Charles' Name

I was expecting our first child, a son.  We had attended all the birthing classes, had the overnight suitcase ready, and notified our parents.  We were advised to go to the hospital when contractions were 10 minutes apart. 

At about 6 PM on February 9, 1974, the contractions started.  At 10 PM they were 10 minutes apart.  Rich had made himself some boiled eggs to take along in case this was going to last till morning.

          At 10 PM I checked into the hospital and began the adventure.  Rich was there coaching me, encouraging me to breathe “whoo, whoo, whoo” every time a contraction started.  This went on until 6 AM the next morning.  We were both tired. 

The doctor came in to check on me then said, “Just a little more to go.”

Meanwhile Rich said, “My boiled eggs are on the counter at home.  I don’t dare leave you now.  Maybe I can go quickly to the cafeteria to get something.” 

Just then a nurse came in and offered him a breakfast tray!  I should not eat but he could.

The hours went by until 2 PM, all the time “whoo, whoo, whooing,” every 5 minutes or so. 

Finally, the doctor said “I think we need to do a Cesarian section as I don’t think this baby is going to come out on his own.  You’re too little to birth him.”  I was only 85lbs and 4’10 tall.  I had gained 25 lbs over the 9 months.

Because this was now considered surgery, Rich had to wait in the waiting room.  I was exhausted after 18 hours of labor.  Being numbed was a blessing.  It seemed that in no time I was holdinga crying baby boy, 6lb, 11 oz of joy!

The next day, a hospital office clerk came to me to verify the information for his birth certificate.

She asked: “Mrs. Vogl, you have a lovely baby boy.  What will be the child’s name?”

“Charles,” I answered.

 “Vogel?  Spelled Vogel?”

“No.  Vogl”

“Oh.  Vogal”

“No.  Vogl”

“Do you mean Vogle?”

“No.  Vogl.”

“No “e”?  Vogl?”

“Yes. No ‘e’”

“What will the middle name be?”

“Hong-Sun”

“How do you spell that?”

“H-O-N-G- (Hyphen) S-U-N,” I spelled slowly.

“What kind of name is that?”

“Chinese.”

“HONG-SUN?”

“Yes.”

Pause…

How do you want to spell Charles?