We Are Having a Baby!
Estimated reading time: 11 minutes, 35 seconds
DC Trip
Honey, I am as concerned as you are”” I stated as we finished breakfast. “My bike ride to East Harlem was mostly at night, but today it will be in the daylight”” I could not tell her how anxious I was. I had not told her how difficult that bike ride was, but I had few choices this morning as I needed to be on a train from Penn Station to DC by mid-afternoon. Can you suggest an alternate idea for getting to the train on time?”
“No, but I am worried. I love you and never want to lose you, especially if we are having a baby” her eyes blinked at me,””I do not want to be a parent without you.”
My voice choked as tears formed in the back of my throat.
Finally, I spoke, “I plan to be as safe as possible.
I stood up, walked around the table, and put my arms around her.
“Will you call me when you drop off the bike? Get on the PATH train and arrive at Penn?”
Yes.
“Ninth Street is where you said I should get the PATH. Are you sure they are not on strike?”
“Jan stood up and hugged me. “No, they are not on strike. Remember, they are the Port Authority Trans Hudson trains!”
“Right,Rockefeller’ss deal to get Jersey to allow him to build the World Trade Center.”
How do you know so much trivia when you did not grow up here? I used to ride PATH when it was the Hudson Tubes.”
“I will pack while you get ready for work.”
My backpack was already packed except for my toothbrush and toiletries. While Jan was in our tiny bathroom, I closed my eyes and prayed that I would be home with Jan in four days.
Jan finished getting dressed while I brushed my teeth and collected the items I needed from the bathroom.
She walked down the front stairs, and I took the back stairs to pick up my Schwinn ten-speed. I walked the bike to the front of our home and waited for John to pick her up.
John pulled up as I kissed Jan.
I can drive around the block if you need privacy and more time,” he chuckled.
Jan got in the car, and they drove west, and I went in the opposite direction.
After almost 48 years, I recently lost my wife, Jan Lilien. Like The Little Prince, Jan and I believed that “The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched, they are felt with the heart.” This blog is a collection of my random thoughts on love, grief, life, and all things considered.
