• About
  • Mortgage Basics
  • $40K Challenge
  • Aunt Doris
  • Grandfather Says
  • Privacy
  • Archives

Len Penzo dot Com

The offbeat personal finance blog for responsible people.

Grandfather Says: The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 19

By RD Blakeslee

The following was written by my late wife Elaine. She wrote a long book, a diary really, from which this is one passage:

November 27, 1957: Carolyn’s DUE DATE. (She was born 8 days later, December 5.) Labor began around suppertime on the evening of December 4. By the time we thought we should leave for the hospital in Washington, DC, a severe snowstorm struck. Dave went out to warm up the car and was unable to get it out of the snowdrift which had blown around it. Plan 2 was to call a taxi, and it arrived within a few minutes and took us to the hospital. I have a yellowed newspaper clipping written on December 5, 1958 – a year later – about “last year’s Washington blizzard, beginning on the evening of December 4 (1957), which set records for snow depth, 11.5 inches!”

During labor, I used the breathing principles we had studied and practiced, and “Coach” Dave was allowed to remain in the labor room and delivery room because he had been with me in the natural childbirth class. No “unprepared husbands” were allowed in the labor or delivery rooms in those days. He was very helpful, reminding me to breathe right, at times when my inclination was to hold my breath, and rubbing my back during contractions.

Carolyn Denise Blakeslee was born December 5, 1957, 8 lbs. 2 ozs., at the old Garfield Memorial Hospital at 12:30 pm. She was probably one of the last babies born there because the new Washington Hospital Center was almost ready for its grand opening. I struggled with nursing, which takes a while to get going right, but the nurses at the hospital were very encouraging, and we got it all figured out by the time we went home.

There are many pictures of Carolyn, probably taken every few minutes for the first 6 months, including pictures of my young mom holding Carolyn, the sweet thing all dressed up in a little dress, with my mom holding her when she came for a visit at Christmas. Carolyn’s arrival was a wonderful beginning for the most eventful part of our lives, raising our children, seeing them become adults who we respect and love and are proud of, and the amazing experience of having nine grandchildren, all different, all delightful. We are blessed.

To be continued…

***

About the Author: RD Blakeslee is a nonagenarian in West Virginia who built his net worth by only investing in that which can be enjoyed during acquisition and throughout life, as opposed to papers in a drawer, like stocks and bonds. You can read more about him here.

Photos: Courtesy of the Blakeslee Family

July 20, 2023

Comments

  1. 1

    bill says

    Thanks for sharing Mr. Dave.

    Being a proud dad for the first time, were you the one snapping photos every two minutes?

  2. 2

    RD Blakeslee says

    Yes, Bill.

    I had bought a Contax IIA., an excellent 35MM camera from the PX while I was in the Philippines. It served us well for the next 30 years or so, until the advent of digital cameras and then cameras in cell phones.

The Question of the Week:

What rate are you currently being paid on your cash savings?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

Disclaimer

This site is for informational and entertainment purposes only, and the content herein should not be mistaken for professional financial advice. In fact, making investment decisions based on information published here, or any other website for that matter, is more than unwise; it is folly. This website accepts advertising in the form of monetary and other compensation; as such, topics of discussion are occasionally influenced by these advertisers. Sometimes, an article may also include affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, this blog earns a commission if you click through and make a purchase (for example, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases). Remember, you and you alone are responsible for the decisions you make in life, so please contact an independent financial professional for advice regarding your unique personal situation.

Sign up for the weekly Len Penzo dot Com newsletter
Len Penzo dot Com Delivered Weekly
Join more than 40,000 readers and fans who enjoy personal finance and macroeconomics with an offbeat twist!
Invalid email address
Thanks for subscribing!
An Overview of the Most Common Student Loan Options
6 Ways to Fix Your Finances: Smart Tips for Resuscitating Your Bank Account
My 13-Year-Old Daughter Shares Her Financial Fears
Black Coffee: It Ain’t What It Used to Be
How Thinking Outside the Box Can Save You a Fortune
The Pros and Cons of Higher Interest Rates
Five Frugal Ideas for Fall Season Family Fun
I’m Not Rich, But I’m Financially Free; Here’s How I Got There
Black Coffee: Account Overdrawn
Grandfather Says: The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 23

All-Time Most Popular:

  1. 1. 19 Things Your Millionaire Neighbor Won’t Tell You
  2. 2. Dear Friend: Here Are 41 Reasons Why I’m NOT Lending the Money
  3. 3. Why Your Expensive Luxury Car Doesn’t Impress Smart People
  4. 4. If You Can’t Live on $40,000 Annually It’s Your Own Fault
  5. 5. 21 Reasons Why Corner Lots Are for Suckers
  6. 6. 4 Smart Reasons Why College Isn’t for Everyone
  7. 7. 18 Fast Facts About Social Security Numbers
  8. 8. My Ketchup Taste Test: Upset! Guess Which Brand Topped Heinz
  9. 9. Why I Prefer a Spreadsheet to Track Expenses and Manage My Finances
  10. 10. Here’s a Simple Trick for Getting Credit Card Interest Charges Waived

Popular Now:

  1. 1. My Personal Journey to Financial Freedom
  2. 2. Why I Run My Household Like a Business (and Why You Should Too)
  3. 3. 5 Ways You Can Save Money on Groceries This Week
  4. 4. My 15th Annual Cost Survey of 10 Popular Brown Bag Sandwiches
  5. 5. 5 Frugal Tips for Family Fun During the Fall Season
  6. 6. Expensive 401k Mistakes People Make Every Day
  7. 7. 10 Ways to Get Fit for Little of No Money
  8. 8. The Ethics of Found Money: Should You Keep It?
  9. 9. Historical Gold & Silver Benchmarks for Wages and Commodities
  10. 10. 4 Good Reasons Why Some Quarters Are Painted Red

Copyright © 2023 Len Penzo dot Com · All Rights Reserved · Designed by Nuts and Bolts Media

© Len Penzo dot Com 2008–2023