AN ADDITION BELOW: Impossible! My "baby" turned 54 today.

[John Schmidt]

My daughter, Toni, the youngest of four girls turned 54 today. Talk about a lot of water under the bridge since that night 54 years ago...unbelieveable. After three girls, I had hoped for a boy...but got another girl, and what a challenge that turned out to be. I recall at the age of 4, we suddenly realized it was rather quiet so went looking for her. Standing in the front yard, I heard a giggle coming from above and there she was...straddling the peak of the roof at least 20' from the end of the roof. We had a TV mast sitting on the ground and fastened to the house at the peak, she had shimmied up the mast and climbed onto the roof. I quietly told her mother to go inside, adding that I'd find her...she hadn't spotted her yet. I then quietly told Toni to come on down due to upsetting her mother, so she scooted back to the TV mast and I stood there watching her come down. Didn't know I could hold my breath that long. As she slid down she swung outward and hung on with one hand...youngest pole dancer I've even seen. I immediately changed how the mast was anchored!

When working on the car, she would help by picking up tools and putting them away...without my knowledge and long before I was done. When asked, I was told they had been put away. What I didn't know was "putting away" meant some in her toy box, some in the kitchen drawers, a few landed in the fish tank...it was a scavenger hunt from the start, partly because she didn't always remember where my stuff landed. Her favorite spot was to climb up and sit on the fender with her feet on the motor, then carry on a constant chatter about whatever crossed her mind...still tends to do that. A very creative and inquisitive mind indeed.

At one point in my life of turmoil, I taught in a local jr. high and became good friends with the ass't. principle. Some years later, long after I had taken a position working for the State of Fla., I rec'd. a call from him. He had been moved to the jr. high as the principle which happened to be where Toni was attending. I'll add here that Toni was a strong girl physically, still is...just ask her son. A no nonsense mama. After chatting with the principle and catching up on his career, I asked what he was really calling about. Seems some girl that was described as "heavy" and rather lacking in appearance(in Toni's terms 'ugly'), had challenged Toni to a fight since she claimed Toni was trying to steal her boyfriend. Toni's rather undiplomatic approach was something along the lines of "your boyfriend is ugly so you make a perfect couple, why would I want to have anything to do with your ugly guy." That did it, the girl charged her, Toni spun her around and grabbed her in a fireman's carry and walked into the office, past the ladies at the front desk, and into the principle's office, whereupon she dumped the girl on his desk and walked out. He was still laughing when he described it to me, all of it was described by the kids watching so I assume it was fairly accurate. His request to me; tell Toni next time don't dump the offender on his desk, it really made a mess of things. Just drop her off at the front desk.

She has given me three of my 17 grandchildren; eldest is Chelsea...30, married, a beautiful little great granddaughter, Lucy that just turned 2. Son Robert...23, lives and loves in Minneapolis, not married...yet! And finally the youngest is a beautiful daughter named Payton, just turned 15, tall like her 6'5" dad, and turns heads wherever she goes but hers is on pretty straight. Straight A student to boot. They all warm this old guy's heart because when parting wherever we're all gathered, I get a hug and an "I love you" from all three.

I guess her mother and I did something right with all our girls. As for Toni, there was a difficult and disappointing period in her life. At that point, all you can do is maintain contact and pray that the upbringing given will eventually take effect...which it did. She's talented, smarter than her dad, has helped her husband build his business to the point they have a comfortable six-digit income with the benefits that come with it...but brother is she ever tight. There's so much more to share, these are just some of the highlights. Thanks for letting me share but a few of them.

[Jersey mike]

Good for you John, sounds like it’s been quite the ride and have many blessing along the way. Stories like that are what make it all worthwhile. 

[f6john]

What, no birthday pics! Maybe she’s not that celebratory about being 54?  Remind her that makes her in the prime of life.

[Valkorado]

Great recollections John.  Thanks for sharing.

[Willow]

Toni is a very special person.  I enjoyed very much the exchanges I had with her while you were "napping".

You did a good job.

[TJ]

 

[da prez]

  What I think about is how did the children get to be older than the parents. Mine are all in their fifty's
 GOOD on you John.  What still amazes me is how she let my brother in her house. 

                                           da prez

[old2soon]

  What I think about is how did the children get to be older than the parents. Mine are all in their fifty's
 GOOD on you John.  What still amazes me is how she let my brother in her house. 

                                           da prez

         Thanks Bro I luv u 2! As I recall she let you in too! John all funnin aside You Did GOOD! RIDE SAFE.

[Serk]

Happy birthday to your baby, thanks for the stories, reminded me of a lot of the things I've gone through and still continuing to go through...

