Fabulous Fifties Fourth of July!
The Korean War was still raging; Television was becoming more ordinary and more available, with 3 or 4 stations/channels, and Clark Gable was still considered one of the most handsome leading men in Hollywood. The year was 1951.
Today we are still fighting wars; there are hundreds of channels with the latest movies available on television; and, cell phone/ipods are the most common form of instant communication.
Let’s take a nostalgic trip down memory lane to July 4th, 1951. …..Everyone in the family was busy preparing for the Fourth of July Celebration to be held at my grandparent’s home later that afternoon. Mother was in the kitchen putting the finishing touches on a three layer chocolate cake, Dad was out in the garage looking for the croquet set, and my two youger sisters were checking out the fireworks. I was finishing sewing the layette I was making for the baby that was due in two weeks. My husband had been called up from the Air Force Reserve, and was in California going through basic training to fight in the Korean War. I had moved back home and was planning to live with my parents until he returned.
Suddenly, I felt a gripping pain in the middle of my back! I straightened up and as I did so, there was another sharp pain. What was happening? The baby wasn’t due yet. By the time I realized I was in ‘labor’ the entire family was involved. It looked as if I would miss grandfather’s 78th birthday party and my grand-parents 50th Wedding Anniversary Celebration.
After some discussion, that afternoon, and after my water had broken, my father took me and mother to the hospital. The Dr. said he would meet us there. At this point I felt a little unsure of what was happening. Dad took my sisters to the family’s Fourth of July celebration saying he would be back to get mother later. I waved as they drove off and thought of what I would be missing, and then I had another labor pain. I entered the hospital with a certain amount of trepidation.
The time went by quickly, and my mother left for a while. They had put me on a spinal to relieve the pain and I dozed on and off until she returned. Then everything started to happen at once!
While my family celebrated my grandfather’s birthday, and our Country celebrated the ‘Birth of Our Nation’, I celebrated the birth of my first born child. A beautiful baby girl with blue eyes and blond hair, just like her father’s. I wept with joy as I listened to the fireworks going off outside the hospital windows; and thanked God for giving me and my husband such a beautiful baby girl. I also said thanks for giving my grandfather, his first great-grandchild on his 78th birthday. He later said it was the best birthday gift he had ever received. It was a day I will never forget.
Years later, my darling daughter Bonnie told me, “Mom, when I was little, I thought everyone had fireworks on their birthday.”
“No, my Dear, you were special.” Then I told her how extraordinary the occasion had been for the entire family; especially with her father away in the service. It was a ‘Fabulous Fourth’ I will always remember.
“…..Bless our country on this 4th of July. Please protect our men and women in the armed forces; and guide and keep our country’s leaders safe from harm. …Thank you and Amen.
