Just as my wife’s water broke, I got a call from my mother’s nurse, and she told me my mom was dying. I was torn and forced to make a difficult decision.
The day Debra found out she was pregnant was one of those days that I will cherish for the rest of my life. We had cried together, unable to believe that we were going to have a baby home soon, and I promised Debra I’d be an amazing dad.
Debra and I had waited to become parents for a long time. We were one of those miracle couples who conceived after going through tons of failed fertility treatments and doctors telling us there was no chance.
“We’ll be the best parents to him, darling,” I told Debra one night. “I can’t wait to hold our baby in my arms.”
“I know, honey,” she’d said, smiling. I gently kissed her baby bump and promised Debra I’d always be by her side.
Debra had always been very anxious about the pregnancy due to the complications, and I had told her I would be there for her, so there was no need to worry.
Little did I know fate would plunge me into a situation where I’d have to choose between her and my mom while was in labor…
I still get chills when I recall that day. It started as a beautiful day. The sun was shining brightly, and nothing seemed wrong with the outside world. I was preparing breakfast in the kitchen because Debra wasn’t feeling well that morning.
I quickly assembled a breakfast plate for her, and I went to call her for breakfast. As I entered our bedroom, I saw she was leaning against the wall with one hand, clutching her baby bump and breathing heavily.
“Honey, are you okay?” I dashed to her, worried. “Should I call the doctor?”
“Gordon…my water…it…it broke,” she whispered heavily, and that’s when I noticed the floor beneath her. It was wet. “Take me to the hospital, Gordon…Please!” she cried.
“Jesus!” I panicked. “I’ll get the car started. Just hang on a sec, honey.”
I ran to our car, grabbing the keys from the bowl on the living room shelf. I opened the car door, then rushed back inside to help Debra.
“Don’t worry, honey. We’ll reach the hospital in no time. Okay, we’ve got this.” I was comforting her as her labor pains began. I was terrified and nervous. I was praying everything would be fine.
After we made it to the car and Debra got inside, I locked her door and rushed to take my seat. Then my phone rang. It was my mom’s nurse, Marla, calling me. My mother had been diagnosed with a progressive cardiac condition, and due to her illness, she was confined to bed rest.
Worried, I answered the phone, and Marla’s voice on the other end of the line broke me from inside.
“Gordon,” she said in a weak voice. “Your mom… She had a heart attack, so I took her to the hospital. The doctors say there is little hope she’ll make it… Your mother is dying. I think you should be here as soon as you can.”
“Jesus, Jesus!” I exhaled a sigh. Why was everything happening at the same time? I was ripped to shreds and didn’t know what to do. On the one hand, there was Debra, who was in labor, and on the other, there was my mother.
I went inside the car, tears in my eyes, and told Debra everything. I couldn’t hide it from her, anyway. She saw my face and asked me what was wrong. And I blurted everything out.
“Mom is dying, honey. She had a heart attack, and Marla’s asking me to be there as soon as possible. I am so nervous. I – I don’t know what to do….”
“Honey,” Debra said. “Call a taxi. I’ll go by myself…”
“What?” I was taken aback. “No, we can’t do that!”. She was drenched in sweat and moaning in pain. “Look at you. It’s just not….”
“We don’t have time, honey…Ahh…call the taxi now, Gordon. Your mom needs you. You are a son first, then a husband. I will manage. Your mom…she…” Her pain was becoming worse.
“I’m calling the taxi. Oh, God!”
Thankfully, I got a taxi soon, and I instructed the driver to take Debra to the hospital safely. My hands shook as I drove to my mother’s hospital, and my tears wouldn’t stop. My heart was racing, wondering about Debra’s condition and if our baby would be alright.
DO YOU REMEMBER THIS LEGENDARY DANCE FROM THE 1950S? IT BRINGS STRONG MEMORIES
For me, dancing has always meant a lot of happy times and wonderful memories. A wide variety of dance forms have developed and changed throughout the years.
Although some have lost steam, others have maintained a steady following. “The Stroll” was a popular dance move in the 1950s, and it’s time to bring it back into the spotlight.
How does “The Stroll” work?
“The Stroll” may be a familiar name to anyone who lived during the late 1950s. American Bandstand was the birthplace of this iconic dance number, which shot to fame. The beauty of it was in its accessibility; anyone could participate.
The dance called for the males and girls to form an aisle separated by a line. Each pair would take turns walking down the line, with the leading lad and girl meeting in the center. Everyone was enthralled by the ensuing synchronized routine.
A Reflection on the Past
If you want to see this famous dance in action, here’s a clip from an Idaho dance program that aired in February 1958.
A lot of people’s happiness and excitement for “The Stroll” are shown in this video. Feel the joy and excitement as the happy couple walks down the aisle.
The original “Stroll” from the 1950s has a certain allure, even though dances and times have changed. It is a dance worth remembering because of its simplicity and the purity of that age.
Even if there are modern group line dance renditions of “The Stroll,” nothing beats the timeless allure of the original.
Take Part in “The Stroll”
To see “The Stroll” or relive it, just click the video below. We are eager to hear your feedback once you’ve watched.
Share your thoughts on this charming dance from yesteryear by posting a comment on our Facebook page.
Enjoy the timeless joy of “The Stroll”—a dance that has been delighting audiences for decades—with the help of this high-quality content.
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