First house in Seattle 1966-1977
Margots selection: 1250 sq. ft. $18,500 next 30 yrs of 3 dinners per week of hamburger helper.......sometimes without the hamburger.
Results: Happy 11 yrs. 2 kids, 1 adopted dog (sarah) moved up to 4000 sq. ft. mortgage doubled but started eating steak.
Only in America!!
A few months prior to me coming out to Seattle, Margot gave birth to our daughter Lisa. At the hospital, I was given instructions to call Margot's parents in Sweden to tell them ,so an announcement could be put into the paper. Well, guess my Swedish was not as good as I thought since Lisa's name appeared as Liza Rizzo---guess people thought we named her after Liza Minelli.
It was decided that since we were able to sub-let our apartment so quickly that Margot would leave for a trip to Sweden to spend time at her parent's place while I would look for a house in Seattle. When I found one, I would send for Margot and Lisa to come and give her approval. At that point SAS agreed that any waiting time involved in Seattle could be spent at a hotel that they would pay for. Not a bad deal, so off to Sweden she went. After arriving in Seattle, most of my time was taken up by trying to get all the ends tied up for the GRAND OPENING of SAS service. During the evenings I would drive around looking for a house to buy. I came upon this real nice neighborhood, that was just in the final stage of construction called "SALT WATER PARK WEST ESTATES ", minutes away from Salt water park, on the shores of Puget Sound, just about 8 driving minutes to the Airport. I called Margot and since there was no direct service yet, she had to come via New York, spent the night at my parents and then fly to Seattle. Well, I met her and immediately we went to see the house. It wasn't quite finished but Margot instantly put the house on a MAYBE list. It seems that she wasn't as crazy for it as I was since, it was a 2 story. I don't know what her problem was....... something about the possibility of Lisa falling down the stairs.........."but Margot, she doesn't even walk yet.......and besides we could put up some kind of gate". Personally, I think it was because I bought her a riding vacuum cleaner for her birthday and she was just pissed that it did not come with the ...........going up and down stairs attachment....... The other reason she was hesitant, was because the house came with the upstairs unfinished. I tried to convince her that in my spare time I could finish the upstairs myself and we could save some money. YAH RIGHT!!!!!..........AND where does this time come from? Guess she new me even at that point. Well, just to prove her right I worked the next 57 days without a day off. Now that my face was BLUE and I was talking to the WALL, I gave up.........BUT........she discovered another house just two doors away........called a Japanese ranch style........all on one floor, and finished but did not come with the Kobe beef......that was extra..... "This will do just fine!.......but it's smaller!!......that's fine". "OK..we'll get that one". What a softy I turned into. Anyway, now we were not only new parents but also new Land Barons.
We decided to have a small house warming party with just a few friends......since that's all we really had here in this forsaken land...........so, it ended up with being 10 people that were here to help with the station, 3 families that lived in this new neighborhood plus an SAS flight crew of 22 ......You might ask where they came from.........this house warming happened several days before the first arrival of SAS and two crews were sent in from Stockholm to work the first couple of flights. Don't try to figure that out, because as it was occurring I could not figure out what Stockholm was doing. Anywho, like the Norwegians would say, the crew showed up in a 42 passenger touring bus that was just able to make a 'U' turn in this neighborhood with all the construction vehicles etc hanging around...... so we decided to invited the driver to the party with the understanding that his drink of preference was diet coke........he agreed to that but still wanted 3 hamburgers to go with it. The party lasted until 11:30PM at which time one of the Chief Captains (SAS) immediately informed everyone that their drinks were to be put aside since the flight they had to work was now 48 hours away.
The entertainment for the night was watching one of the ladies being carried through some mud puddles (the whole place was mud ) over to one of the few houses in the neighborhood to get more ice cubes. Her husband slipped in the mud and both ended up looking embarrassed...............and muddy................
One year after arriving in Seattle, Scott, our son, came along. This was a little different for me. I was asked by the Doctor, the morning I brought Margot to the hospital, if I would like to be in the delivery room. WOW!! what a privilege. I recall getting into my Doctors green gown with little booties, green hat and hung my matching green mask around my neck, I almost felt like It was going to be a hands on job............but where are my gloves??............. As things were getting ready in the delivery room, Margot also decided she wanted to see it, sssoooo as they adjusted the overhead mirror, things were beginning to happen. Margot was given a local, that's Doctor talk, and the Doctor, anaesthesiologist, 2 nurses positioned themselves for the grand entrance of our son into this world. Oh what a day. I had my own position, sitting next to Margot and holding her hand (the closer it came to pushing him out, the stronger her gripe----it reminded me of how my dad would use the "bone crusher" grip on my hands to calm me down from my tantrums)......here it for assurance that if I fainted.........some one was still holding on to me, since no one else would have time to give a damn. OH Well, that's the way it is in Doctor business, everyone for themselves.
It seemed that the conversation around the table focused on a Christmas party from a few nights back (Scott joined us on Dec. 17th) and the food that was served. OK Doctor know it all, enough about your party.............pay attention to MY WIFE lying on your table with her legs in these stirrups and her knees touching her chin and since this in MY son, make sure all the parts are attached where they are suppose to be. OK everybody, here he comes!!!!! action! camera! WOWWIE!!!!! what a site........"are you sure this kid is mine?????? ........no wonder there was no battle to come out of that playpen." BUT here he was........"just make sure you snipe the right thing there DOC." and to think, I didn't faint......but I felt a little woozy.
This was one experience I will never forget. Can I keep the green suit??
Three days later, Margot left the hospital with .......our son.......... Some days prior, I called my mom to fly out from New York to help take care of Lisa. My mom loved that, so she dragged my dad along also. Mom was a tremendous help, since I had no idea of how to do all those things you had to do to a 1 year old. Dad was a complete drag but kept everyone on their toes.
Three days later, Margot left the hospital with .......our son.......... Some days prior, I called my mom to fly out from New York to help take care of Lisa. My mom loved that, so she dragged my dad along also. Mom was a tremendous help, since I had no idea of how to do all those things you had to do to a 1 year old. Dad was a complete drag but kept everyone on their toes.
I remember Margot being wheeled out of the hospital with Scott in her arms. The nurse held Scott until Margot got into the car and then handed her Scott. It wasn't long after that, we pulled up into the driveway..........now the question.........."Margot, how do you get out of the car holding Scott"...."guess you'll just have to hold him until I get out of the car".......me? what happens if he wiggles and falls? "
Watching Margot change Scott's diapers was always a thriller. She learned the hard way that it's very different from changing Lisa's diapers. Margot learned real fast that as soon as you take off the old diaper, throw something over that tiny package, otherwise prepare to take a shower.
