November 23
Three little hops, from high school, to labor and delivery, to a silly limerick
1964
I never thought I’d drag through today! All the rest of the girls who went to the Girl Scout conference feel lousy, too. First period we had to dissect our frog and study his muscles. Yech! Mr. VDW gave us a surprise quiz in Geometry - I got a 33 - some surprise! T got a 100 and she is very happy! In history - another test. I got 77 on that one, so together, I got 110! Wednesday we get off at noon and I’m really crying my eyes out. (Sob, sob)
1987
Well, Thursday was indeed it. November 20. I felt kind of imminent all day, even though I was not having any contractions. I even took Kiddo 1’s suitcase into school with her, instead of leaving it in the car. I sent to my checkup at 3, Dr. said I was 4+ centimeters dilated, 100 effaced, head at 0 and to call him if anything happened. I started having contractions as I got dressed, decided to go get Kiddo first. By 4 pm, when we got home, the contractions were 4-5 minutes apart, so I left message for Jim to come right home. Then I called the doctor, and he said to get to the hospital, and not wait for Jim. Our neighbor drove me and Kiddo to the hospital, then went back to her place with all three kids. By the timeI got up to Labor & Delivery, it was nearly 5. There were no rooms available, so I waited patiently, contractions still 405 minutes apart. Jim arrived about 5:15. Still no labor room available. I think I finally got one about 5:45. I could check the TV guide. “Too Close for Comfort” was almost over, and “Taxi” came on next. The doctor came about 6 pm, and there was still no change. At 7:15 I asked Jim to call the doctor back in; I has a feeling I was in transition and was getting ready to push. Two more contractions (6 pushes) and he was out! 7:30 - about 4 hours of labor, if you don’t count the two weeks leading up to it.
He’s a nice baby. Very alert, looking around, when he is awake. He has an absolutely ear-splitting, high-frequency cry. Yikes, it does wake you up.
2002
A day mostly alone. Jim and Kiddo 2 at a meeting in Pennsylvania. I have grading (ick) and cleaning (ugh) to do. More than I can finish today. Must make a list.
Comment 2024
Making the list was probably the only thing I enjoyed.
2016
North Platte limerick
There once was a girl from North Platte,
Now some folks might wonder, where's that?
West central Nebraska,
Two days from Alaska.
But it's also right under my hat.
2023
I have now completed the entire 1964-65 diary. For the next several months, I will be adding the other years, and then this project will be done.
Comment 2024
Obviously, the remaining transcriptions have taken much longer than “several months”! But that part of the project is winding down, at last. By the start of 2025, Spiral Notebook will have a whole new look and a new purpose. That’s the plan, anyway.
