On Saturday, December 22, 1983, my then-pregnant wife and I were
invited to a Christmas get-together party at the home of a friend, Richard
Denoia. We lived in West Germany in a city called Darmstadt, when
I was in the military and serving my first of three yrs.
My then-wife, Toi
who originally is from Thailand was supposed to give birth sometime this
month of December; we expected and hoped that it would be on the 24th as it is
also my brother’s birthday.
Back then the
price of fuel for the military was .87cents a gallon. In the news there was a military truck damaged
due to arson, a CIA employee was indicted on spy charges, Dan Marino was named
NFL MVP and it was on this day that in NY city a man named Bernhard Hugo Goetz
shoots four robbers on the subway train. Madonna #1 is Like a Virgin.
The temperature on
this day was not too bad between 38-43 so it would not be a cold night as we
headed to Denoia's home for this Christmas celebration. While at the
Denoia's there was food, and music and the guest included all the Puerto Ricans that were serving in the same unit from C44 Sig Bn., SGT. Toro w/wife and daughter,
SGT Jimenez w/wife and son, SGT Lopez w/wife, and of course Denoia and his
wife and Daughter.
During the
evening, Toi was feeling the contractions but they were off and on and the joke
Denoia said was "it looks like a baby tonight" we laugh but I was not
expecting it and Toi didn't hint that it might be so.
At about midnight
we decided to go home as Toi was feeling very tired. At home, we went
straight to sleep like any other night.
At about 5AM Toi
woke me to let me know it was time, it was automatic motions that I
followed, we already had everything packed and ready, and I quickly dressed and
helped her up the stairs to the front door. The reason it was up the
stairs and not down is that the apartment that we were renting in Darmstadt
was a basement that was converted to a one-bedroom, one-bath apartment. I
would have to say it was one of the coziest homes I have ever lived.
I had a white 1973
Volkswagen beetle that on the autobahns in Germany could do 100 MPH about
130 KPH and I used every bit of it to get to the hospital. From Darmstadt
to Frankfurt was a 30-kilometer trip and being a Sunday early morning we
were at the hospital by 5:45, since there was no traffic.
I drove to the
entrance of the maternity and quickly ran inside to let them know that my wife
is in labor...they quickly gave me a wheelchair to get my wife inside.
Once she was in, I ran back out to park the car so that I can be there in
time for the birth of my baby... (Our baby) not understanding that labor takes
time and time was whenever the baby decided.
At the time, you
just didn't know what you were going to get and you had no idea if it was going
to be a boy or a girl...I bragged that it would be a boy as all men do.
Once I got back
inside, the nurse gave me some garments to wear and I proceeded to change, once
done I was inside with my wife. She lay in bed and was hooked up to some
machines to watch her contractions. One lesson learned is never; EVER
give a woman that is having a baby your hand with a ring on it. She will
have Hulk-like powers in it and squeeze so hard you will beg for forgiveness.
During the time we watch the contractions, she was not allowed to eat or drink...I was
only able to give her ice for her to suck on and for me to rub her lips with. The morning changed to midmorning and
afternoon but nothing major other than the contractions which came closer
together.
Finally, at about
2:00PM or so, her water broke (still have no clue what the heck that is) and
she was rushed into the delivery room. The nurse then told me to go and
scrub as I was to be allowed to be in the room while she gave birth. Once
scrubbed I came next to my wife who by then was breathing and the pushing
commenced.
It happened so
fast, I saw the head and noticed the amount of hair that my baby had, and I
immediately remembered what my parents told me upon my own birth, whereas I was
heavily haired as well. So, I immediately thought it would be a boy.
Once the baby was
out, the nurse said it was a girl, but I never felt disappointed even though it registered that it was a girl. It was a miracle and I was joyful that
she was born, Toi's face was puffed with sweat and she was exhausted but at
2:29PM on Sunday, December 23, 1984, our daughter Maliá was born.
Toi was so
exhausted that the nurse took the baby to clean and give her a medical exam and
in a moment Toi was asleep. Once my baby was cleaned and in a hospital crib, I
was allowed to go next to her and just watch...Amazed.
After a couple of
hours and noticing that Toi was out for the night, I was told that really there
was nothing more that I could do and that I should get some rest. I then
got into my 1973 Volkswagen Beetle and began driving home...thinking of
everything that had happened.
On the autobahn on
the way home, I pulled over and remembered something my father told me when I
was 15..."When you become a father you will understand” As I pondered on
that thought, I began to cry and felt like the happiest man on earth, and then I
understood.
Happy Birthday, baby.
