He came from three kids.
I came from three kids.
Three kids just seemed like a good number.
Then I had the Sweet Prince Buttercup....
And 23 months later Googie Monster made her entrance.
S P Buttercup was like having 6 children.
And Googie just rolled with the flow.
So for a couple of years after the two of them were born Daddio and I were content with having 7 children.
And then my brother John died in a horrible accident.
And that left just me and Susan.
And I spent lots of time wondering how awful it would be if my mother had only had two children.
And I was left sibling less.
Or Susan was left sibling less.......
I told Daddio that I wanted our third baby.
Now.... I didn't have him to replace my brother.
I had him because I realized that I felt like something was missing.
When I found out that I was carrying a boy....
I wigged out for a minute or two....
Another boy could mean 6 more children.
So with this one and Buttercup and Googie I was going to be a mother of 13.
I didn't have the patience to mother 13.
It was hard enough many days with just the 7 I already had.
I went into labor with my darling Bear at 1am.
Just after Daddio and his friend and I watched an episode of Saturday Night Live.
For a late night snack we'd had White Castle (for those of you living outside of Michigan White Castle is a little burger joint that sells theeee most addicting teenytiny flat square hamburgers for about a dime apiece...being so cheap and small you are compelled to buy at least a dozen to eat at one setting....If by chance you should ever visit I implore you to only sample one...or make sure you are very near a bathroom, as Daddio says "those babies work fast").
I was a glutton that night and in addition to a cheeseburger (or five) I ate some of their onion chips.
Onion chips....
You know the charcoal they feed you at the hospital when you ingest something horrible and poisonous....
and you need to throw-up???
I was looking for an "at home" version around midnight that night.
(I have to stop, my stomach is getting sick)
Anyway, I credit those damn awful onion chips with starting my labor.
Daddio and his friend "Dah" had had a couple of beers (not so many that driving would be an issue)....
His friend laughs and likes to tell the story this way.... I came into the room and (I Love Lucy style) told Daddio "it is time" and according to his friend (he swears this to be true) Daddio grabbed my suitcase and ran outside and then backed out the drive...
alone.
According to "Dah" I opened the door and waved at the excited father to be, letting him know he was forgetting something.
This new baby boy and I spent lots of time together....he was (and is) a joy.
And most days he was like having only 3 children.
So he and Googie and Buttecup equaled only 10 children.
And I like even numbers.
Today my baby turns 19...how did the time go so fast?
He had his girlfriend over last night and I couldn't make over him like I usually do at bedtime the day before a birthday.
Instead I left him a note on his pillow.
When I'm long gone I hope he will follow this tradition.
No matter where I am, living or dead, he and I have a date at 3:33 am on the 4th day of August.
It's not legal to eat people...
but couldn't you just eat this kid up????
Dear Beth: OH MY GOD..I love this post!!! I am sitting at my computer crying over this post.. You are such a good writer....I love that "Bear" with all of my heart...I really love him more tho because he came from you...You know how much I love you!!!!Your very proud mother...
ReplyDeleteSo sweet. Happy birthday (belatedly) to your 8th, 9th and 10th child!
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