The Second and Third Phone calls

Following the first  phone call, I was sitting there dumbstruck, The pastors wife asks, “What did they say?”

“We have a little girl.”

“When can you see her?”

“I don’t know.”

PHONE CALL #2:

After a little while the phone rank and the pastor answered. He handed the phone to me, “Hello.”

“Jack, this is Donna, You hung up before I could tell you it was a joke. I am sorry, We all thought it was a cute idea, Hope every thing comes out all right in the end.”

“Aww, I knew it was a joke,” I lied, on top of writing in the Bible. this becoming a daddy is tough on the mind, “Thanks anyway for calling back.”

We all sat around laughing, everyone poking fun at me for getting the air let out of my sails.  Sherry’s mama did not like in the least, but kept it to herself.  It was getting awfully late, near 10 PM two hours until my entry in the Bible becomes a lie.  11 PM the phone rings, it is for me, “Darnell here.”

PHONE CALL #3….

“Congratulations Airman Darnell you have a fine healthy boy, 7lbs 13 oz, born at 10:30 Central Standard Time. Your wife is a little tired but fine you can come over.”

“YEAH! WE HAVE A BOY!” I was almost dancing.  Thanks you  Lord, I had an hour and a half to go before September 1st!

Ah, a son and he was perfect.  Sherry loved his hands, He has your hands she said……

(This is actually Jackie Jr’s Granddaughter’s hand, life moves on doesn’t i?)

Life was good!!!!!!

You parents remember the first one? When they cry,  you change them, try to give them a breast or bottle and they won’t take it.  You walk them put them over your shoulder and pat them on the back, you are afraid you are going to miss some sign and they will die. What a heart rending experience.

WE finally gave in and it was a good thing we did, he had an infection at the umbilical cord. They kept him in the hospital for a few days giving antibiotics to clear it up. Then life got better.(These facts Sherry remembers vividly, I have to ask her. She is the one with the detailed memory)

NOW when the baby is laughing, smiling and they cuddle, life cannot be better. Susie was there to help and show how to take care of the new born. After a bath, and he was covered in baby powder and he was lying there cooing smiling and trying to fly with the arms and legs going. I thought for awhile Jackie thought he was a misplaced bird. But I wanted to squeeze him to pieces.

After a couple weeks, my mama & Daddy came down to see their latest Grand kid and give Susie a ride back to NC.  Our parents were wonderful, advice and help at a time like that is very important.

We were left to our own methods, we are now a family of three. Jack Jr. was the perfect son. WE WERE two very proud young parents. It was 1958 and we were 19 & 20 years old.

Thanks for stopping by the log.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

We went on leave, taking our new son back to Belmont to meet the rest of the family.  While there we saw a small used 28’ trailer for sale. 

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Some 1959 cars