We celebrated Pat's retirement with a waffle breakfast then had a relaxing pontoon boat ride. We snapped this photo as she was returning home and as we were leaving for Mahen’s Survivor Party. Lauri and Ron graciously invited our entire family to their home just a mile away from us for this annual event. Over 70 guests were divided into 4 groups competing against each other for the winning title. What fun! We took turns watching Owen, but after two hours, he had had enough. It was bedtime. Katie and Dave said their goodbye’s, but I encouraged Dave to stay. I would take Katie home. I felt something was amiss and thought Katie might want to talk. On the golf cart ride home, Katie confided that it was the first time in the ten months since Owen was born that she was sad to leave a party. It was because her brothers and the rest of her family would still be there. I gingerly offered to find a babysitter to watch Owen for a few hours so she could return to the party. I mentioned Becky and Mary Ann. Katie knows them as responsible Amish teenagers who help me with house and yard work. Plus, having so many younger siblings, these girls also knew a thing or two about babies. I was thrilled when Katie agreed! So, while she put Owen to bed, I began my quest. I didn't need to travel far. The Amish community is just outside the lake. First stop, Becky; but she was away. Then, Mary Ann; but her family was holding church service the next morning and needed her help with last minute preparations. I certainly understood, but knew Katie would be disappointed. When Mary Ann's father suggested her cousin Leona, I was all ears. She lived just across the road. I pulled into that last-hope's driveway around 7:30. In rocking chairs on their covered front porch dad was reading the newspaper; mom was nursing an infant; three little ones were playing in the yard; and their two teenage daughters were reading, coincidentally, a Babysitter's Club book. I introduced myself, but they obviously knew who I was because dad asked about my brain tumor. After giving them an update, I made my request. To lessen their anxiety, if they had any, I suggested Leona younger sister could come along for company. Dad and mom looked at each other and nodded! They agreed and I was elated. I promised to have their daughters home before 10:30. The girls hopped into my car barefooted and smiling! When we arrived at the house, I showed them how to use the phone and wrote down Katie's cell number remembering to put the number "1" first. I gave them drinks and snacks; and since it was still light outside, I suggested they hang out on the screened porch. There I set up the video baby monitor and explained how it worked. Katie joined us then and said the baby was sleeping. She told them if he wakes up crying just pat him on the back, but call her if that doesn’t work and he continues to cry. We left them on the screened porch with the sliding door open. We thought we covered everything -- but apparently not. We returned a little after 10 entering from the garage. We walked down the dimly-lit hall towards the kitchen and were met by the silhouetted forms of Leona and her sister standing next to each other in the darkened front door entry. It looked like Leona was holding the baby and he was wrapped in a blanket. Was he awake? I couldn't tell because there wasn't a single light on in the kitchen, dining room, or living room and he hadn't made a sound. The only reason it wasn’t completely dark is that Katie left the second-floor ceiling light on and it cast a shadowy golden glow into the living room below. However, my first thought was not "why was it so dark, but rather "why was the baby downstairs?" Had he been crying long? Did they forget how to use the phone? Were they frazzled? While these questions flashed through my mind, Dave thanked the girls for coming and took the baby back to bed. As I turned on several lights, it struck me why the house was dark. I FORGOT TO SHOW THEM HOW TO TURN ON THE LIGHTS! (Our Amish community does not use electricity so how would they know how to turn on a light?) I apologized profusely. At the same time, Katie closed the sliding door. That’s when I made the connection between the chill in the house and the need for a blanket around the baby. Giving no indication anything was amiss, Katie asked, "When did he wake up?" "Nine thirty-twoooo," Leona replied smiling. Leona said the baby cried and stood up in his crib, but he stopped crying as soon as they when into him. He wasn’t afraid at all! Yep, Katie said to call her IF he continued to cry; he did not; she didn’t call; made sense. Leona said she carried him to the living room for playtime. Playtime? At 9:32 at night? Well, Katie forgot to mention, and certainly didn’t mention it then, that the baby should be "settled" in his room and shushed back to sleep. I thanked the girls and told them if they wanted to gather their things from the screened porch, I would take them home. They walked across the living room to the now-closed sliding glass door, turned around, and shyly asked, "How dooo youuuu open it?" We forgot to mention that too! No wonder it was chilly in the house. More apologies.
In my car on the way home, Leona said that they had fun playing with the baby and he laughed when she tickled his feet. They had a nice time. Then Leona asked ever so sweetly and sincerely, "What's the baby's name?" OK, so maybe that was the most important thing we forgot to mention! I cringed and said, "Owen." “That's a nice name,” she said! I gave them a big tip! They deserved it!
Terry
724.350.9085
#afternoon #saturday #july
