Linda, our oldest child, would have been sixty years old yesterday. She died from breast cancer eleven years ago. I remember the day she was born. Mild labor pains disturbed my sleep during the previous night, but there was no urgency. On a sunny, wintery, Thursday morning, Ken drove me to St.Clare Hospital in Monroe, Wisconsin. Plows had cleared the twenty-five miles of county and state roads we travelled. Snow from last week’s storm was piled along the shoulders. That evening at 9:55, Linda Louise, weighing 7 lbs. 2 oz. and 19 in. long, entered the world. While I was in the delivery room, Ken cooled his heels in the waiting room. Three days later, he drove us back to Irish Acres. Our house went with his job as his brother-in-law’s hired man. We lived about half-way between his parents’ home in Durand and my folks’ farm. Mom came daily to guide me through caring for that perfect infant.
A week before Linda’ birth, we had a blizzard. I wasn’t concerned. My due date was two weeks away and all of my friends had gone later than they expected. Older, wiser folks knew foul weather often brought babies. About seven that evening, our phone rang. When I answered, a woman said, “This is Esther Panoske. Stan wanted me to call and tell you he can’t get you to Monroe, but he can take you to Durand if you need to go someplace.” Her husband was our Laona Township Highway Commissioner with a large snowplow parked in his driveway. The local clinic was staffed by young, Dr. Harvey, who lived in the village.
The call surprised me. The couple were neighbors, but not close friends. In rural communities, everybody knew everyone else’s business.
Later, I learned my father-in-law also was worrying about us that treacherous night. He had it figured out that Ken could drive the 2 1/2 miles to their house. Alice, a nurse who lived across the street, would serve as midwife to deliver the baby on their kitchen table.
When I was young and naive, it was a good feeling to have experienced elders looking out for me.
Do you consider having others know your business as concern or nosiness?