To our golden boy on his golden birthday

May 7, 2007

Your father and I decided that the one unique thing we could give you on your 50th birthday is the account of your birth as we remember it.

The world was so different then that it will be hard for you to imagine. The mood of the country was optimistic. Dwight Eisenhower was president. We had won the War (WWII). America was loved around the world. Suburbs were developing. Fortunately for us there was great interest in church development. Congregations were crowded and there was an impetus to build new churches in these new suburbs. We rode this crest of enthusiasm and were full time at the new church-to-be, Windsor Hills, when you were born.

David and I had been married a year, had moved from our first little house to Eastview Drive in Roanoke, near where Windsor Hills would be built. A small congregation had already been chartered and what dear, wonderful people they were. They were as excited about your coming birth as we were and followed my pregnancy with great interest. David even ended a Stewardship letter to the congregation with the word, “Yours for a budget and a boy.”

Landon Smith, a church member who had a drinking problem, gave me $100 to buy maternity clothes. That was a huge amount at the time and I bought my whole wardrobe. I remember I had a red suit with a white fur collar, a dressy aqua outfit with accordion pleated skirt and a grey suit. All were made with a big hole cut out in the middle and the tops came down over the hole. No woman wore pants at this time but I did have hats and gloves to match each outfit.

Audrey Flora and Evelyn Waldron had planned a surprise baby shower for me. We had one unit of the church built by then and the shower was held there. It WAS a surprise. I think all the women who were members of the church were present and I was truly showered with everything. Of course there weren’t nearly as many items for babies as there are now but I was given a baby bed (that we used for years) and lots of cloth diapers (no disposable ones at that time), a black and white baby carriage and even a baby ring.

My doctor was Dr. Gooch and he was very strict that I should not gain much weight during my pregnancy. Twenty pounds was the absolute tops. At the time it was very easy for me to lose weight. I remember I would eat nothing before my monthly weigh-in and then I would immediately go out and eat some huge dessert— carry on happily until time for my next appointment and follow the same routine. I made it! I did not gain over 20 pounds the entire pregnancy. I had a few queasy days at the beginning of my pregnancy. I would eat soda crackers and I made up a chant I would say “Mind over Matter. What does it matter?” but basically I felt good the whole time. I really took it easy. I had to stop working with the Youth when I began to show. Doesn’t that seem strange now?

Gloria sent me this poem just before your birth:

We used to be a literary couple

Our shelves were always tightly filled

With new selections from the Guild.

Essays, poems, myths exploded

Culturally speaking we were loaded.

But since our baby’s new arrival

Art is losing the fight for survival.

We’ve abandoned Shelley, Keats

For epics like, “What Baby Eats.”

And when nights are cold and raining

We curl up with “Toilet Training.”

Adieu dear Shakespeare: Shaw farewell

Hail Spoke and Vive Gesell!

Gloria’s birthday was May 6 and she was wishing for you to appear on that date—You were close!

Others from Murfreesboro were excited about your birth. There was an item in the Feature section of the Daily News Journal announcing your arrival. (I had worked there one summer during my college years.) The baby gift of choice at that time, in Murfreesboro, must have been “a dollar”. I got three. One from Mrs Parrish (next door on South Church Street), one from a teacher with Mother and a silver dollar from Aunt Edith. All said “Get something for the baby.” What could you get NOW for a dollar?

With all that interest you did not visit Murfreesboro or see anyone from Murfreesboro until you were four months old. (When your visit was again announced in the newspaper.) Gloria had just had Paul. Mother did not come but Mimi came down to stay a week when I got home from the hospital. We really didn’t have a guest room in our little house. I believe she slept in the basement!

I’m not sure how much you want to know about your actual birth. So skip this next paragraph if it is too gross or too personal to think about your Mother.

You were late so Dr. Gooch decided to start the birthing process. I checked in on a Monday night and injections began Tuesday morning. Your actual birth time was 4:00 that afternoon. When contractions began it was an interesting experience for me. I had never really experienced long term intense pain before. I had the interesting experience of feeling the pain as waves in an ocean. I would ride these waves like a surfer, cresting higher and higher. Then the pain would peak and I would feel momentary relief until the next wave began. I was given an epidermal (Now considered too dangerous) toward the last so I was not conscious during your actual birth. I must mention that David was nowhere in sight. I learned later that dear Mrs. Swain came and waited with him in the waiting room. You were a large baby and though I don’t remember it there was a lot of ripping and tearing at your birth. While I was under the doctor did a hemorrhoid operation and some repair sewing. What I do remember is that to aid the healing, I lay with a heat lamp between my legs and a nurse said, “You are going to get a sun tan in a very strange place.”

I got quickly over the pain of birth but was kept in the hospital for a week as was the custom of the time. That was a fun time. Everyone on the maternity ward was very happy over their new arrivals and there were many visits and flowers from church folks. I was in the hospital over Mother’s Day and the hospital made a big deal over it, giving all Mothers a rose and a special meal.

As opposed to now, I did not see much of you that week. You were kept with the other babies but I would walk down the hall and look at you through the window. I saw a somber baby, except when you were screaming. You had an almost bald head with just a fuzz of red hair and I thought you were very beautiful.

Your birth was the most spiritual experience I have ever had in my life. I can’t really explain it. We didn’t have a lot of pre-natal preparation. I didn’t really know what was going on in my body. I had loved the kicking you did during my pregnancy but I don’t think I had thought of you as real. When suddenly—there you were—a new living creature. I was overwhelmed with the miracle of it all.

You have continued to be a miracle for me. I am so proud of you—of all that you have done but mostly of who you are.

Happy 50th!!