It was forty years ago and I was not in Woodstock, New York. I had been in the hospital since the evening of August 13, in labor. Too much labor to send me back home and not enough labor to deliver a baby. In fact, my doctor was in a golf tournament, so he was in no hurry to come back to the hospital. Finally, early Saturday morning, August 16, my doctor's partner was doing rounds and couldn't believe I was still in labor. They were giving me what was called "twilight sleep". Not enough to knock me out, but enough to keep me quiet. He immediately ordered an x-ray (no ultrasounds in those days) and found out that the baby was laying transverse or totally on her back facing up. No way I was going to deliver this way. An immediate c-section delivered a healthy 7 pound 1 ounce girl that we named Erika Susan.
Erika and I had had a long journey. She was our "made in Germany" baby. I flew back to the states when I was 6 months pregnant. The Trout was to follow a month later when he got out of the Army. My flight arrived late in New York and I missed my connecting flight. Okay, so here you have a small town kid, very pregnant and stuck in a New York airport overnight. So what to do? I found a bench in the ladies restroom and slept there overnight. Figured I would have less contact with people there and I could keep this unborn baby safe. I was a wreck. It was definitely a growing up period. It was one of the first times in my life I started using the theory that I have followed since. "What are my needs and what are my wants?" Needs always come above wants. It just has to be that way.
So, this is a picture of our first born, Erika, who turns 40 today. She has blessed us with two beautiful grandchildren. I wish you a beautiful day, Erika, and may the years that follow be as fruitful and fulfilling as possible and may God always watch over you.
