know if she has any contact or if the adoption was fully closed. And so my mind wanders and makes up scenarios.

His voice was beautiful. Clear. Mature. Strong! If I had been his birthmother, with no contact, and I heard his voice on my television, I think my jaw would have dropped to the floor. There are some voices that touch us without us understanding why. I wonder if a birth mother, somewhere, heard a voice last night and wondered, just maybe, if that was her little boy, almost grown up, kickin' butt on American Idol.

All the same, I've stated my two favorites. Who are yours so far?