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Monday, May 9, 2011

A Birthday Present

It was a lousy way to spend his birthday.  Working all day then spending his evening in school.  Of course, there were a lot of guys in the same boat back then.  They had left to fight as soon as they turned 18 and now that the war was over, they were married with kids, trying to get through college the hard way. 



He got off the bus around 10:30, expecting to walk the several blocks to his in-laws where they were staying so her parents could help his very pregnant wife take care of their two year old son.  Then he saw the car waiting at the corner.  Hey, the day might not be a total loss after all.  They had come to meet him.  Probably going to take him out for an ice cream or something.  Not wanting to admit how pleased he was at the prospect, he assumed a Joe Cool saunter and strolled on over.

"Hi.  What are you doing here?"

"Get in the damn car, " his father-in-law barked.  "She having the baby!"

They reached the hospital in record time, popped his wife into a waiting wheelchair and hurried into the lobby.  A nurse armed with a clipboard stopped them.

"She having the baby," the frantic husband announced.

"Just a few questions," the nurse insisted.

The figure in the wheelchair looked up and said quietly, "Oh, I don't think we have time for that."

There must have been something in that soft voice, or perhaps in the young woman's eyes, but the nurse handed the clipboard to the young dad.  "You start on these.  We're going upstairs."

Fifteen minutes later, his daughter was born. 

For years two running family jokes would be the daughter complaining that every birthday cake she ever had bore two names and the father compaing that she was the most expensive gift he ever received - one he'd been paying for ever since. 



Happy Birthday, Dad.


I'm currently enjoying: Apocalypse Rising by Maria Zannini

Groaner of the Day: Most people don't know that back in 1912, Hellmann's mayonnaise was manufactured in England. In fact, the Titanic was carrying 12,000 jars of the condiment scheduled for delivery in Vera Cruz, Mexico, which was to be the next port of call for the great ship after its stop in New York. This would have been the largest single shipment of mayonnaise ever delivered to Mexico.

But as we know, the great ship did not make it to New York. The ship hit an iceberg and sank, and the cargo was forever lost. The people of Mexico, who were crazy about mayonnaise, and were eagerly awaiting its delivery, were disconsolate at the loss. Their anguish was so great, that they declared a National Day of Mourning, which they still observe to this day.

The National Day of Mourning occurs each year on May 5th and is known, of course, as Sinko De Mayo.

13 comments:

Maria Zannini said...

LOL! Poor dad, thinking he was going to get ice cream and instead gets a baby.

I hope you two share many more ice cream cones together.

Happy birthday to you and your dad, Linda.

How will you be celebrating?

Dru said...

Love it. Happy Birthday Linda and to you dad.

Cute groaner

Linda Leszczuk said...

Thanks, Maria. I think... Are you saying he would have been better off with the ice cream?

Not much celebrating today since we got together over the weekend. Makes the actual birthday a little anti-climatic. Oh well.

Linda Leszczuk said...

Thanks, Dru.

Karin said...

Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary tomorrow. What is our next big celebration? Can't wait for 45 to get here--we are all in need of a celebration ASAP.

Hugs to you and your Dad. And tomorrow include the Polish One.

Karin

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

What a great birthday story. Happy to you and your father. Very funny, bad joke.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

What a great birthday story. Happy to you and your father. Very funny, bad joke.

Jemi Fraser said...

That's an awesome story!! What a great one to pass on down through the years - and you'll never forget each other's birthdays!! Happy Bday to you both :)

Linda Leszczuk said...

Karin - Absolutely agree. Can't wait until number 45. We need to plan something. I'll give the great Polish one that hug from you and you give the Captain one from me.

Linda Leszczuk said...

Susan - Thanks. The true stories are the best.

But that was a great groaner. *grin*

Linda Leszczuk said...

Jemi - I'll tell you a secret. Our wedding anniversary is tomorrow. Saves my husband every year. As soon as I mention getting something for my dad's birthday, my hubby knows he needs to come up with a birthday gift and an anniversary gift for me.

Anonymous said...

Oh, that is a great story about your Dad! Happy Birthday, Dad!!!

Linda Leszczuk said...

Thanks, Liz. The best part is Dad and I were together to celebrate this year. And, as always, our cake had both names on it.