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March 3, 1992

Dear Johnny,

Well, the day is finally here and I know you’re happy to be turning the big 21! Happy Birthday! I just thought I’d jot some thoughts down from 21 years ago today that you might enjoy.

When your dad and I decided that we wanted a child we didn’t take too much care to plan for when you would be born. As you know, almost as soon as I became pregnant with you your dad got his orders for Vietnam. It was disappointing to both of us but we were so excited about the pregnancy that life just moved along at its own pace.

My pregnancy with you was uneventful and fairly smooth. I confirmed my pregnancy with a doctor that your dad and I found out about in North Carolina. I decided that I didn’t want to go on base to the doctors there because the wait was usually so long. The only time that I remember getting sick in the beginning of my pregnancy was when we lived in Sneads Ferry, North Carolina and I ate bushels and bushels of clams. It was quite a long time before I could eat another clam!

After your dad left for Vietnam and I moved back home to the “little house’’ I got good old Dr. Seitz to be my doctor. He was my doctor when I was little and was a dear, dear man.

As you know I lived at the “little house’’ the entire time that your dad was gone. He came home at the end of February because that was my due date and he got to take R & R at home. Unfortunately I was late with you (one of the few times that I was late) and he had to go back without being here for your birth. He was terribly disappointed!

About two weeks after your dad went back, I woke up about 5:00 a.m. with contractions. I called your pap about 6:00 a.m. and he took me to your Aunt Sally’s to wait out my labor. All day long I walked and paced the floor in an attempt to keep my labor moving along. You were poky and didn’t want to come out right away! My labor would stop and start all day. I can remember John and Andrew coming home from school and I’d be laying in the family room pretending to be a dish cloth in order to get through a pain! They got a kick out of the whole thing!

Since Aunt Sally was a practicing nurse at that time, she examined me at her house because I didn’t want to go into the hospital until I absolutely had to. It took until midnight when you were getting ready to appear. I can remember my dad and mom coming out of their house (Sally lived next door to them at that time) to wave goodbye to me as I trudged along to the hospital.

Since Sally was a nurse they allowed her to stay in the labor room with me the whole time and when it was time to go to the delivery room they allowed her in there too. She was with me the whole time.

At about 3:45 a.m. on March 3rd, they wheeled me into the delivery room and you were born at 4:05! It sure didn’t take long and what they say about not remembering the pain is partially true because all I remember was feeling the most incredible joy and happiness. Immediately after you were born Dr. Seitz said, “Well, I’m off to contact the Red Cross.’’ Everyone was so excited! I couldn’t believe that I had actually performed this amazing feat!

When we got to the recovery room, it was probably about 5:30 a.m. and poor Aunt Sally was exhausted! I just kept talking on and on and on. I’ve never felt such wonder in my life. Sally finally went home and I just kept talking to anyone that would listen to me about how wonderful you were. Well, dear, after 21 years my opinion hasn’t changed… you’re still one of the best things that ever happened to me. Happy Birthday!

Love

Mom