A time to remember.
And, my brother, you had better remember.
I was there for both births. The DAGU (Daughter All Grown Up) was the first.
A cup of Elixir helps replay the experience of the DAGU's arrival.
The water breaking in the middle of the 10PM news.
The 1/2 hour trip to the hospital.
12 hours of "ssst-sst-huuuuh" and back rubs.
PUUUSH-ing and PUUUUSH-ing and ...
then this little figure appears.
Huh.
It was like "ALIEN", just a little farther south.
That first cry - which we would hear continually for the next 4 months - announcing to the room:
"Ready or not, World, I'm here!"
The nurse plopped the DAGU on the Wife's chest for "bonding time" and left for a cigarette.
The Wife said she was so tired she thought she would drop the kid.
I sat down in a recliner next to the bed and was instantly asleep.
I instantly awoke when the Wife screamed my name.
I shot out of the chair, wondering how I got into a hospital and then remembered.
I looked at my bride who was now the mother of our child.
She had a fleeting look of unbelief which broke into sobs and tears.
She caught her breath and then blurted out,
"She looks just like your father!!!"
I tried to comfort her.
"Now, now, she -"
Wow.
JUST like him.
A mini-him.
Oh man.
This girl is gonna grow-up tough.
Then TechnoBoy came along nine years later.
Thaaaaat's right.
The Wife turned 40 AND was eight months pregnant.
It was an ugly day on so many levels.
A month later we're calmly and leisurely responding to breaking water and initial labor pains.
Been there. Done that.
We didn't realize until we settled into the birthing room that the DAGU left exit signs on how to get outta the building fast.
It was "down-set-hut-hut" and here he comes. The doctor juuuuust made it into the room in time to see the birth and charge us her fee.
And our lives have been more fulfilled and richer than we ever imagined because of the DAGU and TechnoBoy.
All because the Wife became the Mom.
Thanks, Babe.
Ya done good. Real good.