Tag Archives: kiss

76. Serving Up Baby #3

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My wife’s mother Susan had been visiting on this lovely Thursday afternoon, the day before Amar’s 3rd birthday.  Susan was taking her leave and already out to her car when Diana discovered her mother had left something behind.  Diana went hurriedly out after her.

Well, most likely this brought her to feel contractions and she was sure the baby was on its way.  Susan brought Diana back into the apartment and said to me, “Son, I do believe we have a situation here.  Looks like Diana is going into labor!”  

Immediately we scrambled to grab a few things for her and rushed out to our white Rambler so we would get to the emergency at St John’s Hospital; our go-to local hospital and fortunately just over a mile up the road.

Susan of course stayed back with her two grandchildren.  What good fortune that she was still there!  

As it all happened the contractions were noted as a false alarm.  There were more goings-on while I was downstairs at the Admissions desk.  The obstetrician who watched over Diana’s 3rd pregnancy was scheduled to leave on his vacation the very next day and therefore suggested to Diana to let him induce her labor.  

He felt she was close enough to her due date anyway.  I found this all out later on.  Now I was still filling out the paperwork when our 3rd child entered this world.  The admissions lady who was helping me with filling out said paperwork got a phone call.  

She hung up rather quickly and immediately said to me, “Congratulations!”  

‘What happened?’ I asked her, surprised.  She looked at me rather startled that I should ask, what?  Then she smiled and with a little laugh said, “Your wife just gave birth to a son!”  She then told me, as soon as we finished the documents I could go up to see them both.

It was actually a bit of a time before I was able to go up to the maternity floor.  ‘I’ve been blessed with another son!’ I thought to myself with this very warm and generous feeling in my heart, one of immense gratitude in fact as I made my way up to the nurse’s station for direction to my wife’s room.  

When I arrived at her room I paused in the doorway for a moment looking at Diana in the bed with a giant smile across her face.  She pointed to him and I walked over to give her a kiss first.  

Then over to feast my eyes upon the newest addition to our family.  He was swaddled up like a papoose and in his little baby bed near to Diana.  Another precious son with lots of hair was waiting to meet me.

I looked at her again and said, ‘So fast?’ and she laughed a bit weakly and then said, “He couldn’t wait, you’ll have to take it up with him.”  After the nurse clearly identified me as the father, she lifted him up and handed him to me.

I held him with great joy and kissed his forehead.  ‘Nice to meet you my son.’ After a few moments in adoration, I sensed I should hand him over to his mother.  I thought he probably wanted to be close to where he just came from.  Makes sense right?

We talked proudly for a little bit and then she had something else she wanted to tell me.  It was about the delivery and what happened before our son was actually born.  Diana relayed to me about the false alarm and then the induced labor process.  She continued the narration by telling me something quite disturbing.

Diana told me she had become a bit conscious even with the anesthesia, right in the middle of the delivery and while not really feeling any movement she heard the delivery room staff talking in a bit of a frantic tone and the doctor’s voice saying, “Let the mother go, save the baby!”  

I cannot begin to describe how that caused me to feel.  We shared some heartfelt words between us.  Then I told her I should be getting back to the kids.  “I’ve got to let mom know that you’re all right and that she’s been blessed with third grandson!’  I kissed the both of them again.  

Diana of course agreed and added, “And the kids need to know they have a new baby brother and that the both of us will be home soon!”  Still holding on to that gratitude and love, I said good night and with one final glance in their direction for the evening, I headed back home to my other two children and their grandmother Susan.

Celebration to be sure and especially in light of the close-call which I decided not to say anything to Susan; I thought it best to let Diana tell the events to her mother herself.  Susan was joyed and the kids showed their excitement.  

🍾 I opened a nice cold bottle of champagne, 🥂 frosted glasses for all four of us.

Susan and I toasted with the bubbly and the two kids with their ice cold chocolate 🥛 milk.  ‘I’ll take all of you to the hospital to meet them tomorrow.  And then we’ll name your baby brother!  Right now we will toast in happiness and gratitude.’

Susan stayed over that night.

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64. Diana

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Next day.  As per my new routine, I made my rounds about the complex after breakfast.  I thought to give Dave a call and share with him my meeting of this young lady on the bus, whom I shall here name, Diana.  The call would have to wait till the afternoon as I knew he would be out during the morning hours – no cell phones yet.

