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LIFE DAY (up close and personal)

By
Real Estate Agent with Falcon Property Company

 

Mimi December 1973It had not been a good year. 1974 started with a brutal rape. The following month I suffered the heartache of a broken engagement. Seven months later, just when I thought I was getting my life back together, it appeared as though my year was going to end with an unwanted pregnancy.

Colorado was one of the few States at the time where abortion was legal, and although I found everything about the thought abhorrent, I was unmarried, pregnant, and scared. At the age of 21, I wasn't prepared for this. In a state of denial, I made an appointment to terminate the pregnancy.

Boulder CO was a progressive and liberal city, and there was a clinic near campus. If I told anyone I was pregnant, I wouldn't be able to go through with it. On the morning of October 17, I sat in the waiting area with a room full of teenage girls and their mothers, young girls who also found themselves in unwanted situations, who now had a legal avenue to pretend it had never happened.

A blur of sights and sounds, it was surreal waiting for the receptionist to call me for my 'procedure' to rid my body of my product of conception (POC, as it was commonly called). Having been raised in a strict Catholic family, I was going to be able to hide my ‘sin and transgression’ so no one would ever know what I had done ~ no one but me.

I watched the young girls with their mothers, laughing as though they were out for an afternoon tea, laughing as though we were not there to make life-altering decisions. I tried to make myself numb to my reality. If I didn’t think about it, it couldn’t hurt me, right? I'd learned that lesson at the beginning of the year, so I pulled my cloak of indifference around me again.

Finally it was my turn. They called my name and told me to follow the nurse to the back room. It wouldn’t take long, and shouldn't hurt. Standing at the desk to pay to keep my secret, my focus altered. I looked at the receptionist, and at the young girls who seemed unconcerned with what they were doing. I looked at their mothers who sat with them, believing they were doing what was best for their young daughters.

Without a word, I picked up my coat and walked into the crisp autumn air. I found the nearest betsy mimi katiepayphone and called my mother, knowing with that act, my child’s life would no longer be in jeopardyI called the baby’s father who desperately wanted to marry me, and told him we needed to talk.

For the past 45 years on October 17, I have celebrated the Life Day of my first-born daughter. When she was old enough to understand, I told her about the decision of her young mother that day. I tell her often how I never once regretted it, and how thankful I am that she's mine. Her Life Day is a special bonding time between us, and a time of rejoicing.

As we celebrate another year, and as I get older and (hopefully) wiser, I recognize that each day presents us with choices, and each of those choices has a consequence ~ good or bad. I make absolutely NO JUDGMENT on anyone who chose differently than I did. This was what was right for me. There's no way to show my special feelings for this precious life with which I've been blessed, but I'll never grow tired of saying the words, “I love you, Betsy, I’m so glad you’re my daughter.”

 

Here is a video of Betsy that I found from several years ago . . .

Comments (170)

Mimi Foster
Falcon Property Company - Colorado Springs, CO
Voted Colorado Springs Best Realtor

Oh, Jon, what a PRECIOUS story! Thank you! It always amazes me that people sometimes think it is the worst thing that could ever happen to them, and you find that it is the greatest blessing that you have been given in life!

Thank you, Elizabeth! It was SO FREEING to be able to share it here and come to understand that it's all about what makes us human.

Oct 19, 2013 04:05 AM
Christi Farrington
Dagny's Real Estate - Wilton, CT
~ Your representative in Fairfield County, CT

Speechless!  You are quite an inspiration of strength, courage, integrity and pure love.  I wish you the best of all things in life now and always! Thank you for sharing such a wonderful, loving story!  Good luck with your book(s)!!  Blessings always!

Oct 19, 2013 06:12 AM
Mimi Foster
Falcon Property Company - Colorado Springs, CO
Voted Colorado Springs Best Realtor

Oh! Thank you so much, Christi!!!! That was so nice of you! It did ME a lot of good to share this story. I'm so glad it touched you also :)

Oct 19, 2013 06:27 AM
Lisa Friedman
Great American Dream Realty - Essex, VT
35 Years of Real Estate Experience!

Mimi, Your post is so beautiful, it made me cry.  I am so happy for you that you and Betsy have such a wonderful relationship.  You gave her a wonderful life.  You made a very brave decision.  Your videos are beautiful!

Oct 19, 2013 02:55 PM
Mimi Foster
Falcon Property Company - Colorado Springs, CO
Voted Colorado Springs Best Realtor

Thanks, Lisa. Life is made up of the little and big decisions that each of us have to make each day. This was a hard one, but the payoff was forever.

Oct 19, 2013 03:28 PM
Sharon Parisi
United Real Estate Dallas - Dallas, TX
Dallas Homes

Mimi, what a lovely story.  I came here from your reference to Betsy in your current post.  This brought tears to my eyes.  You are a brave and accomplished woman with a talented daughter.  Thank you for sharing this heart warming story.

