I Should Have Had An Extended Extramarital Affair.
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| Nursing at the Beach. Before teeth. |
Because I certainly would feel less guilty.
![]() |
| Nursing at the Beach. Before teeth. |
Because I certainly would feel less guilty.
“I never, ever want children. “
She said. She being my best friend in high school. She just wanted to be a “good aunt.”
She mentioned that one of the many reasons that she didn’t want a child is that by the time it would even be possible it would be too late. She said this as she was finishing the second of six years of becoming a doctor.
She didn’t make any excuses-to me, Ms. Infertility, which is exactly what she should have done. Who wants to be lied to?
She told me this in December-when she met Cate for the first time. Which is how I know she meant it. *
She didn’t want a baby because she had traveled extensively-to Costa Rica, by car, to every other major rock climbing, kayaking, and goodness knows what else you nature loving people do places. Her husband, and her, lived on the smallest amount of money that I could ever imagine. They lived in a house with windows—without glass in them for Pete’s sake.
Her and her husband wanted to travel the world with Doctor’s Without Borders, practice in their rural state to pay off her loans-save so that they could retire at forty. And they would have done it.
Yes, you do know where this is going.
When she came to see Cate, in December, unknown to her--she was pregnant.
She didn’t tell me until months later because, “she had to get her mind around it.” I can see why she was not immediately excited—and the fact that she didn’t want children was the least of it. Her due date was the week her residency was to start. The first paying job she would have for five years. Her residency-of course-had no maternity leave. Her residency meant working more than three 24 four hour shifts. So, at least 90. N-I-N-E-T-Y hour weeks. With an infant.
But she did wrap her mind around it. By the time she fessed up to me she and her husband were already preparing for little one and had two names in mind.
At that point she was five months pregnant.
Eight weeks later-she had her baby at SEVEN months. Twelve weeks early. Three months early.
So early that there stood a too- real chance of losing her little one.
Little one weighed one pound at birth. ONE POUND. My friend, Kate, had known there was something wrong with her pregnancy-and had-even as a medical student-been ignored if not chastised about her concerns. **
Kate's knowledge of a 26 week old's chance of survival didn't make the THREE hour ambulance ride to the nearest NICU--while she was trying to keep the little one in-- seem any faster.
Little one is fine-thank God. The universe and mankind in general. She is now one month old. And has gained a pound!
So, Ms. Hope is here. Though she is a surprise twice over.
She couldn’t be more wanted. Or more loved.
*I mean, hello.
**Things like this add to my distrust of the medical community-post forthcoming.
***I doubt my math adds up-all I know for sure is that she was pregnant when she met Cate and told me that she never wanted children. And that she had her baby at 26 weeks. The rest is a guesstimate.
Well, daycare isn't going to happen-at least not yet. I found a fantastic place where Cate can go to a Montessori school--when she is walking (which she almost is-at 9 months!) for half a day.
i am having an awful, awful day. i won't go into the details, because i can't. and because most of it is boring. let's just say that it sucks.
Yep, looks like Cate is going into daycare. Were I doing what was best for me--Cate would be with a nanny until she was 18--and the nanny and she would always be near me all day--so that I could work and kiss on Cate all day.
I think a daycare is what we are going to end up with. Maybe not. But I think so.
At least on some level when you told me you had cancer last fall. I ignored my gut feeling--because I was too coward to swallow that fact. You seemed too young--and you were. You had hair--people who have hair aren't dying of cancer. Or so I hoped. Really, really hoped.
Celeste Sauls Jenks of Decatur, Georgia, formerly of Omega, Georgia, passed away
Friday June 5, 2009 after valiantly fighting cancer. She was born June 6, 1969 in Tifton,
Georgia, and spent the last 20 years in Atlanta.
Celeste was a member of Glenn Memorial Methodist Church in Atlanta
A 1987 graduate of Colquitt County High School
A 1991 graduate of Emory University
A 2004 graduate of Georgia State University School of Law
Celeste was a member of the State Bar of Georgia, the Atlanta Bar Association, and the
Dekalb Bar Association. She was Chancellor of the Oglethorpe Legal Society of which
she was a founding member. In addition, she served as the CLE Coordinator and Co-
Chair of the annual Peach State Update CLE program. Celeste was active with the
Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and co-wrote an amicus brief for the
Georgia Supreme Court on behalf of the Association. She was also a member of the
Georgia Association for Women Lawyers.
Celeste is survived by her beloved husband, Dale Jenks of Decatur, her parents John and
Linda Sauls of Omega, her brother and his wife, Jeffrey and Iris Sauls of Atlanta, and her
animal children Harry and Little Bit.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 13, 2009 from 2:00 - 3:00pm in the
sanctuary of Glenn Memorial Methodist Church at Emory University, 1660 N. Decatur
Rd. NE Atlanta, GA 30307, (404) 634-3936.
A celebration of Celeste’s life will take place immediately after the service at Manuel’s
Tavern, 602 N Highland Ave NE Atlanta, GA 30307, (404) 525-3447.
The family requests that donations be made in Celeste’s name in lieu of flowers to any of
the following:
Celeste Sauls Jenks Law Scholarship
c/o GSU Foundation
P.O. Box 3963
Atlanta, Georgia 30302-3963
Office of Advancement, Visiting Nurse
Hospice Atlanta
6610 Bay Circle, Suite C
Norcross, GA 30071
Animal Action Rescue
P.O. box 366
Scottdale, GA 30079
*******
I didn't pump before I went to bed last night. Because I have a clogged duct. And six hours of acting/dancing ahead. Tonight. For the next three.
regarding my last post. Thank you very much for your comments.
Or, um....not so much.
So, I am doing a play. Just like last year. Yes, there is a video.