Norwegian Farmer’s Son…January 3rd

January 3rd…“PLEASE SHARE ANY OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES OR HAPPENINGS RELATED TO YOUR BIRTH”.

Maybe it’s due to some of that ancient Norwegian Viking blood coursing through my veins, but I was a widdo bitty stinker even before I saw the first light of day in this life.

My precious mother shares how I wouldn’t even stay “in line” in her tummy during those nine months of gestation. This ornery little cuss was determined to ride transverse (sideways) within her. Mom would have to, on many occasions, have my prenatal, in utero body muscle-massaged within her tummy back into the proper vertical position by our old country physician, Dr. Lewis Hanson.

I’m sure that way back in 1954, the only folks present at my birth would have been my mom, at center stage, and then ol’ Doc Hanson and some nurses. My dad, like all fathers of that era, were kept farrr, farrr away in some sterile, bland waiting room to smoke away pack upon pack of cigarettes as they fretted over the thought of …..”Did I come with ten fingers and ten toes???”

In the Bible, the Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 and Verse 2 it says, “There is a time to be born”…… I am SO thankful that I was born into the time of history that God chose for me! Growing up in the 1950’s and beyond was an overall BLAST!!

As a member of the prestigious “January 14th Birthday Club”, I have a number of famous “birthday twins” that also came into this world on “my day”. Pictured within my story here is the world famous physician, Dr. Albert Schweitzer. He was an amazing man of God, as well as a profoundly talented organist. He used his many God-given gifts around the world to the benefit of untold numbers of lives that he touched while enjoying his full life of 90 years.

Other “birthday twins” with me include Hal Roach, who directed the “Little Rascals” films. Faye Dunaway, who is a talented actress. The singer, Jack Jones also shares my special day.

And, one of my early childhood heroes, Guy Williams, is also a January 14th baby. Mr. Williams was famous for playing the character of “Zorro” in the early Walt Disney television days. Later, in the 1960’s, Guy Williams also portrayed the father figure in the sci-fi television adventure show called, “Lost In Space”.

And, I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge my very first “birthday twin” that lived just up the gravel road from our farm. A birthday twin in that we both share the same day of birth. Oh sure, there are 20 years between us former farmer boys, but, this dear man (and his lovely wife, Barbara) ALWAYS made me feel SO very special each year on January 14th when they’d arrive at our farm with a big hug and a birthday card and even a birthday present that lent to the celebration of my special day. I bring honor and recognition to none other than Mr. Louie Heitzeg!!!