The first Sunday in January began cold and sunny where I was visiting my daughter in Merchantville, N.J. We were waiting for my third grandchild to be born. He was 12 days overdue and my visit was coming to an end. Tomorrow, I would fly back to Washington.
Jenny, my daughter, was worn out from waiting. So much so that she went online researching, and found “Ten Natural Methods of Bringing on Labor.” By noon, Jenny had done eight of the “natural methods,” including: drinking a warm mug of black cohosh tea, climbing the stairs numerous times, eating fresh pineapple, scrubbing the bathroom floors and doing the recommended yoga poses. No. 8 was a warm soak in the tub. Nothing worked.
We intended to go for a walk together (No. 9) but she got busy. By noon, the sun was gone. Winter’s grayness moved in as large snowflakes began to fall. I called out to ask if Jenny still wanted to take a walk. Her husband responded that she had already gone to get Chinese takeout for dinner.
That worried me. The snow was really coming down now, blanketing the front yard. I knew Jenny was determined. I knew “eat Chinese food” was No. 10 on the list. As I put on my hat and jacket I heard 7-year-old Ben ask, “Hey, can I come, too, Grandma?” We hurried out the front door.
The snow whirled around us and was nearly blinding as we hustled toward the Grand Chinese Restaurant. When it was just two blocks away, I made out a figure half a block away coming toward us. The person appeared to take a few steps, lean against a storefront to rest, take another few steps and duck into a doorway for a moment before appearing again.
“Do you think that’s your mother?” I asked Ben.
He squinted, leaned forward and yelled out, “Mom!”
The figure looked up and nodded toward us. We ran together up the icy sidewalk. Jenny was carrying two heavy bags of Chinese take-out food and we could see she was in distress.
“Are you OK, Mommy?” Ben shouted.
“Yes, I’m OK,” his mom breathlessly replied. Then she said with a smile, “I think I’m in labor!”
We laughed, then cheered. “Hurrah! Yeah! You made it!” I took the heavy bags while Ben offered his arm to safely escort his mother home along the frozen pavement.
Jenny’s labor temporarily subsided. The family sat around the dining room table savoring the eight delectable cartons of our Chinese feast. After dinner, the kids said their good-byes to their mom and dad, who headed out into the snowy evening for the hospital.
At home, the kids and I settled down to watch a movie and wait for news. The kids were asleep when the phone rang. Their brother was born at 11:30 p.m.
It was a joyful occasion.
