Ruben's Birthday

January 29 - 1968 - Ruben's Birthday
How it was back in 1968.
Photos at the end of the post.
I will never forget, we struggeled to get a Taxi to the Hospital. In the early morning on January 29 in 1968
Solvi was 2 weeks after "the scheduled time" for Birth. Her first.
We had no phone at home. Due to that times socialist "planning economy".
So I had to walk for 5 minutes to find a Phone Kiosk. And said: My Wife - The water has gone.
- - Call a Taxi, was the simple answer.
We got a Taxi and arrived the Womens Clinic early in the Morning.
Very well wellcomed. Indeed.
I was told to sit down in the "Waiting Room" while Solvi was brought into the, at that time: "Forbidden Zone for Papas". January 1968

10 minutes later I was given a package, Gray paper: Solvi's Clothes.
- - And with the following message: You have to leave now, but you can Call us
- - What, am I to call you? We do not have a Phone
- - Sorry, this is the Rules
Papa had to leave. My feelings - gosh - what do you think: Empty. Totally empty.

I did call. Several Times. No result. Nothing new.
At last, after several hours.
You have a Son.
- - When can I come and see him?
- - In 5 hours
- - 5 hours, why not at once?
- - That's the Rules.

What could I say? Hospitals in Norway are state owned.
I did see my first Son, Ruben, through a Window.
Touch him, 3 Days later.

My first Son.
Born January 29, 1968.

Here is some photos from his life. We had so much fun together. Allways.
He is missed by all of us. (Photos from the memorial - on Facebook)

It's up to you to read the text above and spend some seconds to look at the Pictures.
You will learn me to know by doing

Here you see the Lucky Family in the beginning of the 1970'ies. Reading books for Ruben and Niklas in the Evenings was a Daily part of our life. Here you see from left Papa, Niklas, Solvi and Ruben.

Can it be true? A Sister? Here with Grandmothers to the left, brother Niklas, Ingelin on Rubens knees and Grandfather (My Father)

Playing Brothers - Here in Austria 1975

Here you see all my 4 kids - back in the mid 1980'ies (Niklas, Ingelin, Ruben, Mats)

Ruben as young teenager

Ruben, Mats, Ingelin, Papa
Ruben, Mats, Ingelin and Papa - 1994 in Puerto Montt. Chile. Ruben was the only one of us that could speak Spanish. Mat's - well he could also something.

Ruben and Son (Filip) - Bygdøy

Writing in Rubens Momorial Protocol - 1 hr and 33 minutes.

The last Farwell with Flowers

And here you see some of Rubens best friends. Photo taken January 29 - 2009.
We talked a lot. With the combination of loss and what Ruben had given them. Memorable.

Postscript. Ruben's friend did tell us he loved his Papa and Anna.
We are grateful for all the moments we had together.