Surprise!!

 Today, according to my west coast brother, is "Serendipity Day" which is ironic because when my west coast brother was born (he's ten years younger than I am) my mother called him her Serendipity (unexpected pleasure) baby.  She was 45 when he was born and certainly not expecting another child. In fact, not to be indelicate, she thought she was starting menopause and was pleased that she wasn't having hot flashes.  She decided that she probably should see her doctor to be sure everything was ok.  Surprise, surprise, surprise!!

That summer was actually full of surprises. Not all good.  About two weeks before my west coast brother was born my other brother, who was eight years old, fell off the merry-go-round (one of the old fashioned pump kind) in the park across from my Aunt Dorie's house, and broke his elbow.  The doctor who set it said fixing his elbow was like trying to balance marbles on a golf ball. He spent most of that long hot summer in a cast that wrapped around his upper body and kept his arm bent and elevated out in front of him.  It was a hot itchy summer for him.

I remember the day my west coast brother was born.  We were staying with my Aunt Dorie, playing outside with our cousin, when Aunt Dorie called out "Tommy Joe is here."  We thought she said "Tom and Joe are here." and some friends had come to play.

The rest of the summer was a bit of a blur.  I did learn to fold diapers, lots and lots of diapers.  Thankfully I only had to deal with the clean ones.

I am pleased to say that my west coast brother has turned out to be a real pleasure in so many ways.  Including these texts he sends me every day.  Happy Serendipity Day baby brother.