Happy 35

Thirty-five years ago today, there was a snowstorm in Oregon's Willamette Valley. Snowstorms don't happen often in the Valley – in fact, I only remember three in the six years I lived there. This New Year's Eve snowstorm was the second one. And it was memorable because I had an appointment that day with the stork. The normally 20-minute drive took a little over an hour.

When the hospital was finally reached, the maternity ward was overrun.......there was not only a snow storm, there was also a full moon. It took almost three hours from the time I arrived until I finally got into a labor room. It was a memorable day. 1) There was the snowstorm. 2) There was no heat in my labor room, and there was no other room for them to move me to. 3) There was a TV in my labor room, and the NFL playoffs happened to be on.....the Los Angeles Rams were playing that day, and the obstetrician on duty was a Rams fan and kept coming into my room to check on the progress of the game.......I probably saw more of that obstetrician than any other person in labor, though he wasn't necessarily seeing me! 4) I can't forget my labor nurse, who had been called in on her day off because of the abnormally busy delivery day......she wasn't exactly in a good mood and took it out on me.

Son finally arrived at 6:52 pm. I was very glad to see him, even though he weighed a pound and a half more than his older sister had. Mom and Dad had come to Oregon for that winter, to help me out with the kids. This little guy came along 16 months after his older sister. The first night home from the hospital, Dad was holding and inspecting his grandson. Not completely thinking through what he was saying – or who he was saying it to – he looked at me and said, “did you see the broad shoulders on this kid?” The only answer I could come up with was, “Yeah, Dad, I noticed!” Dad was a little flustered.

His big sister was so glad to see him come home – it was like I brought her a new toy to play with. There was nothing the two of them couldn't think up together. Like the time they emptied out their dresser drawers and threw all the clothes out the window. He was only seven months old when Big Sis did something and he looked up and said, “I can do it” - and did exactly what she had! Luckily, I had an unbiased adult witness to that spoken declaration.

He always loved watching TV and at a very early age could quote commercials verbatim to entertain everyone. When his baby sister came along just six days after his third birthday, he told me very solemnly that he would be a good big brother, “just like Richie is to Joanie”..........Happy Days, in case you didn't catch the connection.

As he grew, so did his imagination and his willingness to do anything outrageous. His beloved cowboy boots had to go away because he used them to kick his sisters. His first BB gun had to go away because his shot his older sister in the knee. He got another one when I thought he was old enough to be responsible with it – I was wrong, and the same sister will attest to that!

In high school, he competed in Speech and Debate. Out of self preservation, I had to learn debate tactics as well, because he would use them on me when I was trying to give him a serious talk. In fact, I learned he would listen to me better if I made him laugh first, then transitioned to the serious talk. I've often said that this kid has given me every gray hair I have. And yet I wouldn't trade him for anything.

One time when he was in grade school, another parent asked me if I were his mom.......my kneejerk reaction reply was “why?” I wanted to know what he had done before admitting that we were related. And yet now, 35 years later, he's a hard-working, responsible husband and father who still calls to check in every few days and ends every conversation with “I love you, Mama”......what more could a mom ask for?