HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TODD ERICK

Todd, all set for a Swire party
taken in their Kristiansund living-room

For the first time in eight years, Todd is celebrating his birthday at home in Torquay!  We have a busy weekend planned.

Thirty-four years ago the weather and road conditions were a lot different than they are today.  Howard and his dad were "over east" pre-working the fields in preparation for seeding.  Today we can't even get over to that land due to high water levels in Long Creek.  In fact, the highway south of town may still be closed, as it was yesterday!  Todd and Kristy had stayed overnight in Lampman on Wednesday.  They phoned from our cell when they were in Estevan yesterday.  Shortly after that, Laurel called to say that according to the online road report, highway 350 south of Torquay was closed!  I phoned Kristy back and passed on that information.  Good thing they carry their passports with them so they were able to come home via Noonan, ND and up through Torquay port of entry.  Another option would have been to go west to Bromhead and then south but we weren't sure about that road either and there was pavement through the US.

Back to 1977 and this date in history.  Howard had checked with me on the CB in the early afternoon.  Later on, I started having some pains.  Although this was our fourth baby, I had never gone into labour naturally.  Dr. Inglis had me take good old fashioned castor oil to bring on Laurel's arrival.  I had inductions with both Clare and Kirk so didn't really know what to expect this time.  By late afternoon I suspected that this was it and tried to call Howard on the CB radio.  No answer.  After a few more attempts, I decided that we had better be on our way to Estevan hospital.  I grabbed my suitcase, found a change of clothes for Howard and extra clothes for the three kids and we were off.

 It was getting close to supper time and before we got to the highway we met Howard and Horace on the way home.  Howard switched vehicles, got in with us and away we went.  Our first stop was at the Hurren farm where we dropped the kids off to stay with Phyllis, Bob and their four kids.

  It was after eight when we arrived at St. Joseph's hospital.  Howard went to change clothes and have something to eat while I was admitted to the maternity ward.  Since this was baby number four I thought maybe Dr. Inglis would allow Howard in the delivery room this time, but this doctor wasn't about to change his ways!  Todd Erick arrived at 10:10 pm so he didn't even interrupt the doctor's sleep!  Soon Howard was off to make those important phone calls.  Laurel had been hoping for a sister after two brothers but she wasn't disappointed for very long and has been a great big sister for all three brothers.

I had wanted to name the new baby Erick, after my maiden name of Erickson.  But the kids protested that name and we went with Todd Erick.  Now Laurel has a son named Eric so I guess it took awhile for that name to be the right fit!  Todd was baptised at Trinity, Torquay with Phyllis and Bob Hurren as his godparents.

When he was ten months old we had his photo taken.  I put a Norwegian pin of mom's on the bib of his overalls.  It read (in English) "Kiss me, I am Norwegian".  I still have the pin so I'll have to pin it on his shirt today.  He and Kristy have lived in Norway for almost eight years so it seems the pin was a foretaste of his love of "the homeland" as he calls Norway.

When he graduated from LCBI, Outlook in May of 1995, little did he know that his future wife was in the audience.  Kristy Ledene from Brooks, AB was there for her sister's grad as Jolene was in the same class as Todd.  But they didn't meet until 2002 when they were at a training session for Lutheran Bible Camp staff in Alberta.  They were married on Sept. 27, 2003 and left for Norway four days later.  We have been to visit them four times and they have been back to Canada several times.  Internet, Skype and great Sask Tel bundles keep us in close touch.  It is great to have you home for your birthday, Todd.  The weather isn't to our liking, but as they say in Norway,  there's no bad weather, only bad clothes.   I think we'll be spending most of this weekend indoors!

Two Flyer fans in Philadelphia
April 10, 2011