Every January, my daughter reminds me that she was born on a Sunday, January 23rd. Even though many years have passed, I can still remember how hopeful I was that she would be a girl, seeing that I already had two little boys jumping around like little “slinkies.” Since my husband and I always agreed on being “surprised” with the sex of our babies, it was total anticipation up until the last minute. When the birth occurred I was pretty much drugged, as was the case in those days, and was unaware of what just happened. My husband was down in the waiting room with a bunch of other fathers yelling at the television as they were watching a re-run of the Super Bowl that had been played a week before, and my mother was out walking the hallway with her prayer book open still pleading to God to change the sex if it was a boy.
It was finally the nurse who broke the news to my mother as they bumped into each other in the hallway. When mom saw the nurse carrying a wrapped up creature to the nursery, she asked, “Could that be the Harpole baby”? “It sure is, and she is on her way to get groomed.” “Oh, thank the Lord,” my mom screams, and she runs down to the waiting room where the cheers were so loud, mom had to actually nudge Bill away. The year was 1972 and the Dallas Cowboys had secured the victory.
Why do I bring up the Super Bowl? I guess because every January for many years later, I can see Bill holding his baby girl as he cheers for his favorite football team. Not only was the poor child born during Super Bowl, but every year she has just a little competition. Of course she doesn’t mind because she knows that she is the apple of her dad’s eye. After all, it was he who painted the trunk of our big oak tree in the front yard “pink” and built a huge sign that read “It’s a girl”! She received forty-six frilly dresses, enough pink blankets to supply an entire shelf at Walmart, and a chest full of congratulation cards.
So Happy Birthday to all of you January people, and remember you are the most cheered people ever! Be sure to check out my Bruschetta Tid Bits and the Football Cheese Ball in the Recipe section.
Rosalie
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