Aging

Thirty-one years ago . . .
The doctor came in hours ago and said everything was alright, even though she is gushing blood . . .
She lays in the hospital bed, sweating poring from her brow . . .
Another contraction . . .
“Push . . . push . . .” they shout in her ear . . .
She tries to push but feels as though she is slipping away, and so cold even with the warm blankets . . .
Another doctor comes in . . . “Hi, I am Dr. Dela-Bovi. I will be here to take care of you now.”
She does her exam and whispers to the attending nurse . . .
“If she doesn’t deliver this baby in five minutes, prep her for a C-section. She and this baby are critical.”
Another contraction . . .
“Push . . .push . . . push. . . “ as the nurse pushes on her swollen belly. . .
Agony . . . agony . . . agony . . . then relief . . .
She hears a small cry and they tell her it is a girl . . .
She smiles, and looks at the most beautiful baby she has ever seen . . .
“Oh, my beautiful little girl, you are so perfect! “, then passes out . . .

Ten years ago . . .
She invites him in . . .
“Would you like something to eat or drink?”, she asks . . .
“No, I wanted to talk to you”, he says . . .
“Mrs. G., you know that your daughter and I have been courting for the last year.”
She knows what he is going to ask her. She’s known if for some time.
“Mrs. G, I want to ask Lauren to marry me. But I want your and Mr.G’s blessing first.”
She sighs, knowing that this man will be the one.
He needs to have Mr. G’s blessing, she says.
She calls Mr. G right then and there.
He and Mr.G talk.
He needs to promise to love her, care for her and make her happy, she says.
He promises he will.
Later that day, he takes Lauren on a hike to a very romantic spot, and asks her to be his wife . . .
She says “yes”.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LAUREN!

For Derelict Thursday, hosted by Sarumstroller

This wagon wheel came from a 1900's wagon that was found in a historic mining town - the same town that the bar that is in our basement came from - and shipped to our house. Over the years, the rest of the wagon fell apart and was disposed of, but the wheels remain in amazingly good shape.