November 17, 1994
I was young. I didn’t know how things were supposed to be. My stomach was hurting, and I felt sick. But, I still had a month before I was due. I called the doctor-on-call, and he said that everything was fine, and that I should just go back to bed. If I was still feeling ill later in the morning, I could go into my doctor’s office when they opened at 9:00am. When 9:00am rolled around, I thought going to visit my doctor was probably a good idea. I called ahead to let them know I was on my way.
I walked, very slowly, up to the counter at the doctor’s office The nurse behind the counter asked the receptionist if I was “the one”. The receptionist said yes. I was confused. She repeated, “Is this the one that’s in labor?” I replied, “No, I’m not in labor.” The nurse looked at me with a tilt in her neck and a smirk on her face, and retorted, “Honey…….. you’re in labor.”
They brought me back to the doctor’s office to get up on the table. The doctor walked in, measured me for my diameter of dilation, looked up at me and asked, “Are you ready to push?”. I quickly replied, “What?!?” She said, “We’re ready if you’re ready. There’s no time to get to the hospital, so we’re going to have to do this here.” No drugs, no monitors, no nothing. Just some towels and clean water.
So I pushed. Two contractions later, you were born. You were always in a hurry to do everything. The paramedics were called to come pick us up. You rode on my stomach on the gurney. Everyone applauded as we rolled out in to the waiting room. We must have scared the crud out of all the expectant mothers in the lobby. I remembered screaming, but secretly was glad that I only had one swear word slip out of my mouth the whole time. I’m sure they heard everything that happened. The walls were paper-thin.
As we were rolled outside, I looked up, and noticed it was snowing. It NEVER snows in Eugene in November. But, it must have been a ticker-tape parade made just for you – Just with the purpose of welcoming you into the world.
I loved the boy you were, and I’m proud of the man you’ve become. I love you, Taylor. Happy 23rd birthday!
All my love,
Mom