Upon returning to my apartment, out of boredom I skimmed through some of the magazines there on my coffee table while listening to the radio.  Now what?  I rested for a little bit.  Oh yes I would call ‘mom’ and fill her in on my day up till the moment; to tell her about Diana or not, hmmm.  I would tell Dave first.

He was already home by now and Mrs. Elson called Dave to the phone.  I took a deep breath, ‘Okay Dave, don’t make a big fuss but …I met a girl on the bus.’  He gave a light-hearted laugh and replied, “Hey that’s great!  What did you guys do?”

I gave him a detailed account of how we met including our exchange of contact information.  I told him that she seemed interested in me I felt due to all the questions she asked me; where was I from, what do I do all day, and asking as many get-to-know-you questions as she could.  

Both our days had already been planned out and so we wouldn’t have any more time to spend that day.  Then Dave suggested that we should double date.  I was confused.  ‘What the hell is a double date?’ Dave just laughed at me!  

Then he explained it was more of a comfort thing.  “We would go for some dinner, take in a movie, go dancing or head out to the beach, whatever we like really.”  We could do anything as a normal date but we’d all go together and make a day or night out out of it.  “See the comfort?”  Well I really liked that idea.  

Dave and I finished our call.  In the late afternoon I decided to call Diana.  I asked her if she’d like to meet for some lunch or something.  She excitedly agreed.  We would meet tomorrow then.  She asked me if I knew the Chevron gas station on the corner and I said yes.  “Good,” she replied quickly, “meet me there tomorrow at noon.”

I had a date!  That night after my dinner and evening rounds of the property, I stayed in just taking it easy, doing much thinking about various things and listening to the radio.

Next morning routine the same although now my step was lighter.  I was definitely happy about meeting with Diana for lunch today.  

Noontime was just around the corner and with one last check in the mirror I headed out the door.  We arrived at the Chevron station at nearly the same time, both of us hungry for an adventure and some lunch too.

“If you’re interested I have a great place we can go for lunch,”  she proposed.  I was open to suggestions.  “They have the most marvelous turkey burgers!” Diana claimed.  With a big smile I told her, ‘Let’s get going then.’

We walked to this establishment, it was only 3 blocks away from where we stood.

Diana showed me the burgers on the menu and getting the feel for what I might enjoy, she then ordered for us.  She requested my burger to be well-cooked and ordered coffee for me.  She had a milkshake with her burger.  

She was absolutely correct, I really enjoyed that burger!  We were clearly entertained by each other’s answers to random questions in between bites and sips getting to know more about one another.  Lunch was my treat although she did make the hand on the check gesture, something I certainly was not used to.  

Afterwards we walked around the village for a little while.  We both had so much to say and there was never an uncomfortable silence between us.  I offered to show her ‘…from the outside,’  I specified this politely for her comfort, where I was living.  We walked that way and I showed her.  

“You could walk me up to my place and see where I live too, if you like,” she offered in return.  And so we walked up the hill to her apartment.  Diana asked me then if I’d like to come in.  ‘Of course, I would love to.’ I did not hesitate to reply.  

It was a nice little place.  She mentioned that she had a student from India staying with her at the moment.  It was a one bedroom apartment and the girl slept out on the sofa.  She was in class at that time, so it was only the two of us.

We sat and talked for quite awhile.  In there somewhere she made something for me to drink though I cannot recall now if it was hot tea or something cold; irrelevant I’m sure.  I looked around the room and noticed a lot of her decor reflected the Indian culture; travel posters, fluffy colorful pillows, books and what not.  

I asked her about her obviously immense interest and knowledge of things Indian.  Diana proceeded to explain that she gathered much information from her roomate.  She’d also studied through many books and asked a lot of questions of Indian students who’d give her the time of day.  Many did as they seemed to enjoy her interest in their culture as well as the attention paid to them.

The afternoon was effortless.  After a while I knew it was getting late, the light outside was changing and although her roomate had not returned, I knew I should be going back.  Besides in the back of my mind, I gave thought to the owner of the apartment complex might be looking for me.

The attraction between Diana and myself was definitely mutual and when I saw the opportunity to go in for a first kiss, there was no hesitation from her, only magnetic attraction and it was very, very nice.  We found ourselves holding on to one another; it was secure and exciting all at once.

Forcing a break at last from the comfort of the cuddle, I got up to leave.  Diana walked out to the street with me, hand in hand.  In parting she said to me, “I’ll stand right here till you’re down the hill.”  We shared a goodnight kiss or two and more hugs.  

