Fifty years ago
Betsy slid into the world at the Air Force hospital in South Ruislip, England. Labor, with the help of the Lamaze method,
was long and easy. Ox read us Chapter
5 of The Wind in the Willows during Betsy’s journey into the world. Her obstetrician, a Texan, sang “Home, Home
on the Range” to welcome her at entry.
Betsy weighed 8 lbs 1 oz. Despite that, I marveled at her tiny hands and feet and worried about her survival.
Last Wednesday we celebrated the birthday. Tom, Betsy’s husband, threw a party at Shelter two at our local park. Good friends and good family came to the party. Shelter two suited us well; my niece Sarah’s children, aged two and four, both run to get everywhere; from shelter two you can see a long distance. The playground is only a little way downhill. Betsy’s son Jackson, nine, loves being Tommy and Abby’s wise older cousin.
My sister Polly came with Mike, our brother Jack came with Rauna. Tammy and Sadie, friends from Orange came. This was especially fun for Jackson, who built robots after school with Sadie last year. Sadie went off to college this year. Julie and Jeff, who we seldom get to see, came from Charlottesville. Betsy’s sister Cat brought the ice cream later.
Sarah and Mike took the children swimming. The children returned to the shelter.
In the evening a fearless fawn browsed down by the playground to Jackson’s and Tommy’s delight. She let the boys get close to her. While the boys quietly watched the fawn, we saw a large, pale, owl fly over the playground. I often hear “hoo h’hoo, hoo, hoo” on our walks in the late evening; it may have been a great horned owl. The geese, who have recently returned to the park from their summer vacation at Beaver Hill Trailer Park pond, stayed away Wednesday. This was a wonderful birthday party, even though no bears or geese came.
Betsy weighed 8 lbs 1 oz. Despite that, I marveled at her tiny hands and feet and worried about her survival.
Last Wednesday we celebrated the birthday. Tom, Betsy’s husband, threw a party at Shelter two at our local park. Good friends and good family came to the party. Shelter two suited us well; my niece Sarah’s children, aged two and four, both run to get everywhere; from shelter two you can see a long distance. The playground is only a little way downhill. Betsy’s son Jackson, nine, loves being Tommy and Abby’s wise older cousin.
My sister Polly came with Mike, our brother Jack came with Rauna. Tammy and Sadie, friends from Orange came. This was especially fun for Jackson, who built robots after school with Sadie last year. Sadie went off to college this year. Julie and Jeff, who we seldom get to see, came from Charlottesville. Betsy’s sister Cat brought the ice cream later.
Sarah and Mike took the children swimming. The children returned to the shelter.
In the evening a fearless fawn browsed down by the playground to Jackson’s and Tommy’s delight. She let the boys get close to her. While the boys quietly watched the fawn, we saw a large, pale, owl fly over the playground. I often hear “hoo h’hoo, hoo, hoo” on our walks in the late evening; it may have been a great horned owl. The geese, who have recently returned to the park from their summer vacation at Beaver Hill Trailer Park pond, stayed away Wednesday. This was a wonderful birthday party, even though no bears or geese came.
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