The day I was born Momma begged me for patience.  She wanted me to wait just a couple hours so that she could attend a cotillion at the country club at which my paternal grandparents were members.  Grandma Rose had insisted that Momma attend even though she was nine months along.

For her part, Momma wanted to to go. After all, do you know how hard it is to find a formal gown when you are nine months along? I am pretty sure that it is difficult given how much emphasis she put on that particular part of the story over the years.

The rest of the story is that Momma knew she was in labor.  She knew there was no way that she was going to be able to spend the night enjoying the high society of a small Pennsylvania town.  She just wanted to go and make a grand exit.; stealing the show from Grandma Rose who had made her go to event after event while pregnant.

I had other plans. Personally, I think I wanted to party.  Momma had my brother, Frederick, on her lap when she had a contraction.  My maternal Grandmother was sitting across the table and noticed when my big brother flinched.

“Patty?” She said.

“Yes, Mom.” My momma replied looking everywhere but at her mother.

“Did you just have a contraction?” She inquired. I could never like to Granny and neither could my mother.

Four and a half hours later, I was born.

Happy Birthday to Me, Thanks Momma