The Way Hallie Tells It
Lately Hanna has become really enamored with birth stories. She wants me to tell the stories of how she and her sisters were born, what I was doing, what I was eating, all the details I can remember. Then she makes me tell them again and again, ad nauseam.
Every day they are like new stories to her, even though I tell them pretty much the same way each time. One day I had just finished telling Hazel's birth story, when Hallie asked if she could tell it. I said yes, thinking she would just tell the same story I had, and wondering why she wanted to.
She began the same way I do. "On the day Hazel was born, Mommy was laying on the couch sleeping, and Hanna was on the other couch next to Big Grandpa sleeping because she was sick. Heather was sleeping upstairs in her bed. I came home from school with GramB, and then Mommy told GramB that she thought the baby was coming."
I was nodding my head, impressed that Hallie was remembering the story so closely to the way I always told it, almost word for word. What she said next took me by surprise.
"Then Mommy made some phone calls, and mommy got her bag for the hospital. Then GramB asked Mommy if she was cold, and mommy said no. Then GramB asked Mommy if she was nervous and scared, and Mommy said no. GramB put a big blanket on Mommy because mommy couldn't stop shaking. Then GramB went to put her shoes on because she said she might have to take Mommy if Daddy didn't come home in time. Then Daddy came home and he put Mommy's shoes on and then they went to the hospital."
Those were things that even I hadn't remembered anymore. In the bustle and chaos of what happened at the hospital I had forgotten those small details. But her story didn't stop there, and what she said next surprised me even more.
"Then we all started to get hungry. And we all wanted pizza. So GramB walked to the pizza place and got us a pizza and walked home with it and we ate it."
Now, I'm pretty sure that they did have pizza that night, but if my mom WALKED to get it? I remain doubtful. Problem is, I keep forgetting to ask her. It's strange that I don't know how my girls were fed that night.
Every day they are like new stories to her, even though I tell them pretty much the same way each time. One day I had just finished telling Hazel's birth story, when Hallie asked if she could tell it. I said yes, thinking she would just tell the same story I had, and wondering why she wanted to.
She began the same way I do. "On the day Hazel was born, Mommy was laying on the couch sleeping, and Hanna was on the other couch next to Big Grandpa sleeping because she was sick. Heather was sleeping upstairs in her bed. I came home from school with GramB, and then Mommy told GramB that she thought the baby was coming."
I was nodding my head, impressed that Hallie was remembering the story so closely to the way I always told it, almost word for word. What she said next took me by surprise.
"Then Mommy made some phone calls, and mommy got her bag for the hospital. Then GramB asked Mommy if she was cold, and mommy said no. Then GramB asked Mommy if she was nervous and scared, and Mommy said no. GramB put a big blanket on Mommy because mommy couldn't stop shaking. Then GramB went to put her shoes on because she said she might have to take Mommy if Daddy didn't come home in time. Then Daddy came home and he put Mommy's shoes on and then they went to the hospital."
Those were things that even I hadn't remembered anymore. In the bustle and chaos of what happened at the hospital I had forgotten those small details. But her story didn't stop there, and what she said next surprised me even more.
"Then we all started to get hungry. And we all wanted pizza. So GramB walked to the pizza place and got us a pizza and walked home with it and we ate it."
Now, I'm pretty sure that they did have pizza that night, but if my mom WALKED to get it? I remain doubtful. Problem is, I keep forgetting to ask her. It's strange that I don't know how my girls were fed that night.
What a beautiful picture of Hazel! I don't think I have seen that one before. Hallie's memory is really impressive. How interesting to have her tell you something about your life.
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