Golden Morning, 50 years ago today--watercolor

"Golden Morning," 5 by 7 watercolor birthday card

For Vance Conrad Clark

We headed east on the rural Iowa highway out of Hawarden, Iowa,  50 years ago, before the sun was even up. The hospital was 35 miles away.

The ripening corn fills the fields and valleys between the rolling hills with mist, and the dawn sky turns the mist golden. The highway dipped down into the mist and back up again as the little Volkswagen plugged along, pushed as fast as I could go. I don't remember our conversation, but I remember that scene and morning forever.

Once my wife was in the delivery room in Le Mars, the redheaded Irish doctor told me to put on a white robe and mask: "Come in here, you're responsible for this," he said.

I went in and sat down as the birth neared. I don't remember much, except praying for my wife and for my first born.

Then, in an instant, the cries of our new baby replaced his mother's cries of pain. I knew then that every birth is a miracle.

That was before ultrasound and knowing what gender the baby was, and before they let fathers in the delivery room. The Catholic doctor said letting me in was his method of birth control. In our case it didn't work, because the baby would by joined by two brothers and a sister.

Today our firstborn celebrates his "golden" birthday, and his life has been golden for us every one of his years. Happy birthday, Son.

Day 29, Worldwatercolormonth challenge

Palette--greens, Aureolin yellow, Cad orange, Quin gold, & scarlet