Happy Birthday!
It was a rainy, foggy night 13 years ago. I'd just gotten home from one of my worst-ever 'tween-career jobs (skip tracer for a student loan servicer; $7 per hour). Things were rough; a company had just stiffed me for nearly $2,000 in contracting fees (my first attempt at being a contract technical writer) - money that was supposed to catch up our rent and NSP bills. Stress? We were soaking in it.
My in-laws at the time had taken my wife at the time to a checkup and to watch Bun, who was about 18 months old at the time.
As they brought her up the sidewalk, the contractions started; we drove through the fog to United Hospital, and just after midnight on the fourth - after what, with a Nubain (R) epidural even my ex conceded was a very easy delivery - Zam came into the world. The delivery was the first relatively easy thing with him (he was two weeks late), and it would be one of the last.
I went home later that day to find eviction and power shutoff notices. I also heard that the company that had stiffed me had closed its doors.
But Zam's arrival was a harbinger of better things. Two weeks after he was born, I got a better temp job. Two weeks after that, my first *real* good job - a technical writing contract gig in Eden Prairie that gave me my first year of income over $20,000. We saved the house, kept the power on, and lived happily...
...well, we did OK.
Though he is the classic Scandinavian boy, Zam has never subscribed to Scandinavian passive-aggressiveness. Straight to the heart of things for Zam. Favorite story: when he was two or three, and we were teaching him about God and prayer, we came home one night. It was late, on a clear winter night full of stars even in the middle of the city. As he toddled up the sidewalk, he looked up at the sky, and must have figured he needed something settled.
"God! Hey, God!", he yelled. He's always been the one to cut to the chase.
Happy 13th Birthday, Zam.
UPDATE: Oh, yeah - if memory serves, it's also the First Mate's birthday. Stop by Ed's place and send your best wishes!
Posted by Mitch at
February 4, 2006 07:54 AM
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Zam,
I sure you've been told, but it's true. At 13 your life is about to get somewhat worse--more emotionally traumatic in any case--but after that happens it gets much better, so don't worry when that inevitable day comes when your girlfriend dumps you, you get an F in english, maybe you even get pushed naked into the girls locker room by your “best buddies,” and you will decide that day your life is a complete wreck. It's NOT. Life gets much better afterwards. It really does. It really does. Ask your Dad ... well maybe that's a poor example.... :-)
RB
Posted by: RBMN at February 4, 2006 03:02 PMHappy Birthday to Zam, the most interesting grandson in the world. I love to see his smile , which turns into the best laugh ever!
Posted by: G-Jan at February 4, 2006 04:12 PM