We have a niece! Hallie Elizabeth Egan was born tonight at 7:12 pm to Kendall’s sister Brooke and her husband Scott. Mazel tov! Kendall and new grandma Betsy are still at the hospital. I had to laugh when Kendall called and told me the time of delivery. Leah and I decided to make popcorn and watch a movie tonight and she chose “Annie Get Your Gun” which I haven’t seen since the 1960s. At the exact moment of Hallie’s birth we were watching Betty Hutton sing the great Irving Berlin song, “Doin’ What Comes Natur’lly.” I can’t think of a more appropriate homage for what Brooke was going through. Apparently all went well and Brooke was amazing. It was the first delivery that Kendall ever saw and she was completely in awe. Can you imagine men going through childbirth? I can’t! If men were capable of getting pregnant we’d probably begin our epidurals in the third month.
Leah is very excited about her new step first cousin and is already planning Hallie’s indoctrination into the world of musical theatre. As she went to bed a few minutes ago she called out from her room “I think we should start teaching her all the songs when she’s six!” Maybe sooner. I think Leah and I will always make a connection between Hallie’s birth and “Annie Get Your Gun.” The film, by the way, was much better than I remembered. I just looked it up on the Internet to steal find a photo and was shocked when the first site I happened upon mentioned “This Day in Hollywood History,” May 25, 1950, as the day Betty Hutton signed for the film. Judy Garland was cast in the role the year before and filmed several of the numbers (which are included on the new DVD) but she was suffering from exhaustion and would soon experience a complete nervous breakdown (and the end of her long MGM career). She was fired from the picture and then, 55 years ago today, Betty Hutton was cast. Considering the shoes she had to fill, Hutton did a tremendous job in the part. Will Hallie have the same spunk and verve as Betty Hutton and the real Annie Oakley? Something tells me yes. I may have to produce an all-toddler production of “Annie Get Your Gun” starring Hallie Egan as “Little Sure Shot.” I can just hear her belting:
If you saw my pa and ma,
You'd know they had no learnin'
Still they've raised a family
Doin' what comes natur'lly!
Luckily, we have a few other pregnant friends and cousins, and Kendall and I are trying to create our own cast members. Time is of the essence—I need a strong Buffalo Bill and Frank Butler for my production!
P.S. For those of you who want to see photos of the cutest baby on the face of the earth (forgive me Leah, Spencer, Sammy, and everyone I know who has kids), click here. I'm ordering that Annie Oakley costume immediately!
A huge and hearty congratulations!
Posted by: Tamar | May 26, 2005 at 03:45 AM
yhei lanu, yhei lanu...
Posted by: nappy40 | May 26, 2005 at 09:46 AM