We Welcome Our Third Child – Ruby (2)

On January 4, 1967, Ann and I went to see her OB/GYN doctor.  He told us that the anticipated the arrival of the new baby in about two weeks.  We went home and a few minutes later Ann’s water broke. It was a Wednesday evening so I called to let everyone know I would be missing church that evening.  We made arrangements for Elliott’s care and I drove Ann to WCA Hospital, which was only a few blocks away.   I wasn’t in a particularly big hurry.  Ann had been in labor with Elliott for eight hours, so I figured I had a long time to wait. 

WCA had an “expectant father’s lounge.”   I was the only person in there, and I sat there reading during the whole time.  In those days they didn’t allow fathers to be in the delivery room.  In about four hours, the nurse came into the lounge to tell me that my wife had delivered a healthy baby. She said, “But she wants to tell you what the baby is.”   I knew it was a girl.   Ann wouldn’t have insisted on telling me herself had it been a boy.  That would have been all in a day’s work.  A girl was something else.  

In a few minutes I was taken into Ann’s room, and she was holding Ruby in her arms.  The next day I had flowers sent to Ann’s room.  I explained to the lady at the flower shop that we had a new baby girl.  The lady said, “Well she’s going to be very expensive.  She’s going to want nice dresses, and lots of expensive things.”

Actually Ruby has never been all that demanding from a financial viewpoint.  Maybe it was because she understood our limited financial resources.  From the day she was born she’s been the “light of my life.”  When she was young, I often sat and sang as I rocked her to sleep.  There were two songs that I sang more than any other – “Scarlet Ribbons” and “Girl of My Dreams.”  Often when I tried to sing something else, she would say, “Daddy, please sing ‘Scarlet Ribbons.’”   In many ways she was a “Daddy’s girl.”  I did nothing to discourage that.

During her teen years she had an enormous conflict with Ann, and it fell my role to serve as the referee.  However, in her adult years Ann and Ruby have become more than mother/daughter.  They are best friends.  Ruby was still single when she won a trip for two to Jamaica at her place of work, so she decided to take Ann.  Her friends said, “Ruby, are you really going to take your Mom on the trip?”  She said, “Yeah! My mom’s fun.”