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Today my little girl is 29 years old. She probably doesn’t really want me posting her age, but that’s what she gets for bullying me into writing her a birthday post. When I was her age, I was the mom of 4 kids. Now I’m not saying that was good or better than what she is doing; only different. In fact, many times I have wished I hadn’t married so young (19), but it seemed like the right thing to do at the timeJ
And so, it was 29 years ago today. I have written about it before; maybe even a couple of times. It was very early Easter Morning, March 26, 1978. My entire family was invited over to my house for Easter Dinner, and it was going to be a great meal. The day before, in a burst of energy, I had prepared most of the meal ahead of time. Even the roast beef was ready to go, sitting in a roasting pan surrounded by potatoes, onion, and carrots.
UltraDad was having a hard time sleeping. He had a terrible toothache. He finally dozed into a fitful sleep, only to be awakened by his unreasonable (it must have seemed at the time) wife. “We have to go to the hospital,” she said in a not-very-funny dream. “I think I’m having this baby.” But it wasn’t a dream, and a couple of hours later, UltraMom’s parents, who lived in the same town as the hospital, got a knock on the door. “But I thought we were going to YOUR house,” was Grandpa’s reaction on seeing his pregnant daughter along with his son-in-law and adored grandson. “And by the way, you really look like a pumpkin in that orange coat,” he told his daughter encouragingly, as he took sleepy little Bobby in his arms.
And so, late Easter morning, little Heather Loren McDonald came into the world, a beautiful little red-haired girl, weighing 6 lbs, 2 oz. My only daughter, and ally. After all, eventually there would be 4 men in the house, and we would be vastly outnumbered.
I know I told you I was going to combine this with a Japan post, Honey; something like “It’s Heather’s birthday, and speaking of Heather reminds me of the day we went to Motoji’s garden,” but I’m not really going to do that. No, Heather, this post is all about you.
I am so glad you got to go to Japan with me. I got to know you and see you on a whole new level, as a beautiful, clever, funny and competent young adult, who just happens to be my daughter. I love you and I am so proud to be your mom.
Do you remember this song I used to sing to you?
“Who’s the little girl that I love so, its’ Heather-O, Heather-O, Heather-O-Dough.”
Happy Birthday, Sweetheart. And many,many more.

YOUR UltraMom

Heather in Japan