Memorial Day 1984

Memorial Day 1984 was celebrated on Monday, May 28. You were born in the wee hours that very morning after just four really short hours of labor, less than one hour of true discomfort, nothing to complain about ~ another perfect delivery! Eight pounds ten ounces, 22” … our longest one yet!


From the very start, you were a contented and quiet baby. By the time you were about eight weeks, you were sleeping a 12-hour night with NO interruptions. Once weaned, you were a voracious eater of anything we put before you … until you turned 18 months and then absolutely refused to eat anything at all! You loved being confined to what we used to call a “play pen”, although they have a nicer name for it nowadays (“play yard”) where if you had one or two toys to play with, you were content for an hour at a time. As a toddler, you went to sleep at night with a smile and woke up in the morning making happy noises and talking like crazy to yourself. You crawled at six months, but were not a bit interested in walking until 15 months! I know these are weird details, but these are the kinds of things a mother remembers …

We lost you once when you were just about four … downtown Detroit (yikes!)… at a place called Trapper’s Alley, a converted warehouse turned into a multi-level cool shopping place (I don’t think it’s there anymore). Your brothers and I were shopping around with your Aunt Ruthanne and Uncle Terry. I thought Uncle Terry had you, and Uncle Terry thought I had you … and neither of us did! I think I lost five years off my life until we located you standing in the corner of a clothing store (where we had left you ~ two levels down, and 10 minutes prior), very quietly (and calmly!) waiting for us to return.

That was all a very long time ago. After a lot of schooling, you’ve now graduated from college, headed for seminary … moving out for good in just a few days. Your life’s journey is taking you places I did not envision for you … but then, I’m not in charge … and we’re turning another page in our story. You have always been a contented person, eager to serve others and follow after God. I pray the Lord will continue to lead you and guide you and have His way in your life. You have always been a blessing in mine.

With much love on your birthday, Dylan.