DECEMBER 4th

It started at about 12:30 am.  I've not had many life-changing experiences in my life, but this was the second (the first was when my Father passed away).  Actually, it started about nine months earlier.  But, when the moment came on THAT December 4th, nothing has ever been the same since.       Funny, sometimes I can't remember what I had for breakfast, or if I even ate breakfast, but I do remember the events of that early morning over 40 years ago.       Johnny Carson was on TV (his program was 90 minutes then) and my Mother always watched.  I'd made a trip to the bathroom, was having pain, and my Mother decided it was time to call the doctor and go to the Hospital as she was certainly not delivering a baby.      We lived on the 2nd floor of a two family house on the south side in Cleveland.  I insisted I could not walk down the stairs; my step-father (who had a bad back) volunteered to carry me.  My Mother explained, in a very persuasive way, that I would indeed be walking down the stairs... and I did.      The doctor, who I had just seen on Saturday, assured my Mom that I was having false labor pains and not to worry.  Soon we were on our way to a hospital on the other side of Cleveland.       It had snowed.  There were few cars on the street.  Mom said I could squeeze her hand and yell as loud as I wanted, which I now know scared the crap out of my step-father.  I remember him asking why is there never a cop around when you need one and knew he was running red lights.  That's about all I remember of the drive.      We got to the hospital and no time was wasted in getting me to a room.  I got a double dose of pain killer and didn't make it to the 'official' delivery room ("...without the results of the test no one else would be able to use the Delivery room for 24 hours..").       At 2:09 AM on Sunday, December 4th, my son entered this world!    Hard to believe I'm old and he's all grown up.  I marvel at his wisdom, love his humor (and sarcasm), admire his ability to write, and enjoy ever so much listening to him speak.  I doubt if he or his sister and or brother realize how much they mean to me and how much I love them.  I remember their birthing days, too.       We don't get overly emotional in our family... we just assume everyone knows how much they are loved, but just in case:  I LOVE YOU!!  Thank you for making my life greater than I had ever expected.