My 6th Birthday was the second milestone birthday in my life. My first of course was my 1st birthday. My definition of a Milestone birthday is a birthday that has a special significance. For instance the first birthday of course is the one that our parents enjoy the most. That is the birthday that the first candle goes on the cake and the one that you are expected to get icing all over yourself.
The next milestone birthday is the sixth birthday. I think this is because this is usually the first birthday you carry on in your memory. Then you reach your teen year and become a teenager at 13. Next you are looking forward to 16 because that's when you can get your drivers license. Oh course you also hope you have been kissed before then also. Then you can't wait until you turn 21, legal drinking age. From then on The milestone birthdays take on an entirely different meaning. 30, means you are getting older. 40, means you are really getting older. 50, means you have gotten older. And so on. I have reached the age of 54 so I have experience 7 milestone birthdays. Today I want to talk about my second milestone. My sixth birthday.
I would like to be able to tell you what I had for breakfast, what I wore to school, and all the other stuff that made that day not just another day, but I can only remember one thing about it. That's the gift I got from my mom for my sixth birthday.
I didn't get to spend much time with my mom during my growing up years. Mom had seperated from my dad when I was 5 years old and she and I moved in with my Grandmother and Grandpa. She got a job in a neighboring town working for a raincoat factory. She worked second shift, which meant I would be in bed when she got home from work and would get up before she did in order to go to school. I got to see my mom on weekends and course more during the summer.
Being five going on six years old there was a lot of stuff I never paid attention to. Or at least a lot of stuff I never gave any thought to anyway. For instance, my mom had not been around for a week or so, and I either didn't pay attention to that or I never realized it. All I can really say is if I missed her, I don't remember it.
Bright and early on the morning of November 16, 1951 when I woke up I was excited. It was my sixth birthday. A day for presents a day for cake and ice cream. My day. I know I must have bugged my Grandmother to let me have my presents, because she told me that as soon as I got home, my mom would be there to give me my present. I think that must have been when I first noticed that she was gone.
It took all day for that day to go by. I went to school as fast as I could, thinking that it would make the day go by faster. That didn't work. The only thing that would make the day go faster was to get involved in my studies, but it was my birthday so I doubt I paid too much attention to my teacher. But finally the day progressed in its slow way. I do remember I got to eat my dinner out of a sack that day. Usually I walked home from school and back for dinner, but I got to take my meal to school with me that day.
Finally it was 3:30pm and time to go home. I remembered my grandmother telling me that my mom would be there with my present so I ran all the way home. I lived 9 blocks from school and it seemed like I would never get there. I did finally make it home, with just a short stop at the mailbox a block from home. I didn't realize it but that stop at the mailbox would be the first of many disappointing stops there, for I didn't get a card or letter from my dad. I checked the mailbox every birthday and Christmas for the next several years looking for something from him until finally giving up around the age 14 or so.
Up the steps I went, slam went the front door as I made my way into the house. When my Grandmother told me to be quite, it went in one ear and out the other. My mom was supposed to be there with my Birthday gift. I asked my grandmother where she was. Grandma told me to go into the front bedroom and I would find her. This was unusual because it was wintertime and we kept the front bedroom closed off to conserve heat.
Again I was told to be quiet, but I was too close to the front bedroom from the kitchen to hear. My mom was in there. She had my gift and I was eager to see what it was. She had my present all right, and what a present. When I went into the bedroom, I found my mom lying in bed. It was only 4:00 or so
What was she doing in bed? It didn't take long before I found out the answer. Lying there beside my mom, wrapped up in a small blanket was a baby. Mom took me into bed with her and said to me "Rodney, I want to introduce you to your new sister Becky"
This was my present? A baby? A baby sister?? Becky??? Of course at that age I had no idea I was getting ready to get a baby sister. At that age I was supposed to get a cap pistol or something like that.
But a little sister? What was the world coming to anyway? I would like to say I was overjoyed with happiness. I would like to say I forgot completely the Ice Cream and Cake. But I bet I didn't.
Rod Smith