It felt as though we both knew one another for a long time, the comfort was incredible and then I walked away but not before assuring her that I’d call her again.

In about fifteen minutes I was home.  What a day!  I was feeling really good about the time spent with Diana.  I slept peacefully that night.

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48. All aboard!

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First thing I did was surrender my suitcase at the entry level and having checked my ticket, it was accepted and my hands were free.  I came back down to the wharf where my family and friends, who had come directly to the docks, were waiting.  

Saying the this-time-for-real goodbyes to the family before climbing the gangplank was rough to say the least, especially seeing my mother’s face and knowing this was, once again, tearing her up … it hurt.  

Then there is my sweet Noori.  I was closest to her now than ever before and knowing how dearly she loved me didn’t make this farewell any easier.  

The loudspeaker blurted out the commencement of pre-boarding for those passengers who were already residing on that ship from the previous port.  My heart skipped a beat and I can only imagine what my mother, sisters and brother and Noori’s hearts were doing.  

“Send us a postcard!”  someone said.  “Don’t forget to write!” said another.  “Remember us and return soon …”  trailed another voice.  It was time to say our final (such a word!) goodbyes.  

One by one I went to each person, young and old, hugging, kissing and wiping tears and making the repetetive promise to take care of myself and return sooner than later.  

Do you know there were a few of my family members whom I had never in my life, witnessed them shed a tear up till just now.  How heart-wrenching.  It was a long line-up of dear ones and then I get to my brother and my sisters.  

I had never seen my brother cry either and in our embrace he poured which of course caused me to cry my eyes out too!  My dear sister-in-law stood by him silently crying.  To make her smile I told her I’d miss her meals as no one could touch her cooking where I was going.  It worked.

I gave my brother a personal promise; whether or not he wanted it I would send money to assist so that he wouldn’t have to miss me that way and I reminded him that I will definitely call for him as soon as I have settled.  

To my sisters I told them how much I loved them and would miss them (I knew my little sister would be the one writing to me) and to all my nieces and nephews I laid down the promise of goodies from America.

My mother, my dearest, most precious mother.  I don’t have to tell you about the nonstop tears there.  She said to me, “Maybe I’m not going to be here when you come back.”  What a stab in my heart, I had that coming.  

I knew I’d better say something comforting and quick!  ‘Amma don’t worry please.  I promise you as I have made the same to Noori that I will be back in two years to marry her.’  

Noori was naturally standing there right beside my mother.  That statement brought a gentle smile to my crying mother’s face … and to Noori’s.

It was nearly 4 o’clock and the steamship whistle sounded.  The call for all to board was heard and went through my bones.  Noori and I embraced, tightly, she cried a lot and we repeated our love statement for one another.  ‘I will see you soon Noori.’  I assured her and she assured me in return, “I will wait for you Gary.”

Orsova ticket to.. 1959I began my ascent of the gangplank and I could hear all the crying.  I made my way to the top deck of the ship.  Boxes of streamers were laid out for the passengers to throw as their departing gesture and final tie being broken … well that’s what it felt like to me.

I grabbed half a dozen of those paper streamers and made my way to the railing of the ship, obviously dockside.  The Fiji Military band had begun a tune and the mood was set.

I see my people down there on the wharf and I can tell they’re searching for my face among the many.  A couple of the excited children spot me waving and point me out to the rest.

The Orsova horn -that sound- was blasted again, twice.  It was 4:45p and the gangplank would go up in five minutes.  I hold one end of each streamer and then begin to throw them towards the crowd, in the general direction of my family and friends.

Then the departing song Isa Lei began.  A man had caught one of my streamers and as though by fate, handed it to Noori.  She may not have caught one on her own, I don’t know and I had no idea who he was.

The big rope at the stern was first released and the ship begins a controlled slip away from the dock.  The tears and emotions for nearly everyone present were uncontrollable.  It’s such a haunting piece of music and the way the lyrics are sung, one cannot help but to lose it.

Isa is God in Fijian.  A feeling of hearts full of pleasure and return right away and your absence will bring pain … that kind of a feeling, very haunting you know.   

“Why did you come if you have to leave …”

The band is still playing and the streamers have been flying.  Now the stern has been released as the ship pulls away under it’s own complete power.
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You know this goodbye with Noori reminded me of 1953, nearly the same scenario up in Vancouver with Sonia.  I had said to her I would return to her and that we would run away and get married.  Sonia had said she would hide me from everyone.  This felt a lot like the same and I really didn’t want to suffer that love lost once again.