Spend Father's Day at the Armstrong Mansion

Is there a bird father somewhere pacing back and forth?

Any of you visiting the Mansion in the next few weeks might get a view of our newest expecting guest outside of the August room on the window sill.

She's a great addition and doesn't ask for clean towels, actually likes hair in her bed, doesn't require breakfast or watch too much TV in the middle of the night.

We have been blessed with some great guests since we opened as a Bed and Breakfast in 1995.
Several years ago a sweet mother with child came to stay and get some much needed relaxation. It worked, Dad drove her to the hospital in the middle of the night and just made it. She complained that she had missed breakfast but had a beautifully healthy baby which she brought back to the Mansion to introduce to us all.

Last year she returned. Once again she was heavy with child and wanted the Mansion magic to work towards a delivery. They stayed several days this time but once again we produced (of course at the hospital) a healthy little butterball of a baby.

I remember a friend telling me of the delivery of her first baby. The hospital in the rural area was a good 15 miles away. It was in the middle of the night (of course, aren't they all?). The night was typical with January...cold.

When she struggled into their pickup Daddy had the heater already doing its work. They hurried along and her contractions gathered in strength and effectiveness. The more uncomfortable Mommy became the more slowly he drove, concerned and nervous. As she expressed her need for speed he encouraged her to "just hold on, don't do anything"

She expressed the seriousness the situation "It's coming!" (this was before sonograms, no sex had been determined).

"No..No..don't do it" was all he could manage to reply. All she did was try to relax and the baby was on the dirty, gravely floor of their hard-working truck. From there on she said she cannot remember too much..he kept repeating "OH No! Oh No!" as she struggled to get a little more comfortable and the baby lay quietly on the floor. Then he suggested that she should pick the baby up off the uncomfortable situation and wrap her in his new jacket in the seat beside them. In a daze she agreed and bent down to pick up the child. The warm vent was blowing down and as she lifted the baby up she began to scream with distress..the warmth was better than comfort. The baby was returned to her gravely bed.

They had made it to the hospital and pulled up to the emergency entrance.

Being night and in January the cold air had covered the glass of the hospital, no one knew they were there. He jumped out of the truck and into the ER doors. She watched as his dark shape walked worriedly back and forth inside. Finally she honked the horn and he returned. "Shouldn't we go in?" she asked. "Oh yes,..." then he picked up the baby wrapped in the jacket and started off towards the hospital. "Whoa.." she exclaimed, (the cord still attached) "I'll carry her".

This is actually a great Father's Day story. We sometimes forget that Fathers are very much an important part of the family experience when it comes to births.

Can you remember any great Father's day story?

My son, was a new father of less than a year when a dear friend's wife lost a child at child birth. The friend's mother called me and told me that my son had gone to consol her son. She said that her son ended up comforting mine because he was so very upset at her son's loss. He told me later, "I just don't think he really knew what he had lost..but I did".

TO ALL OF YOU WONDERFUL YOUNG MEN AND GRANDPAS..WE LOVE YOU ALL, ALL YOU WHO HAVE GIVEN EVEN MORE THAN A YOUR COAT AND JUST KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE! TO ALL OF YOU..HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Want to do something for Dad that he will love?

Fill a basin with hot water. Take off his shoes and socks for him. Sit him down in his favorite chair. Wash his feet.

Let them soak for 10 minutes. Dry off his feet. And add some wonderful oil or lotion and massage in.

After he soaks in all that loving, bring him to the Mansion and really celebrate!

Sometimes the cheapest gifts are the most expensive when it comes to time and caring.

Judy Savage, Innkeeper - The Armstrong Mansion - Salt Lake City, Utah