A Valentine's Day to Remember

Although Valentine's Day regularly comes and goes without much fanfare in our household, I will never forget Valentine's Day 35 years ago. About the time LBeau got home from work, I announced that it was time to go to the hospital for the birth of our first child.

He said we probably had plenty of time for him to go for a run first, then he needed to shower, and finally I fed him dinner. By 8 p.m. we were on the way to Medical Center Hospital in Huntsville, Alabama, anxious to learn whether we would be bringing home a boy or a girl, since these were the days prior to sonograms and ultrasounds.

I settled into the labor room, and LBeau was shipped off to the father's waiting room. No dads allowed in labor and delivery in those days.

Soon after midnight, the nurse stepped into the waiting room to congratulate LBeau on the birth of his son.

"That couldn't be mine," he said. "The doctor said it would be 7 or 8 o'clock in the morning before mine got here."

Nevermind that he was the only one in the waiting room.

So tomorrow we celebrate Hunter's 35th birthday, and today we celebrate a Valentine's Day to remember.