The Book of Me, Written by You - Prompt # 2 - My Birth

This project begun by Julie Goucher has created quite a stir! There are lots of participants and many people are sharing their efforts. It's interesting how each prompt makes me dig really deep for the answers.

This is Prompt #2. My Birth - Where was I born, who was present at my birth, what day was I born, weight and length, did I have hair, eye colour, are there pictures of me as an infant?

Here is the story surrounding my birth.

I was born on a Friday. Just not last Friday!

Not long after the New Year 1959, Vivian was horrified to discover that she was pregnant. The birth control pill was new and Dr. Turner wouldn't prescribe it for her as he didn't trust it. Vivian was forced to continue using the diaphragm she had been using for birth control; obviously it wasn't reliable. She would be 38 in November and her youngest child (and only boy) was almost 10 years old. Eventually, she got over her initial shock and warmed to the idea of having another infant in her life. She loved everything about babies and was an excellent mother.

However, Fred reacted a little differently. He was angry from the moment he found out she was pregnant. He was worried about money as the business wasn't doing as well as it had been. As well, the men he worked with teased him about being a father again at the advanced age of 46 - incessantly. Fred did not like to be teased!

On that warm Friday in August of 1959, Vivian and Fred's five older children were at home. Vivian phoned Fred at work and asked him to come home to take her to the hospital. Fred, irritated that this was the third time he had been asked to rush home to take her to the hospital, told her to call a taxi. He felt she'd be in good hands as he had hired a private nurse to help after the birth.

“Today is the day!” Vivian thought as she sat in the back of the taxi on her way to the Payzant Memorial Hospital. Or, at least she hoped it was "the day" just as she had hoped the two previous times Fred had taken her to the hospital. Both times she was sent home to wait. It had been a long, warm summer and she was anxious for this baby to come.

At 7:00 that evening and after a few hours of labour and some ether to ease the pain, the 7 lb, blue-eyed, baby girl made her way into the world. Both baby and mother were healthy and doing well! The doctor liked to tease Vivian and had gone to the nursery to put a red bow in the baby's thick, dark brown hair before the nurse brought her to her mom. Vivian laughed when the baby was brought to her and she saw the bow.

After a week in the hospital, Vivian and little Vivian Pamela Wile went home from the hospital. Pamela's five older siblings looked after her from time to time. That is, when they could get her away from Fred who held her on his lap and played with her constantly. Obviously, he managed to get over his irritation!