On This Day — Conflict and Scotch

Today, July 16th, 2026, my daughter Amanda turns thirty-six. Also, on July 16th, 1969, Apollo 11 was launched. Four days later NASA faked the moon landing (kidding).

The two have nothing to do with each other, just a fun fact.

Initially, Amanda’s due date was July 7th (7/7), which ironically is her mom’s favorite number (7). Every day after the due date was filled with anticipation of the big moment.

On Saturday, July 15th (not knowing yet what would happen on the 16th), I brought home all the fixins for ice cream sundaes.

A decision I would regret later.

Afterwards, to fill (and kill) the time before the big event, we decided to go to the movies.

We bought tickets to see the Warren Beatty movie Dick Tracy. Dick Tracy is either a very bad movie, or a movie so far ahead of its time, time hasn’t caught up with it yet.

Either way, five minutes into the movie, Arlene grabbed my arm in a death grip and grunted, “We gotta go.”

So off to the hospital we rushed.

I don’t remember all the logistics, but around ten o’clock that night, Arlene was settled into her room. Now, it was just a matter of time.