Monday, June 6, 2011

Happy birthday to you, you belong in a zoo

Born at home on a kitchen table
on the south side of Chicago
in a rundown rooming house.
When mother went into labor
father ran to the corner pay phone
called Cook County Hospital clinic.
A doctor and two nurses arrived.
Then, I did.
Mom always told me how the nurse held her hand and coached her. She told her she had delivered six kids. Mom thought she was talking about her own. My mom thought, if she can do this six times, I can do it once. After I was born, the nurse told her she didn't HAVE any children.

After I wailed into the world, Dad kissed me on my unwashed cheek, then ran to the corner bar, bought the doctor a beer and Orange Crush sodas for the nurses. That's how it was on June 6, 1949 on Madison Avenue, in Chicago, Illinois.
(I think I would have insisted on a bed, but the doc thought the kitchen table would make a nice delivery table. eew!)

This morning I awoke to a cute card my hubby made for me. He is so creative and computer literate. I also received a coupon for a free pastry at Panera Bread Co, a free order of nachos at some restaurant, a free entree at Qdoba's and a brownie ice cream sundae from Chili's. It looks like I can just eat from morning till night. But I won't!

13 comments:

Kim Lehnhoff said...

Happy Birthday, Linda! I hope you have a marvelous day!

And aren't you glad that moms don't have to deliver on the kitchen table now (unless that's their thing, of course)?

jabblog said...

Happy Birthday Linda and many more to come. I hope your day delights you:-)

Sioux Roslawski said...

OMG! You're a Gemini too! That explains why we clash so!

I hope your birthday is delightful!

BECKY said...

Darn it, I KNEW today was your birthday and still forgot to send happy wishes to you! Now, there's a great story for your memoir! You ARE writing it, right??!! Happy Day!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday and may you have a lovely day! Many many smiles!

Lynn said...

Holy cow, I never knew that story. Happy Birthday and glad you were born! Woot! Woot! xxxo

Unknown said...

Happy birthday Linda. I hope you have many more good things happen this week.

Terri Tiffany said...

Happy Birthday Linda!!!

Southhamsdarling said...

Wishing you a very happy birthday, Linda! Hope it will be a lovely year for you as well.

Chatty Crone said...

I lived in Cook County Illinois myself.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

Susan said...

Awww Linda. I was away on an overnight trip and missed your special day. Be it known that I think you are a wonderful writer and terrific blogging friend. I love our correspondence and I'm so happy to know you. In other words, I'm so glad you were born. Here's my song, late:

"On the day that Linda was born
On the day that Linda was born
On the day that Linda was born
The angels sang, and they blew on their horns,
And they danced, and they danced, and they smiled and raised up their hands,
On the day
On the day
That Linda was BOOOOORRRRRRNNNNNN." Now, if you were nearby, I'd sing it to you. But since I'm not nearby, this will have to do. Hope the day was fun! Susan

Tammy said...

Hope it was lots of fun!! And that is an amazing birth story. No wonder you're so creative.

Pat Wahler said...

A belated happy birthday, Linda!

Pat
www.critteralley.blogspot.com