“Honey, I think I am Pregnant”

Just out of the USMC looking for a job in 1957 when you couldn’t buy one. I had waited in line with friends to apply for jobs when the line was two blocks long. 70+days of job hunting. We were living with my parents, and one night she says, “Honey, I think I am Pregnant.”

This baby was going to have a baby!
Of course my first question was, “How did that happen?” I was 18, should have known better. She explained the birds and bees and said, “Mama warned me it could happen when you returned from a cruise, separations do that.”
I finally landed a job with the Charlotte Observer, $1 an hour no medical benefits. I lasted a week, we needed some security, So I enlisted again. This time in the USAF and was sent to Biloxi, Miss.  I wasn’t very observant, my wife fell into a depression. Pregnant and hundreds of miles from her mama. But we survived, she is a tough chick. Plus her mama came down for the last few weeks. I had a sweet mother in law, the best.

As she got bigger the questions come up, boy or girl? I know some of you remember this. Lots of old wives tales:
1..If she carries it high,  it will be a girl, Low it will be a boy.
2..Dry hands and cold feet are signs of a boy.
3..Tie your wedding band to a piece of string, and hang it over your belly. If it swings in a circle =  boy; back and forth = girl.
4..According to some, sweets means you’re going to have a little girl. Salty and sour   cravings indicate a boy. (that one was a lie)
   (Mama Susie and her baby girl, Biloxi, Miss.)
There were also tales Sherry had heard when it came close to time for LABOR.
1. Castor oil will rush the time along.(honest)
2. A long drive down a rough road, will do the trick.
3. Walking and Nipple stimulation (good one, the boy in me sorta liked that one!)
We tried them all, nothing rushed Jack Jr. out of his comfort zone and Sherry’s uncomfortable zone.
Of course the Macho man KNEW it would be a boy. (pretty good bet since my brothers and sisters all had boys and there were more boys than girls in Sherry” family (or close).
(Jackie was lucky he survived this proud dad, and I am glad he survived despite my ignorance)
I thought of this because our Grands Jennifer/Stephen are nearing the time for their Son Jude to make his appearance. Jenn is a nurse, knows much more than we did. Folks can know the things we had to guess at. That is nice.
We are looking forward to the birth of the Great Grandson. We know Stephen and especially Jennifer are ready, we are not THAT old.    
Thanks for stopping by the Log. Life is good!
Nite Shipslog
PS: Stephen and Jennifer will make great parents.
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I betcha this WAS one cold ride.