On April 16, 1968, my mother and I were standing at the calendar counting the days until the due date of her sixth child. It seemed to me, at age 13, that Mom had been pregnant for a year. Mother was so tired and I was tired of her being so tired. We counted 6 weeks until the due date of May 25th.
All the girls in the family had been wishing for another girl. This would make 5 girls. But remember back then you didn't get an ultra sound and know the baby's gender before it was born. So we wished until the last minute. We wanted her to be named Samantha Annette Murphy after the witch on the TV show Bewitched. We could call her Sam. Mom and Dad didn't seem to like that name.
Anyway, when Mom and I counted that she still had 6 weeks, I said, "No, you are going to have her tonight." Mom said, "No. We wouldn't want that to happen. Babies born that early don't survive."
I said, "Oh yes. She is coming tonight and she will be okay."
It was a school night so I had to go to bed early. Later that night, Mom went into labor. She wanted to wake me up before she went to the hospital. But she always put school first, so she left us all asleep. Her 6th child, born in the early hours of April 17th, turned out to be a very health girl. She and the doctor had obviously miscalculated. Mom and Dad named her Sandra Elaine.
I was determined to go see the new baby at the hospital. Back then to get on the maternity ward one had to be 15 years old. Dad and I decided it would be okay if I appeared to be 15. At 13, my parents did not let me wear makeup. But to appear 15, they let me wear Mother's makeup. I got all dress up and thought I looked at least 15, maybe older. I did get to go see the new baby through the window of the nursery. But the next day when Dad went to the hospital, the nurse told him that his little girl was not allowed on the maternity ward. I really was very deflated that she could tell that I was not 15.
I carried Sandy everywhere. Mostly we went to church. Even if Mother didn't go, I still took Sandy. Once I over heard an elderly lady say, "That girl is too young to have a baby." But I loved babies and especially my baby sister.
So Happy Birthday, Sandy. Hope you like April 17 as your birthday instead of May 25th. I just couldn't wait that long.
| Me and Sandy |
Anyway, when Mom and I counted that she still had 6 weeks, I said, "No, you are going to have her tonight." Mom said, "No. We wouldn't want that to happen. Babies born that early don't survive."
I said, "Oh yes. She is coming tonight and she will be okay."
It was a school night so I had to go to bed early. Later that night, Mom went into labor. She wanted to wake me up before she went to the hospital. But she always put school first, so she left us all asleep. Her 6th child, born in the early hours of April 17th, turned out to be a very health girl. She and the doctor had obviously miscalculated. Mom and Dad named her Sandra Elaine.
I carried Sandy everywhere. Mostly we went to church. Even if Mother didn't go, I still took Sandy. Once I over heard an elderly lady say, "That girl is too young to have a baby." But I loved babies and especially my baby sister.
So Happy Birthday, Sandy. Hope you like April 17 as your birthday instead of May 25th. I just couldn't wait that long.