Clark's Birthday

 

Ultra Hamburg High Class of '74

   Today is my brother Clark's birthday. If you have noticed, my brother, Eric, was also born in April. Dad used to say that two of his children were born in April because my mother could not afford to buy Dad a gift on his birthday the July before! 

      Sigh...

      My parents wanted their children to have names that weren't as common as their names, Jim and Mary. Clark is a name that is not often heard and yet it is not too rare either - you do hear it from time to time, even with young ones these days. Clark is also the name of my mother's father – I think Mom picked it more because it was a cool name than that she was trying to honor her father – but still a neat gesture.

      Clark's main nickname when he was growing up was Toby. I do not know how it came about – but I still call him Toby. When he was in high school, some of his friends called Clark Ultra – maybe someday Ultra can tell us the story behind that one! These days, Eric and his family call Clark Bones – Mom thought that was cute – but again, she and I did not know the origins.

       Mom used to say that when I was a baby, she did not know how good she had it! I would eat and sleep, and I rarely fussed. When company came, Mom would wake me up to show me off! – the guests would cringe at the thought of waking up a sleeping baby – yet I would just lie back down again and go back to sleep afterward.

       When Clark came along, things were a little different. At first Clark seemed to be fussing all the time. But then Mom discovered that all of his crying was from a voracious, nearly insatiable appetite. As long as Mom fed him,Clark was as wonderful a baby as I had been, and he smiled lots more than I ever did. Mom said that Clark was on baby cereal at about two weeks old! This seems incredible, but Mom forever stuck with that time-frame. Surprisingly with all that food,  Clark did not grow into a chubby baby or overweight toddler - just a happy kid.

       And then Eric came along. Mom said that with Eric, she finally found out out what a normal baby was really like! Eric could be fed and burped, have a clean diaper, wear clothing that was neither too hot nor too cold, and still he would fuss. After having two contented babies, Mom was at wits end trying to comfort such a fussy one! And that is when Mom learned why one does not wake a sleeping baby! 

        May your day today, Clark, be filled with fine dining, comfortable surroundings, and a good nap - and may you give to the world in return, your happy smiles!

        Happy 59^th Birthday Toby!

119 20150429 Clark's Birthday