We Considered Serving an Eviction Notice
My new grandson, Conrad David Slan, was due to arrive on September 15.
September 15 came and went.
Then September 16.
Then September 17.
Conrad showed no signs whatsoever of wanting to be born.
His mother, Chelsea, was miserable—physically uncomfortable and more than ready to meet her new baby. The rest of us were eager, too, including Conrad’s big brother, Landon.
But babies arrive on their own timetable, and this particular baby seemed perfectly content with his rent-free accommodations inside his mother’s tummy.
Meanwhile, we waited, tapping our toes and checking our phones for news.
Conrad might not have been ready, but the rest of us certainly were.
Chelsea is a fabulous decorator, and she’d done a terrific job on Conrad’s bedroom. Everything was waiting for him. In fact, the room was so inviting that I was tempted to move in myself.
Finally, the doctor decided enough was enough. As soon as the hospital had an available bed, Chelsea could be admitted.
Only there weren’t any available beds.
So we waited some more.
And waited.
I began picturing Chelsea having the baby in the car.
As the delay continued, I considered various methods we might employ to encourage Conrad to vacate the premises.
Could we rent the Budweiser Clydesdales and hook him up to a team of enormous horses?
Could we wave a checkered flag and convince him that the race had already started?
Could we serve him with an eviction notice?
Sadly, none of those methods seemed medically advisable.
Eventually, the doctor broke Chelsea’s water, and—whoosh!—everything moved quickly from that point on.
At long last, Conrad David Slan made his grand entrance.
Was he worth the wait?
Absolutely.
Isn’t my grandson adorable?
Podcasts I’ve Been Enjoying
While waiting for Conrad to arrive—and while doing all the ordinary things that fill my days—I’ve been listening to a couple of podcasts that I especially enjoy.
Mel Robbins
Mel’s guests have made a real difference in the way I think. They share their best ideas and practical, proven methods for living richer, fuller lives. I nearly always come away with something useful to consider or try.
Heather Cox Richardson
Now, don’t you dare get all political on me!
Heather is a respected historian, and her ability to place current events in historical perspective is remarkable. I’ve forgotten much of what I learned in civics class. How about you?
She explains the detailed rules our government must follow—why certain bills can or cannot be brought to a vote, how various procedures developed, and how today’s events connect with our country’s past. I find her perspective fascinating.
Books I’ve Been Reading
Strangers by Belle Burden
This is the story of a marriage gone terribly wrong.
How much do you trust your spouse?
The answer might be: too much.
After you finish the book, be sure to look up the controversy surrounding it. That information adds another intriguing dimension to the story. Oh, and I’m giving away my slightly read hardback copy. Enter to win it here: https://kingsumo.com/g/3q5lr63/strangers-by-belle-burden
The Shepherd King series by Rachel Gillig
The series includes One Dark Window and Two Twisted Crowns.
Fantasy isn’t always my first choice, but these books held my attention because both the plotting and the writing are excellent. I was drawn into the strange, atmospheric world and wanted to know what would happen next.
What I’m Writing
My current project is I’ll Be Bone for Christmas, a novella that will be paired with a holiday novella by CB Wilson. Together, they’ll become holiday entries in the Doggone Good Mystery Series.
My story is set in St. Charles, Missouri, during the city’s Christmas Traditions festival—a celebration with fifty years of pageantry, costumed characters, and holiday fun.
Of course, this is a mystery, so all that seasonal cheer will be interrupted by a crime.
Fortunately, the dogs will be there to help solve it.
Isn’t our cover fabulous?
You’re going to love these holiday stories—and the clever dogs who help uncover the truth.
Back to the Main Event
A baby is God's opinion that life should go on.— Carl Sandburg
For now, our family is celebrating a different sort of arrival.
Welcome to the world, Conrad David Slan.
You took your sweet time getting here, little fellow, but you were most definitely worth the wait.
Congratulations Gramma and Gramps. He is adorable and looks like he's ready to take on the world. Now you need to concentrate on getting better and keeping your family appraised daily. Exercise is necessary and even while walking you can scare up new perps and other essentials.
Congratulations to all. I remember when our eldest Brooklyn was late my mum squatted down and said to my belly, “This is your grandma speaking. You need to get out now or I’ll spank your bottom!” 🤭 Our youngest Eloise has an eviction notice written up by a friend I had back then. Officially evicting her. She eventually arrived. We do get sick of being pregnant. Someone else for Grandma to soul. Lovely.