I also found my birth mother after searching for her for 26 years. I was 50 yo and she was 72 yo. when we met for the first time. I did it all without the internet by going thru obits, cemeteries, libraries, and good ole’ leg work.
I wrote a book detailing my entire journey called, “Scattered Siblings”, auth: Lawrence Weeks (available on Amazon).
Couple of interesting things that happened: 1) There was a picture of me in a coffin when I was 6 years old (really). . . and 2) I stabbed my brother with a knife and threw him off a bridge into the Ohio River (?).
What?
Well, I’m now going to have to buy your book.
I do family history and genealogy as a hobby, so I definitely know about sleuthing. The internet is not all it is cracked up to be. Going to Cemetaries, courthouses, and libraries/historical societies is invaluable.