Oct 19, 2013 03:55 PM
Mimi Foster
Falcon Property Company - Colorado Springs, CO
Voted Colorado Springs Best Realtor

Thank you so much, Sharon. She has certainly been one of the best things that has ever happened to me.

Oct 19, 2013 11:14 PM
John G. Johnston
John G. Johnston & Associates, LLC - Westcliffe, CO
An Exclusive Buyer's Agent ~ Westcliffe, CO

Mimi  Your strength has guided many...remember, what goes around comes around.  You have more friends than you know.  Keep writing!

Oct 30, 2013 01:06 PM
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Thanks for sharing this Mimi, such a touching story and I can see why you are continually happy that you walked out of that clinic.

Nov 14, 2013 01:39 PM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

Mimi, that day was the beginning of wisdom. Great story, and hopefully one that other young women in the same place can glean some strength from.

Oct 17, 2014 01:47 AM
Mimi Foster
Falcon Property Company - Colorado Springs, CO
Voted Colorado Springs Best Realtor

That is certainly my hope and desire in the retelling, Mike Cooper. What seems like the worst thing that could happen in your life can turn out to be one of God's greatest blessings.

Oct 17, 2014 04:46 AM
Anonymous
lisa flugstad

Aww.. you are a brave beautiful woman. I wish i would have had that kind of support at 17.. God bless you and your beautiful family honey. Always! :)

Sep 26, 2015 06:37 AM
#165
Mimi Foster
Falcon Property Company - Colorado Springs, CO
Voted Colorado Springs Best Realtor

I'm also sorry you didn't have the support, Lisa. I hope you've healed and that you have wonderful support around you now. Feel free to email me . . . mimi@mimifoster.com 

Sep 26, 2015 11:05 AM
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

Wow, thank you so much for pointing me to this post and for your generosity of time and tutelage today on the phone about writing. Blessings in The ActiveRain. The joy of HAVE vs. the pain of HAD.

What a beautiful voice & soul you brought into this world. I'm moved beyond words.

 

Apr 08, 2016 04:12 AM
Mimi Foster

Thanks, Thomas. We got to spend the day together alone in a car driving to the funeral yesterday. It was a lovely time with a beautiful spirit. Thanks for your kind words.


I enjoyed speaking with you on the phone this morning.

Apr 08, 2016 04:34 AM
Beth Atalay
Cam Realty and Property Management - Clermont, FL
Cam Realty of Clermont FL

Hi Mimi Foster, with happy tears, I was able to read the entire post. What a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing.

Oct 17, 2017 01:43 PM
Mimi Foster
Falcon Property Company - Colorado Springs, CO
Voted Colorado Springs Best Realtor

Thank you so much, Beth Atalay. One of the best decisions I ever made.

Hope you're well . . . 

Oct 17, 2017 02:10 PM
Mike McCann Nebraska Land Broker
Mike McCann - Broker, Mach1 Realty Farm & Commercial Land Broker-Auctioneer Serving Nebraska - Kearney, NE
Farm & Commercial Property For Sale 308-627-3700

Mimi, I have known you for a long time...and I have always known you to be a loving, caring, and an incredibly gifted and talented woman. 

I now elevate you to be one of my heroes.

I am sitting here with tears rolling down my face. Thank you so much for sharing.

There are no words I can say that are powerful enough to adequately state my respect and admiration.

Here is why:

My Mom was adopted at birth and my birth grandma has always been my hero even though she lived a rough life. She could have had an abortion and I would not exist...neither would my kids...or nieces and nephews...or brothers and sisters.

It is not about one life...but the life after that life. 

I beg you to write a short book on the experience so that it can be shared with all who are just as scared and confused as you were and I am sure my grandma was. 

Perhaps, if just one understands it is about the life they give...more would take the route your daughter's Mom and my grandma took.

Until next time...

Oct 18, 2017 08:38 AM
Mimi Foster
Falcon Property Company - Colorado Springs, CO
Voted Colorado Springs Best Realtor

Okay, now you made me cry, Mike McCann - Nebraska Farm Land Broker. Thank you so much for your kind words and for sharing the story of my precious daughter. Hope life is treating you kindly and that our paths will cross again someday. Love and hugs . . .

Oct 18, 2017 08:50 AM
Mike McCann Nebraska Land Broker

I was thinking maybe we should have an AR meetup sometime this winter... after you and a few of us former Re/Max REG gang have a hot toddy or two!?  

Oct 18, 2017 08:54 AM
Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

Mimi, this is the first time in all these years that I have read this story of bravery and resolve. You are indeed a woman of strength. Hugs to you.

Jul 26, 2023 05:53 PM
Mimi Foster
Falcon Property Company - Colorado Springs, CO
Voted Colorado Springs Best Realtor

Bless your heart, Dr. Paula McDonald. Thank you for your kind words. Never regretted it for a day. Hugs right back.

Jul 26, 2023 06:38 PM