Day 69

Saturday, May 14th, Tiffany Birthday Eve, and time for another story. So when we were expecting Tiffany, I was 21 and Wade was 20. We lived in an apartment in Millbrae, California and the freeway ran between our apartment and the San Francisco Airport. It was one of my favorite apartments even though it could get noisy with the jets taking off. I was still working at Chancelor and Lyon and soon Wade was working there too, except in the warehouse. After about a month, my boss called me in and told me that they could not allow a married couple to both work there, so I said, "Fine, I'm giving my notice." I think I shocked him and I'm guessing that they were hoping that Wade would quit. Since I knew I was pregnant and he had a job, we decided I would just stay home. 
In March of 1977, Wade requested and got a transfer to the Sacramento warehouse. However, we didn't move for a couple of weeks and he would drive up to Sacramento on Sundays and then drive home on Fridays. It was pretty hectic and we finally got a place and moved up there. 
Our first apartment was in Rancho Cordova, which is a community southeast of Sacramento. We had no clue what type of neighborhood we had chosen and soon found out that the apartments we were living in were rent-subsidized and there were some pretty strange and unusual characters living there too. This was also the time when the East Area Rapist was very active in Rancho Cordova, which we had not heard of before we moved in. (A google search for 'east area rapist sacramento ca' will call up lots of articles.) I didn't spend a lot of time outdoors and socializing with the neighbors.
Now I had been living most of my life in San Francisco where the temperature tends to run a little cool except for one solitary week in September. And here we move to the Sacramento area in March/April. And I'm pregnant. It was safe to say that I was feeling a lot of heat. Some time after the above picture was taken I had finally had enough and cut my own hair. Not a pretty sight, but at least it made me feel cooler. 
I covered the windows with sheets and blankets to keep to sun out (I thought it would work) and just hoped that the air conditioner would work a little bit better.  I was feeling hot and big and one day when Wade came home from work he discovered that I had written "GOODYEAR" on my huge tummy. 
All of Wade's relatives, on his mother's side, lived in the Modesto area (which was about 80 miles away). All those lovely ladies came and held a shower at our apartment for me. It was a wonderful treat. I didn't have to do a thing, they brought everything they needed for the shower. That picture was taken at the shower. I don't have any other pictures of me when I was expecting either child so this is a pretty special picture to me. 
So, Tiffany's due date was May 15, Jason was born almost two weeks after his due date and I was expecting the same with Tiffany. In a joking tone, I told Wade (this night 34 years ago) that I was going to paint my toenails just so that I would look good for the doctor when I went to the hospital. It is also a strange coincidence that this was also Saturday night in 1977.  =============================
The temperature today has finally dropped a little and it's more comfortable. I was up moving early and at the church this morning by 9:00 with Jared for dress rehearsal for the Children's Musical tomorrow. We ran through it twice and I am hoping that it will all work out. I'm sure that Moms and Dads will be pleased to see their kids singing and dancing - even when they make a mistake, it's cute and parents just love it. But all these kids have put A LOT of work into this production and I'm very proud of what they have accomplished. We've been rehearsing and working so hard for months. 
When we were done, Jared and I had lunch at Taco Bell and then I took him home. I did some grocery shopping and then just rested this afternoon. I was able to take a nice nap in my recliner and I'm feeling pretty good. 
I fixed lunch for tomorrow already and put it away. I always like it when I can get things done in advance. The table is already set and I just need to heat up the food when I come home from church. 


So goodnight, Tiffany. Have sweet dreams and I'll finish the story tomorrow.