My eldest will transition out of being a teenager in a few weeks, that make me feel quite old enough on its' own...

...her doing it 1500 miles from home and not able to be there for the passing of that date burns a bit, but we'll see her sooner or later...

[..]

 

[old2soon]

       Well THANKS John.  I just did the math.  My First born Is a Daughter and she turned 52 back in May!  WHERE do the Time go?  RIDE SAFE.

[f6gal]

Happy belated birthday to Toni!

Psycho's daughter just turned 54.  She likes to call me mom... are you freaking kidding me? 

[John Schmidt]

Happy belated birthday to Toni!

Psycho's daughter just turned 54.  She likes to call me mom... are you freaking kidding me? 

What...you're not old enough to have a 54 yr. old daughter? I know...I know...just had to pull your chain a bit. 

[John Schmidt]

The first part is something I wrote many years ago for an English composition class in college. It brought me an exceedingly good grade and a bit of recognition within the department/college. The second part I added some years later and decided to run them together. It's probably getting old for Toni now, but each year I email her this paper, written when just a little "light bulb."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Suddenly, you feel old. The oldest daughter, young as she is, has a somewhat self-conscious admirer. You are just past thirty years of age, and your three girls are no longer pulling noisy toys along behind them. You no longer have to put your belongings up high so they won't ruin them in play. You have always wanted a boy. Then, seven years after the last diaper was changed, you feel the need for a change.

   On September 5, 1968, you are more than a little disappointed at first. However, the disappointment is short lived because of the change not only in your life, but the lives of everyone in the family. The "old" feeling is gone and has been replaced by a light bulb.

   A light bulb she truly is. Since birth, she has always awakened  with a smile. When left alone in the quiet of her room, she would  play herself to sleep. Always content, never does she fuss unless ill or hungry. If the family is together and she is alone in her room, it isn't long before the calling starts, followed by moments of silence. This is her way of saying "I want to get in on it," whatever "it" may be. When just a few months old, she knew the different personalities of the family and how to get a reaction. In everything she does, it is with a sly little smile. She wears that smile from early in the morning until late at night. When sleep comes, it is with the essence of the character Linus in the Peanuts cartoons. The ever present blanket and the thumb are her trademark. When morning comes and the family begins to move, on comes the light bulb. Suddenly, you don't feel old anymore. You don't have time to regret not having a boy. Your light bulb has so changed your life that the thought of a boy doesn't enter your mind.

   Suddenly, you are young again. You don't recall the other girls being as active, and not nearly so strong when they were babies. You notice things are coming up missing more often. The older girls are learning fast that their sisters are not the guilty party every time. They, too, are starting to put things up high and out of reach. The family meals are no longer the same. The focus is no longer on the day's events, but on the little light bulb in our midst. This addition to our family and changes it has wrought has taken ten years off our lives.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   This can't be. A quarter century has flown by. You are now closer to age sixty than fifty, and, though you didn't plan it this way, after nearly thirty one years of marriage you are now alone. To make bad matters worse, after nearly twenty years you find yourself bored stiff in a thankless job rife with bureaucracy. Social Security says you are too young to retire, and Corporate America says you are too old to start over. Your four girls have married and are scattered to the four corners of the continent. The oldest and her husband teach school in Louisiana, number two and her husband live in Illinois and are professionally employed, number three and her husband live in St. Louis and are deeply involved in their own business success. The youngest is married to a Navy man and is stationed in the Aleutian Islands off Alaska. You would love to see your grandchildren more often, but, depending on who you want to visit, it takes from four to ten days roundtrip travel time alone. You miss your growing family and at times reminisce within yourself, thinking back to when you were younger and times were happier. Why can't they live a little closer so you can watch the next generation develop? Life is really becoming a drag. Suddenly, you feel very, very tired. You feel old.

   You thought the answering machine was on, but the phone is about to ring off the wall. Someone sure is persistent. Then the familiar "hi dad" all the way from Alaska, followed by a familiar breathless string. This time it's "we'll be home in a few days because I can't stand the isolated location and I can't stand the weather and I can't stand the Navy and I can't...... and can we stay with you for awhile?" You agree, "for awhile." Then, there she is, with a granddaughter you barely met when she was a babe in arms. Cute, but rather quiet.

   Weeks go by and you realize "cute" was appropriate but "rather quiet" was premature. When you exercise, you have company. When working on the car or your motorcycle, you have "help." Half the time is spent looking for your tools instead of fixing. If momma is disciplining, oh the pain, oh the anguish, oh the begging for some TLC from you. Two minutes later, it's off on another adventure. You no longer have to eat alone. No longer do you find everything just where you left it. The phone never stops ringing and you stopped answering long ago. You find yourself hurrying home after work just to see that little bundle of energy, and are disappointed if she and her mother are out. Saturday mornings when you like to sleep in, you are often awakened by this giggly little body crawling on the bed and wondering why she hasn't been fed yet. Then, with the proper amount of feigning sleep, you grab her and the roughhouse begins. Once again, the house is filled with laughter and squeals of delight. It is much brighter now because you have two light bulbs. That light bulb of years past now has a light bulb of her own.

