A to Z Theme 2016

For my 2016 A to Z theme I used a meme that I ran across on the blog of Bridget Straub who first saw it on the blog of Paula Acton. This meme is a natural for me to use on my memoir blog. It's an A to Z concept and it's about me. No research and nothing complicated. I'm given twenty six questions or topics to discuss that are about me.

In April I kept my posts short and uncomplicated. In the midst of it all you might learn a few things about me that you didn't previously know.

Monday, April 21, 2014

Rainbow Connection #atozchallenge








Kermit the Frog  "Rainbow Connection"  (1979)



The Rainbow Connection

          In a relationship, everything changes when a kid comes along.  My first wife and I had been married hardly a year before our son was born.    We'd met while traveling with the Ken Griffin Magic Show and were married within two months.   A pregnancy meant that we were going to have to reevaluate our life together--at least for a while.

          To her credit, my wife was a real trouper in dealing with the road life and being pregnant when she was only nineteen.    She continued working in the show and living the nomad show business existence for several months.  Then as the delivery time approached we decided that she would go back to her home town of Richmond, Virginia while I finished out the tour with the show after which I would join her.

         My wife went on ahead and secured an apartment in a vast complex across from the Regency Square Shopping Mall northwest of downtown Richmond in Henrico County.  It was a newer up and coming area not far from the hospital where our baby would be born.

          By the time I arrived, she had neatly set up housekeeping and seemed very content with her new domestic life.  The baby's arrival was about a month and a half away.  I was apprehensive about our new life, but becoming excited about the arrival of our child.

          I began working at a marketing research company where my wife had found a job.   Doing telephone surveys was not overly dissimilar to the telephone promotion work that we had to sometimes do while working the show except it was easier since we weren't selling anything.  The working environment was comfortable and I fit in well with the other employees and the executive staff.  The work was mostly in the afternoons and evenings which meant I didn't have to wake up early.  The hours were what I had been accustomed to.

          It was mid July when my wife began to feel the baby coming.   It was hot.  Miserably so.  While I was at work on that day, my wife had the moral support of one of her friends.  My wife had heard that walking would speed up the baby's arrival so she walked around the air-conditioned apartment most of the day.  Still no baby.

          When I got home from work she was still walking and waiting.  Her friend left since I was now there. I changed into a pair of shorts and a t-shirt.   I rarely wore shorts, but even at 9 PM it was sweltering and extremely humid.   If I was feeling so uncomfortable I could only imagine how my wife must have felt.

            We rested and dozed until around 1 AM when my wife woke me to let me know it was time.  We grabbed the overnight bag that was waiting and headed to the car.   The air was so laden with moisture you couldn't tell where it ended and your sweat began.  I drove with my window down trying to catch as much breeze as I could.

             In the darkened sky heavy clouds were gathering.  Lightning flashed on the horizon.  I wasn't sure if the electrical discharge was from the heat or an approaching storm.  Maybe it was an omen announcing the birth of our child.   Whether or not there was rain coming, I began thinking of a lifetime filled with rainbows. A love for my young wife welled within me like a warm flood.   We would soon be parents.

          Our son arrived quickly and without complication.  Since I had participated in birthing classes I was permitted in the delivery room.   The miracle of the boy baby's arrival was like nothing I had ever witnessed before.    I was bursting with pride in this beautiful baby boy.  I wanted to show him to everyone.  No one had ever seen such a beautiful baby as this.

        After the baby's arrival and things were more subdued, my wife slept.   I went to the waiting area to use the pay phone.  I had to call someone to tell them even though it was four in the morning.  I called my friend Marvin.  He answered groggily and congratulated me after I told him the news.   As I paced around the waiting room my mind raced.  Did I need to get a box of cigars?   Who did I know who smoked cigars anyway?

         The hospital staff recommended that I go home and rest while my wife was recuperating.   If it was determined that all was well I would be able to take my family home that afternoon.   Like being in the happiest dream I could ever imagine, I went to my car and drove home.

          Even at this hour it was still hot and humid.  There were still clouds, but there was no rain.  From all appearances today would be another bright sunny day.   No rain meant no rainbows in the sky, but metaphorical rainbows permeated every part of me.

          I was now a father.

          What experience in your life did you have a big build up for?    Did things pan out as you dreamed?   How do you think having children changes a person?

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9 comments:

  1. I'd say the biggest build up that worked out well were actually 2 events. First was my move to San Francisco in 1989 and the second was the move east to be with Russell in 2011. Both exceeded expectations. But I never wanted to have kids b/c I just don't have the personality to deal with kids and how my life would change. I admit I'm just too selfish. I am a stepmom to 3 now, and they are in their 20s, and I find myself worrying about them all the time. My stepdaughter didn't get on Facebook at all yesterday which is unusual so I was quietly worried that she was OK. I didn't mention my worries to Russell. lol He was less concerned.

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  2. Children change everything, but I think for the good. Right after our son came into the world, my husband said, "you don't love me as much as you love the baby."

    I had to rethink things. I knew my love for my son was like no other, and now I had to deal with an insecure husband.

    We were young though--only 21.

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  3. Very nice post. I love the theme of this blog reveal and challenge. In one of the writing groups I attend, we chose songs for prompts than wrote stories inspired by them. It was a lot of fun.
    Deb@ http://debioneille.blogspot.com

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  4. Hello Mr B

    Well I am working my way up the A to Z list and have arrived here.

    Its cool to get to be a father. . .

    OK I must away; work to do as I head upwards towards your good self at the top

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  5. >>... As I paced around the waiting room my mind raced. Did I need to get a box of cigars?

    Ha!-Ha!
    A kid ain't legitimate until the stogies are handed out.

    ~ D-FensDogg
    'Loyal American Underground'

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  6. You have chosen a wonderful theme; mixing music with memoirs! Enjoyed reading the story of your first born son and am looking forward to more. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog earlier to comment. I did change a couple of things to hopefully make it a bit easier. Cheers!
    Debbie @ The Doglady's Den

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  7. JoJo -- Moving always entails a lot of preparation. I've done several.

    Teresa -- My children were good for my life. I wasn't insecure about them. I expected my wives to show them a lot of dotage. I wanted the mothers of my children to be like my mother was to me and my siblings.

    Debi -- Music provides many opportunities for inspiration in many ways.

    Rob -- Maybe my "R" song should have been "Ramblin' Man" in honor of you.

    StMc -- That's the tradition old style. Don't know if anyone still adheres to that with all the no smoking laws.

    Debbie - Thank you for stopping here as well. I was amused that you were talking about commenting difficulties and then I had some on your site. One of life's little ironies easily overcome.

    Lee

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  8. Congratulations. Babies are blessings. It changes our lives, a lot of responsibility but also a lot of happiness

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  9. Oh wow that's cool. Nothing like that.

    ReplyDelete

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