Our First

My first, a daughter, missed February 29th (leap-year-day) by 20 hrs about. I timed my wife when she first told me she was having contractions (a little belated I found out later) and they were 2 minutes apart at 10pm. At a little before 2 am they were still 2 minutes apart. I kept looking for the classic narrowing down of the frequency. We didn't have a phone, and she finally said that was enough timing, call the doctor. So I went to the quik-e-mart next door almost and used the payphone outside. The doctor said, like he was a relative I asked for advice, "Oh my goodness, you better get her to the hospital!" I went back to the apartment, bundled her up into our VW Bug, and proceeded to the hospital. Now, I'd been driving it for only 6 months and a stick shift the same amount of time (I only had my diver's license for 6 months too), so I was still a tentative driver. I thought we were driving recklessly when I got up to 35, 5 mph over the speed limit. We crossed a railroad track on the way and it was top-of-car higher than the street, so you did a roller-coaster ride over it. I usually went over it kind of slow but that night I took it at the limit, 30 MPH, and she nearly had the baby when we came down the other side! I rolled up to the emergency entrance and we checked in at 2:30 am. Robin came at 3:50 am, weighing 8 lbs 2 oz. I was happy cause only 6 months before we hand started the 8 to 5 grind for the first time (she didn't work, I did) only 6 months before with $200 to our name, and as a pre-existing pregnancy it wasn't covered and they made me pay cash when we checked out. It was normally a 3 day stay in those days and due to our arrival time, she got credit for 3 day stay but we only had to pay for 2, about $175 and the doctor was $150! We were going to name the baby Christopher Robin but she turned out to be a girl so we beat a hasty retreat to Robin Gail.

Rap Sheets

The very first time I was at my neuro's 11 years ago, I mentioned to one of his trainee residency type dr's about his "henchmen" coming in and got a laugh. My file is now two folders thick. Reminds me of my dog, Bandit. When he died I asked for his file from the vet. They hemmed and hawed cause no one had ever asked before. I wanted it as a memento of his place with us. They marked out their fees and gave me his "rap" sheet. I got a kick out of it: Hit by car, run over by garbage truck, shot by shotgun and pellet gun, mange, heartworm treatment he almost died from, snake bit by copperhead, dislocated hip, cataracts, dragging his rear across the driveway, dog fight, fixed, you name it. Maybe Whoever's pet I am will review my file one day and it'll read like Bandit's.