Tuesday, October 21, 2014

75's a Good Number

    Today is my birthday and I'm a proud and happy 75. I don't think much about aging and how old I am or how much life I have left. I've enjoyed my 75 years. I will enjoy what's left and not worry about it.

    What I do like to think about on my birthday is my birth.

    I was the first born child for my Mom and Dad. They were in their mid 20's and were the young generation which lost heavily in the great depression. Mom worked as a house maid and stayed home with her parents. Dad roamed around and picked fruit, worked in the bush and sawmill. worked on a dairy and did as many day jobs as he could find. He stayed with friends and relatives. 

    My Dad was able to buy a small farm and this is what he took my Mom to when they got married. There were only country doctors and the nearest hospital was 40 miles away. Most children were born at home. I imagine my mother was somewhat terrified as there was really very little expertise as far as delivery was concerned. The old doctor had much experience but nothing to work with. Mom's two friends came to be with her. My birth went smoothly , the doctor left and Mom's two friends took over. 

    It was a very warm fall day. Dad said the house got hot when the old cook stove was used to heat up lots of water for my delivery.

    I like to think about the mixture of excitement and fear my Mom and Dad had when I was born. The story of my birth was told many times. I was born in the house and both parents shared the experience. 

    So it makes me happy to reflect on my birth once again.

40 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday Red! Reflecting is a good thing it shows you are still with it! :)

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    1. Thank you. Now I know what to do to be with it!!!

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  2. Many Happy Returns. Have a great day.

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  3. I hope that your day is as special as you are! Happy Birthday!

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    1. Thank you! Wow, what a great complement!

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  4. I hope that you had a Good Day. May you have many more. One of our children was born at home (though with the benefits of a doctor and midwife with all the back had it been needed) and it was an experience which I wouldn't have missed for the world. Mind you my only real job was to feed the gas and air. A 'luxury' for my wife that your Mom wouldn't have had.

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  5. A very happy birthday to you with your milestone 75!. I was born at home too and had my second child at home as well. In our country it is not unusual to have home births with a midwife and I enjoyed mine very much in my own bed!

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    1. Thank you. Home births are still rare here at this time. Mother's like it but the medical people frown on it.

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  6. What a great post. Happy birthday to you. I wish you many more wonderful years ahead.

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  7. You are such a precious person. Your posts make me laugh and cry.
    I hope the boss treats you well today! Many happy returns of the day!

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    1. Thank you! I'm going to have to clean up my act to prevent some crying. I don't like making people cry.

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  8. Happy Happy Birthday Red and yes 75 is a very good number. I wish I had as interesting a birth story as you:) Hug B

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    1. Thanks. I think the most important thing is to have the story of your birth.

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  9. That is really neat to be born in the house and hear that story told again over the years. My Mom had my story down pat and reminded me on every "Birth" Day and now it is my story to tell. Yes, Red, it is indeed a happy thought to reflect on one's "birth" day. Have a good one.

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    1. We were lucky to hear our stories. many people don't hear their stories.

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  10. Now that is actually a birthday I'm looking forward to, Red. I've got 72 coming up, so I'm not far behind you. Happy birthday and congratulations on three quarters of a century here on the planet! :-)

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    1. Thank you! It's really nice to get wishes from such a "young thing"!!!

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  11. a VERY happy birthday to you, red! yes, i would have been absolutely terrified as a first time mom or dad to have a child at home!

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  12. Happy Birthday Red, hope you enjoy the day

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  13. Happy Birthday! That is a good story. Oops! A day late. I can't seem to stay ahead any more! Hope you had a happy birthday!

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    1. If you hadn't said late I'd have never noticed. thanks for the good wishes.

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  14. Happy Birthday to you. Today is Mrs. Chatterbox's birthday and at first I thought you both shared the same day, but hers is Oct. 22nd. Hope you had a great day.

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    1. Thanks. Our birth dates are close enough!

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  15. Happy belated birthday! I hope you had a wonderful day of celebrating.

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  16. Awww nice reflecting on the day of your birth. Happy Birthday to you, Red. Wishing you many, many more.

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  17. Yes things were done at home in those days and all said and done everything went smoothly.
    Many Happy returns of the day :-)

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  18. Belated happy birthday to you Red!! Interesting birth story.
    I was born at home too, the Prime Minister of my country was shot and there were riots the day I was born! An exciting and scary story but my mom is very strong and tough and wonderfully pulled through!!

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    1. Now that's cool. I will have to see what happened on the day I was born.

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  19. I'm a little late - but Happy Birthday!

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  20. Hi, It's a pity I came up late. Hope you had a great day on your Birthday. I've been browsing through your posts and I find them interesting to read. Your "tradition" of putting up the Christmas lights reminded me of my Grandpa, he'd put them up every Christmas season and I'd stand near the ladder waiting for him to finish. I was always his impatient personal assisstant :) -Psychelyn, new reader.

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  21. Thanks for visiting Hiawatha House.

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  22. Your the same age as my husband. He was first born being the ninth. I have 73 in January. I was to be born on Christmas Day. My name is really Carol but seeing many Carols I add the Ann . Like that better. Oh well I still can appreciate my name as Christmas Carols.

    Have a Great Day!

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  23. I'm jet lagged and stopped by to see how you were. I'm sorry I missed your birthday. Have another wonderful year, Red with decades more to come.

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  24. A belated happy birthday to you!! I've always very much liked your attitude towards life. May you have many more healthy, happy years.

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