   Oh, it's great to be young isn't it?

[..]

The first part is something I wrote many years ago for an English composition class in college. It brought me an exceedingly good grade and a bit of recognition within the department/college. The second part I added some years later and decided to run them together. It's probably getting old for Toni now, but each year I email her this paper, written when just a little "light bulb."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Suddenly, you feel old. The oldest daughter, young as she is, has a somewhat self-conscious admirer. You are just past thirty years of age, and your three girls are no longer pulling noisy toys along behind them. You no longer have to put your belongings up high so they won't ruin them in play. You have always wanted a boy. Then, seven years after the last diaper was changed, you feel the need for a change.

   On September 5, 1968, you are more than a little disappointed at first. However, the disappointment is short lived because of the change not only in your life, but the lives of everyone in the family. The "old" feeling is gone and has been replaced by a light bulb.

   A light bulb she truly is. Since birth, she has always awakened  with a smile. When left alone in the quiet of her room, she would  play herself to sleep. Always content, never does she fuss unless ill or hungry. If the family is together and she is alone in her room, it isn't long before the calling starts, followed by moments of silence. This is her way of saying "I want to get in on it," whatever "it" may be. When just a few months old, she knew the different personalities of the family and how to get a reaction. In everything she does, it is with a sly little smile. She wears that smile from early in the morning until late at night. When sleep comes, it is with the essence of the character Linus in the Peanuts cartoons. The ever present blanket and the thumb are her trademark. When morning comes and the family begins to move, on comes the light bulb. Suddenly, you don't feel old anymore. You don't have time to regret not having a boy. Your light bulb has so changed your life that the thought of a boy doesn't enter your mind.

   Suddenly, you are young again. You don't recall the other girls being as active, and not nearly so strong when they were babies. You notice things are coming up missing more often. The older girls are learning fast that their sisters are not the guilty party every time. They, too, are starting to put things up high and out of reach. The family meals are no longer the same. The focus is no longer on the day's events, but on the little light bulb in our midst. This addition to our family and changes it has wrought has taken ten years off our lives.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   This can't be. A quarter century has flown by. You are now closer to age sixty than fifty, and, though you didn't plan it this way, after nearly thirty one years of marriage you are now alone. To make bad matters worse, after nearly twenty years you find yourself bored stiff in a thankless job rife with bureaucracy. Social Security says you are too young to retire, and Corporate America says you are too old to start over. Your four girls have married and are scattered to the four corners of the continent. The oldest and her husband teach school in Louisiana, number two and her husband live in Illinois and are professionally employed, number three and her husband live in St. Louis and are deeply involved in their own business success. The youngest is married to a Navy man and is stationed in the Aleutian Islands off Alaska. You would love to see your grandchildren more often, but, depending on who you want to visit, it takes from four to ten days roundtrip travel time alone. You miss your growing family and at times reminisce within yourself, thinking back to when you were younger and times were happier. Why can't they live a little closer so you can watch the next generation develop? Life is really becoming a drag. Suddenly, you feel very, very tired. You feel old.

   You thought the answering machine was on, but the phone is about to ring off the wall. Someone sure is persistent. Then the familiar "hi dad" all the way from Alaska, followed by a familiar breathless string. This time it's "we'll be home in a few days because I can't stand the isolated location and I can't stand the weather and I can't stand the Navy and I can't...... and can we stay with you for awhile?" You agree, "for awhile." Then, there she is, with a granddaughter you barely met when she was a babe in arms. Cute, but rather quiet.

   Weeks go by and you realize "cute" was appropriate but "rather quiet" was premature. When you exercise, you have company. When working on the car or your motorcycle, you have "help." Half the time is spent looking for your tools instead of fixing. If momma is disciplining, oh the pain, oh the anguish, oh the begging for some TLC from you. Two minutes later, it's off on another adventure. You no longer have to eat alone. No longer do you find everything just where you left it. The phone never stops ringing and you stopped answering long ago. You find yourself hurrying home after work just to see that little bundle of energy, and are disappointed if she and her mother are out. Saturday mornings when you like to sleep in, you are often awakened by this giggly little body crawling on the bed and wondering why she hasn't been fed yet. Then, with the proper amount of feigning sleep, you grab her and the roughhouse begins. Once again, the house is filled with laughter and squeals of delight. It is much brighter now because you have two light bulbs. That light bulb of years past now has a light bulb of her own.

