Amy Born 51 Years Ago
Fifty-one years ago today, my daughter, Amy Elizabeth Williams, was born.
I showed up a bit late for my job as a test technician at Collins Radio. I had a big smile and a box of cigars and Hershey bars to pass out to my coworkers.
Names
It’s a good thing our child was a girl, as we still had not decided on a name for a boy. He might have been labeled “Boy Williams” in the nursery for a few days until we got it sorted out. My wife, for some reason, was not in favor of naming him Llewellyn, after my grandfather.
We had zeroed in on “Amy” some time earlier. At that time, the only “Amy” I knew or had heard of was Amy Eiler. I like to think that our naming our precious little girl “Amy” began the popular trend, as after she was born there were many little girls named “Amy” for a few years.
I tell people that we named her Amy because we weren’t sure how sharp she would be and we wanted to give her a name which was easy to spell and write. We needn’t have worried. She was a pretty sharp gal, as was her mother!
Her Friends
During her school years, we lived in Waseca, then Miami, then back to Waseca, then to Mason City, and finally to Cedar Rapids. Through all that, she did well in school. More importantly, she maintained two really good friends from Waseca, Karen and Cindy.
Today, Karen is a teacher in Waseca and Cindy is a dental hygienist near Minneapolis. Both have turned into exceptionally great citizens. I’m pleased that Amy was able to select such great people to be her friends. I like to think that she would have been as good a person as they are. I have every reason to believe that she would have been!
College
Amy started college at Mt. Mercy College here in Cedar Rapids. She tried to keep up with her classmates but the disease with which she had suffered for about nine years (scleroderma) had sapped her energy, mostly because of lung degradation. She had to drop out after a few weeks.
The next Spring, she passed away shortly after reaching her 19th birthday.
I sure do miss that kid!
******
Harlene, my sister, had the following comment:
Bill and I rode back from Denver with Anna Lee and Jerry when Bill was just 6 weeks old. It was raining when we arrived at the farm. Grandpa met us with an umbrella and we covered Bill up and ran for the house.
Grandma was the first to hold him sitting in the yellow chair just inside the door. I do not remember if you were there or not, but Pat and Amy were gathered around to look at Bill. With all the commotion, Bill was crying.
Amy turned and ran into the other room. She returned soon and shoved her blanket into Bill’s face. It did not work the magic on Bill that it did on her. He continued to cry even though she had given him her most precious gift.