My first grandson, Nate David Gerstein, was born on March 9, 2007 (just turned 16) at Weill Cornell Medical Center on the upper east side of Manhattan. And where was I at that memorable moment? Not at the hospital.
When I was working in Manhattan (Seagram's and the Anti-Defamation League), I went to a dentist on Park Avenue. He was the only male along with a harem of a number of women: hygienists, receptionists, assistants, bookkeepers, housekeepers, etc.
A few years after I stopped going to that dentist, I received a birthday gift from his office: a coupon for a free massage at an establishment nearby. I saved the coupon for some time in the future.
The future occurred in 2007. My daughter Rachel was about to give birth for the first time. I was at the hospital waiting for my first grandchild (sex unknown).
I was told by Rachel's doctor that the birth would not occur for many hours and I should find something to occupy my time. I followed this advice.
Since the massage establishment was not far from the hospital, I thought this would be a good time to use my birthday present. So off I went.
I don't remember too much about the massage, only what happened afterwards. I called Bonita (my ex-wife and Rachel's mother) to find out what was happening. Well, it had already happened. I missed the birth of Nate, my first grandson. Mother and child doing fine, no thanks to me.
Over the years, this event has become a family joke. But, this error was not my fault. To quote Rick from Casablanca, "I was misinformed."
No comments:
Post a Comment