Years of My Life

A Journey from 1944 to … Now

1972-73 School Year

July 16. Our son was born.

We had to find a different place.

“No children” (sigh), so we were shorn

Of home—not really much disgrace.

Our landlord helped us with our search—

And we moved just around the block,*

So we were not left in the lurch:

Our lives ticked on—tick-tock, tick-tock.

In grad school I took “Incomplete”—

A baby—Steve—changed everything.

Demands of school just can’t compete

With needy infants—all they bring.

But soon we got into the flow

And figured out our many tasks.

But Joyce, oh, she’s the one to know

The silent things a baby asks.**

Or … not so silent (parents learn)—

The cries that come in day, in night.

And everything you know you earn

And years required to get it right.

*from 323 College Court to 214 S. Willow in Kent—razed during the esplanade project

**I returned to Aurora and full-time teaching in September; Steve was only about six weeks old.