[Boomer]

It was the 4th of July. I was 20 years old. Was watching fireworks the night before. Had to leave for the hospital. 4 hours into the 4th. Slip. Drop. Get up and go plow the field.

Actually, I did get up and walked down the hall to take a shower. The nurse came running in, panicked. "I thought you had jumped out the window!!!" she yelled.

"Huh?" said I. "I just felt like I needed a shower." (Heck, I was 20. And of sturdy peasant stock. There were fields to be plowed.)

And I still remember it was fried chicken and mashed potatoes for lunch that day. And a little American flag on my tray. The 4th of July!

"Why am I so starved?" I remember asking the nurse.

"Honey," she said, "you have just done some serious hard work."

And they tried to keep me for 7 DAYS! It was a very long time ago.

I begged them to let me go home. Finally, after 5 days they grew weary of me and sprung me.

I never did it again.

I always say that I got it right the first time.

But when Boomette gave birth to our grandchildren, Boomlette and her brother Boomster, it was practically a drive-by birthing.

Boomer