My phone rang around 8:00 on Friday morning. When I answered it, a voice on the other end said, "Blair, this is Dave. We're going in."
I wasn't quite awake yet. The first image in my mind was Dave as Luke Skywalker attacking the Death Star. "This is Red 5, going in."
Fighting The Empire is a noble thing to do. I was proud of Dave for doing it. But I couldn't quite understand why he'd chosen 8:00 on a Friday morning to take on the Death Star. Couldn't Grand Moff Tarkin wait a few days? After all, Dave had other, more pressing things to take care of. For example, his wife was due to have a baby that day.
That's when it hit me. Dave wasn't going off to battle, he was taking Niki to the hospital to deliver their child!
Now that I knew what Dave was talking about, I quickly offered my congratulations and let him get off the phone. After all, he had some important things to do.
According to ancient tradition, the trip to the hospital is a magical event. The father runs around the house like a crazed mongoose, grabbing the video camera, blank tapes (well, he thought they were blank....), the camera, two thousand rolls of film, and pretty much anything else that looks like it might be needed.
Also according to tradition, about halfway to the hospital the father slams on the brakes, makes the traditional illegal U-turn, and heads back home to get the mother.
Meanwhile, still in keeping with tradition, the mother has calmly collected the one or two small bags she actually needs and is patiently waiting by the door for his return.
Eowyn Morgan Learn was born at 3:36pm Eastern Daylight Savings Time on Saturday, October 30, 1999. She weighed in at 8 lb, 14 oz and is 20 1/2 inches long.
Mother and baby are both fine.
Dave on the other hand is quite frazzled. :-)