   Oh, it's great to be young isn't it?

Beautiful.

[Jersey mike]

The first part is something I wrote many years ago for an English composition class in college. It brought me an exceedingly good grade and a bit of recognition within the department/college. The second part I added some years later and decided to run them together. It's probably getting old for Toni now, but each year I email her this paper, written when just a little "light bulb."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Suddenly, you feel old. The oldest daughter, young as she is, has a somewhat self-conscious admirer. You are just past thirty years of age, and your three girls are no longer pulling noisy toys along behind them. You no longer have to put your belongings up high so they won't ruin them in play. You have always wanted a boy. Then, seven years after the last diaper was changed, you feel the need for a change.

   On September 5, 1968, you are more than a little disappointed at first. However, the disappointment is short lived because of the change not only in your life, but the lives of everyone in the family. The "old" feeling is gone and has been replaced by a light bulb.

   A light bulb she truly is. Since birth, she has always awakened  with a smile. When left alone in the quiet of her room, she would  play herself to sleep. Always content, never does she fuss unless ill or hungry. If the family is together and she is alone in her room, it isn't long before the calling starts, followed by moments of silence. This is her way of saying "I want to get in on it," whatever "it" may be. When just a few months old, she knew the different personalities of the family and how to get a reaction. In everything she does, it is with a sly little smile. She wears that smile from early in the morning until late at night. When sleep comes, it is with the essence of the character Linus in the Peanuts cartoons. The ever present blanket and the thumb are her trademark. When morning comes and the family begins to move, on comes the light bulb. Suddenly, you don't feel old anymore. You don't have time to regret not having a boy. Your light bulb has so changed your life that the thought of a boy doesn't enter your mind.

   Suddenly, you are young again. You don't recall the other girls being as active, and not nearly so strong when they were babies. You notice things are coming up missing more often. The older girls are learning fast that their sisters are not the guilty party every time. They, too, are starting to put things up high and out of reach. The family meals are no longer the same. The focus is no longer on the day's events, but on the little light bulb in our midst. This addition to our family and changes it has wrought has taken ten years off our lives.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   This can't be. A quarter century has flown by. You are now closer to age sixty than fifty, and, though you didn't plan it this way, after nearly thirty one years of marriage you are now alone. To make bad matters worse, after nearly twenty years you find yourself bored stiff in a thankless job rife with bureaucracy. Social Security says you are too young to retire, and Corporate America says you are too old to start over. Your four girls have married and are scattered to the four corners of the continent. The oldest and her husband teach school in Louisiana, number two and her husband live in Illinois and are professionally employed, number three and her husband live in St. Louis and are deeply involved in their own business success. The youngest is married to a Navy man and is stationed in the Aleutian Islands off Alaska. You would love to see your grandchildren more often, but, depending on who you want to visit, it takes from four to ten days roundtrip travel time alone. You miss your growing family and at times reminisce within yourself, thinking back to when you were younger and times were happier. Why can't they live a little closer so you can watch the next generation develop? Life is really becoming a drag. Suddenly, you feel very, very tired. You feel old.

   You thought the answering machine was on, but the phone is about to ring off the wall. Someone sure is persistent. Then the familiar "hi dad" all the way from Alaska, followed by a familiar breathless string. This time it's "we'll be home in a few days because I can't stand the isolated location and I can't stand the weather and I can't stand the Navy and I can't...... and can we stay with you for awhile?" You agree, "for awhile." Then, there she is, with a granddaughter you barely met when she was a babe in arms. Cute, but rather quiet.

   Weeks go by and you realize "cute" was appropriate but "rather quiet" was premature. When you exercise, you have company. When working on the car or your motorcycle, you have "help." Half the time is spent looking for your tools instead of fixing. If momma is disciplining, oh the pain, oh the anguish, oh the begging for some TLC from you. Two minutes later, it's off on another adventure. You no longer have to eat alone. No longer do you find everything just where you left it. The phone never stops ringing and you stopped answering long ago. You find yourself hurrying home after work just to see that little bundle of energy, and are disappointed if she and her mother are out. Saturday mornings when you like to sleep in, you are often awakened by this giggly little body crawling on the bed and wondering why she hasn't been fed yet. Then, with the proper amount of feigning sleep, you grab her and the roughhouse begins. Once again, the house is filled with laughter and squeals of delight. It is much brighter now because you have two light bulbs. That light bulb of years past now has a light bulb of her own.

   Oh, it's great to be young isn't it?

Beautiful.

Yes. That single word sums it up perfectly.