Shacks Filled With Babies

Twilight deepened over the Restigouche River, and lights winked on in the small village along its southern bank.  Supper was over, the dishes done, the kitchen tidied.  My mother said, “Come on, Louise.  Let’s go for a walk.” 

I think we lived on Notre Dame Street.  It was along time ago.  But, I can never forget the pervasive smell of the pulp and paper mill across the street.  Something else I can never forget is the shacks filled with babies.

We walked the quiet streets, and my mother pointed out home after home.  “You see that shack, Louise?  Seventeen children live there.  And sixteen there.  And eighteen there.  The man who lives in that two-room shack over there; he has a good job at the mill.  He’s a chemical engineer, but he’s got too many children.  That’s why he lives in a shack.  People can’t afford to have baby after baby after baby.”

We walked on in the warm night, and my mother continued, “But this will never happen to you, Louise!  You won’t be forced to have baby after baby.  You see, the most wonderful thing has happened!  They’ve invented a pill.  Scientists have invented a pill that stops women from having baby after baby.  That means that you, as a woman Louise, can be whom you want and do what you want.  You can go to university, get a good job.  You can stand on your own two feet.  You will never have to live in a shack, because you will never have to have a baby you can’t afford.”

These startling words branded my six-year old mind.  I might not remember the name of our street, but I will never forget the shacks filled with babies. 

Sometime afterward my mother disappeared from my life.   She was seriously ill and had left our village for medical care.  Nana came.  Snow fell deeply.  Snow melted into early spring.  Nana left.  Mom returned in time to bake my birthday cake and frost it with boiled white icing and decorate it with gumdrop balloons.  These events were not startling to me.  I had heard the whispered words Grave’s Disease.

Mom went on to have baby number five and became one of the earliest women in that time and place to go on the pill.   Doctors had told her after baby two, “Another baby might kill you, Sara.”  I knew these things because I had Big Ears and listened to secret conversations.  

I am forever grateful for babies three, four, and five, for they are my sisters.  Lawyer, landman, teachers; pianist, singer, writers; we have not lived in shacks filled with babies.

Now I live in a purple state, where red and blue are duking it out fiercely in the presidential race.  I hear the slogans.  Jobs!  Jobs!  Jobs!  This race is about job creation, not social issues!  It’s the economy, stupid!

It is the economy, stupid!  
I want more for our daughters and nieces than shacks filled with babies.

Roy, Donnie, and me (in center)

Other things echo in my mind, and it makes me wonder,  Could we really go back fifty years?


DCCC-Democrats 2012-Update 07/26/12:  "Joe Coors financially supported the Personhood Amendment that would outlaw all abortions without any exceptions and even outlaw many common forms of birth control."http://www.dccc.org/races/district/colorados_7th


You Tube Video-U.S. Rep. Todd Akin says 'Rape Victims Rarely Get Pregnant'-08/19/12:

You Tube Video-Buck:Vote For Me Because I Am Not A Woman-07/21/10:

You Tube Video-Rush Limbaugh Calls A Female Georgetown Student . . .-03/02/12;  My apologies if you are subjected to an ad.  You will be linked to You Tube:

You Tube Video-Romney Vows to Get Rid of Planned Parenthood-03/20/12:

Fundy Blue Reads:  For an interesting take on how quickly it all can change, I  recommend The Handmaid's Tale by Canadian author Margaret Atwood.

Think about shacks filled with babies.