How well I remember that day in April — the sun had yet to rise and the majority of the population, including the animal world, was fast asleep except the early morning delivery men and women and a few others who were out and about.
I was among the sleepless. I was in an unfamiliar place — a room on the hospital maternity floor — and an uncomfortable bed, so I walked the floor in an attempt to relieve the anxiety about the gender of the child that I was about to birth but who was in no hurry. You know babies are independent and don’t have a scheduled time of arrival but their very own ETA.
Having been admitted to the hospital the evening before, I was sent home shortly after midnight because my child apparently decided it wasn’t time to face the world, only to return several hours before dawn and admitted to the maternity floor again. This was unheard of — our two daughters, who were home fast asleep, had been in a hurry to be born.
As we left our Athens home headed to the hospital for the third time in 24 hours, I noticed clusters of tiny purple wood violets blooming around our doorstep; therefore, to take my mind off the duties at hand my thoughts turned to my own childhood and I recalled how I had enjoyed picking wood violets for my mother.
Several hours passed, dawn was breaking, an hour when some people are sipping their first cup of coffee, that my third child decided it was time to make an appearance. “It’s a boy,” announced the doctor. It was love at first sight when I met Mark Sisson Barrett up close and personal in the delivery room of Athens General Hospital.
Yesterday we celebrated Mark on his special day. And the violets that bloom around my doorstep remind me of that April day the angels brought Mark into our fold.
Elsewhere, members of the Americus Town Committee of the National Society of The Colonial Dames of America (NSCDA) and their spouses or guests celebrated the 125th anniversary of the Georgia Society at a festive cocktail buffet at the home of Jim and Billie Gatewood on Macon Road. Those assisting the hostess were Jane Arnold, town chairman, Mary Torbert, Mary Marshall, Jean Wheeler, Anne Barrett, Carolyn Myers, Candy Riccardi, Jarrett Hooks, Elaine Thomas, Kara McMickle, and myself. The setting of the Gatewoods’ home and gardens is beautiful, especially during this time of year, and the buffet delicious. Of course, the conversation sparkled. Among those from out of town attending were Kathy Ray, Auburn, Ala., Jenny Crisp of Leesburg and her dad Charlie Crisp of Moultrie, Sissy Jarrell of Newnan, and Kathryn Waldrop.
Elsewhere, it was a girls’ outing this week for Crystal Waddell and daughter Mary Margaret Waddell, and Crystal’s mom Elaine Borders, who were in New York City. They attended a performance of “Wicked” at the Gershwin Theatre and met the actors after the final curtain at the stage door. What a great experience, especially for Mary Margaret, as was attending the “Live with Kelly and Ryan” morning talk show at the Live Studio in Lincoln Square. They also visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MOMA), Carnegie Hall, enjoyed a carriage ride in Central Park, ice skating in Rockefeller Center, shopping at FAO Swartz and Dylan Candy Shop, and much more. Welcome home, y’all.
Elsewhere, Anne Markette Lee of Atlanta is visiting her mom Sally Markette and sister and family Beth and John Fowler, Jennifer Fowler and Katherine and Brenton Moore; former resident Kelli Phillips is visiting her mother Betty Pope and sister Kerri Post. Jared Wall of Austin, Texas, continues to improve following kidney transplant surgery last week — the donor, his brother, Landon Wall of Atlanta. They are the sons of Dana and Earl Snider. Jared and his wife Lauren Leigh Marchant Wall have two young children.
Meanwhile, I’m excited about the Hot Glass/Craft Beer Festival Saturday afternoon. Wave when you see me.

Leila Sisson Case lives in Americus.