At ten minutes after 5:00 p.m. on a certain Thursday, little Aaron Scott Atkins entered this world. Since it was a time before ultrasounds, his gender was a surprise to both parents.
It's a good thing he was a boy because his father was determined to name him Eloise if he'd been a girl while his mother was determined that she would never, under any circumstances, name a daughter of hers Eloise. This was the only unsettled disagreement they'd ever had in their one year and five month long marriage.
Because he was very overdue, his skin was red, wrinkled, and dried out. His hair was stuck to his head like glue the entire time he was in the hospital because of a forceps wound. He never opened his eyes once when he was brought to nurse. One can imagine the thoughts that went through a 20-year-old mother's mind. A comment to the nurse about the fact that he was always asleep brought the response, "That's because he spends all of his time in the nursery crying." As it turned out, no truer words were ever spoken.
But, as usually happens, this tiny, squalling, little ugly duckling turned into the most beautiful, cutest, smartest, best baby that had ever come down the pike the minute they took him home (if only he would sleep). After all these years, he is still the best, most handsome, most loving, smartest son that anyone could ever have. It has been many years since he caused sleepless nights although there were a few anxious moments when he was getting through his teens.
Unlike most American households, the Atkins holiday season doesn't begin with Thanksgiving. Scott's birthday kicks it off, followed by Thanksgiving, Greg's birthday, and then Christmas. The Atkins household has a lot to be thankful for this time of year. One of the best is Aaron Scott Atkins who turned out to be exactly the kind of son that anyone could ever wish for.
Happy Birthday Scott.
