Waiting for Megan

The summer has passed and now we are getting into the relief of Kentucky autumn. In Louisville, it is still not yet too cool that people have to wear heavy jackets or sweaters. Halloween is coming and the usual fall events of Butchertown Oktoberfest and St. James Art Fair are under way. In the last week of October 1974 we are all waiting for Megan.

October 1973 was a sad time for mom and dad. Dad had graduated from UL in August and was working for the Louisville Board of Education. October 1973 had all started well. Mom and dad were expecting their first baby and everything had gone very well. All the families were in rapt anticipation of a new little life coming to the world. That baby would be the first for this generation. Mom and dad had painted and cleaned the baby's room. There were new curtains and furniture. All the "new baby supplies had been laid in and everyone was waiting.

In the last week of October 1973 something tragic happened. There are things that happen to little ones in the womb for which there is no explanation. Mom had had the best of care from the doctor . She had taken the right vitamins and had eaten the right right stuff. She did everything just right. Yet, in one of those mysterious events that come about, something went amiss.

Dad was in his office at Coleridge Taylor Elementary just on the edge of downtown Louisville when he got a call to come to the office. Mom was on the phone and she was very sad. She was at the doctor's office and she had to listen to the tragic news that the baby that she was carrying was no longer living. The doctor had made arrangements for Mom to go to the hospital and do what had to be done to save her life. It was very sad. It is sad to this day.

Well. Mom and Dad went to Methodist Hospital and over the next 12 or so hours the baby that had been so anticipated was brought into the world having never to experience any of it. In those days, women stayed in the hospital at least 48 to 72 hours. It was a challenge for both Mom and Dad because Mom was on the maternity floor and there was no baby to be the center of attention. This lead, of course, to all kind of gaffs on the part of hospital staff in the course of their duties. It was a relief to end that hospital experience and get home. Mom stayed home for a while to recover and then went back to her work in the county office building in downtown Louisville. Things were not back to normal, but they were routine. The question arose of what to do next. Well, when the time was right, Mom and Dad got busy. Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years came and went. In February of 1974 Mom took a solo trip to Florida to warm her bones from the Kentucky winter. February turns to March and then to April. Uh-ho! Something is up. Mom had to go to Dr. Oberst again. Great news! A baby is on the way.

Mom is an old hand at this baby business now. There wasn't much to do in preparation. Everything was pretty much in place. Mom was very confident. Dad never noted a drop of anxiety in her attitude. With April came the historic tornado (April 3, 1974) that raked Louisville along with much of the midwest. Mom's office was at the old County Building on West Market St. Mom and Dad saw the Louisville tornado on the way home from work that day. Dad remarked that this site should be noted because it was a very rare thing to behold.

Spring turns to summer and summer brought the usual muggy heat of summer. Again all the families were in anticipation of the coming event. There was no crepe hanging of any hint of dire consequences for the event that was going to take place in the last week of October or first week of November. Everybody was waiting for Megan.

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