~I am sure dear baby sister you do not remember this night of taking pictures so very long ago, but I do ! These pictures were taken 4 days after you were born, and we were pretty excited to have a new baby sister! Look at our faces. We are all dressed up for a picture taking session just to show the world ( O.K. friends and family living far from us ) that we had a new member of our family. A pretty, and healthy new baby daughter and sister. Left to right: Joni, Dad holding new daughter Patricia Ann, me in the back, and sister Karen with the long blonde hair.
~I remember the drive through the deep snow, late at night, or it could have been very early in the morning. I just remember Dad driving Mom to the hospital and it was dark and snowy. They said it was time for you to be born. We were living in New Jersey, Dad was stationed at Ft. Dix. We were new to the area and knew no one there. All our extended family was on the west coast, far, far away. There was no one to babysit 3 little girls whose mother was going to the hospital to deliver the 4th sister. So we were all in the car on the drive through the night.
~ I remember Dad and Mom leaving us in the car with me in charge because I was the oldest sister. People did not worry about leaving their children in the car back then. Dad checked Mom into the hospital and then drove us 3 older sisters back home to await the phone call from the hospital about your arrival. Things were so very different then. There is NO way Dad would have been allowed in the birthing room, and no way we older girls would have been allowed in either. I remember Dad telling us we had a sister and the next day we went to the hospital, we older girls stayed in the car until Dad got done visiting you and Mom.
~Dad was pretty pleased with you even though he was hoping for a boy, you know, there were already 3 girls. But don't you ever, ever, think he was disappointed in a new little daughter ! He was very happy about you! Can't you tell from his face in these pictures?
~And now dear sister, you are a Grandmother ! Your 2nd grandchild, who is your first grandson has just this week arrived in this big world, and after his stay in the NICU will be coming home with his father, YOUR firstborn son, and his mother and big sister! So congratulations to you Grandma, and to you Kevin and Amy, and to you Annika, little/big sister...happy birthday to you all! Welcome little Kevin Titus, and again I say, Happy Birthday to you Tricia...with love.
~Blessings: sisters, grandchildren, loving each other through difficulties , family, babies, phones and e-mails to keep in touch, forgiveness (true love)~
