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From Mike Merrill, Membership Assistant:

When we last spoke, my wife Brigid and I were just getting ready to enter the parent zone. As we had had a whopping nine months of practice as foster parents of an 18-year old, I figured that the parenting of an infant was going to be easy compared to the problems we had "borrowing" an adolescent. HA!

Hannah Claire Merrill was born February 12, 1997 at 9:24 in North Adams Regional Hospital. Weighing in at a whopping nine pounds and twelve ounces, she was just like her daddy — a big baby. I guess in terms of being prepared for this event, Brigid was much better equipped that I was. She had gone into the nesting mode early and had the house totally prepared for the new arrival. Me, I did my usual going with the flow. I figured that if there was something we needed, I would go out and get it.

Hannah's arrival into this world made me think about quite a few things. Most importantly, since I grew up in a single parent household, I decided I was going to give her all of the love and guidance that I felt that I had missed. Don't get me wrong; my mom did a great job, but there were just things that I missed — and Hannah, I decided, wasn't going to miss out. Brigid, coming from a family with two brothers and a sister, was interested in Hannah having siblings. I was an only child so I thought having an only child would be just fine. We are still discussing this one.

When Brigid went back to work it was time for another change. I started working nights at Tripod so that I could be home during the day with Hannah. I was not a big fan of day care, a position that I have reversed field on since, and wanted to see my daughter grow up. So, after spending the day taking care of HC, it is off to work until 2:OO AM. Brigid and I make a great tag team parenting duo, but both of us quite often find ourselves muttering, "Sleep, what's sleep?"

Since we have daytime meetings at Tripod, Hannah got an early introduction to the working world. I don't think that she considers it work, though, as when we walk through the door, she is generally whisked off by one staff member or another. She loves the attention and has even built a series of Web pages to commemorate one of her visits — Hannah's Tripod Adventure. Where else could you see a picture of our CE-Bo wearing Hannah's hat? For the time being she is known as the Tripod baby. She will have company soon, but I won't mention names.

We also use the Web to communicate with some of our relatives that have yet to see the "little" girl in person, and to keep others updated. The Hannah pages are updated whenever we get a new batch of pictures. In this day and age I think that Web pages are replacing the good old pictures on the refrigerator (even though our refrigerator is full). I sometimes get e-mail from the friends and family telling me it is time to update the HC pages. So out comes the camera for more shots.

Now I find myself looking forward to the holidays — Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Hannah's first birthday — with great anticipation. I look forward to Christmas now more than ever, even more than when I was a kid. It is amazing what a child does for your life.

Talk to you later,
Mike, Membership Assistant (11/28/97)

P.S. — Last time I closed things out with the recipe for the perfect Margarita, so I thought I'd throw out another drink recipe for your enjoyment. This is a fall/early winter drink, best made with fresh-pressed apple cider.

Stonewall

3 ounces Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey
3 ounces Apple Cider

Serve on the Rocks. Simple and delicious.

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Read more "Letters from Tripod" in the archive.

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