For the better part of 55 years my mother would, at 9 PM on January 20th, call me. When I heard the phone ring, I knew what was coming---the "Birth" story. She always had to tell me the story of the night I was born at the exact moment of my birth. By the time I got to be about 20 I would think, "Oh gag!" when the phone rang--but it was her way of telling me she loved me and remembering the night I was born.
After having my two children I realized why the story was so special. That is the only time in your child's life that they are really "yours". They start to be independent as soon as they possibly can. Unfortunately a person doesn't realize how fleeting the time is until--life is more than half over. The birth story never quite caught on with my children--but I still relive those stories within my mind.
My mom died two and a half years ago--but at 9 PM tonight when I heard the clock chime--I secretly missed having her tell the story to me--just one more time.
