My mother and father lived temporarily in Alexandria, a small town about 20 minutes from Washington, DC. The only hospital in the area was in DC, so my father carried a suitcase and helped my mother get into the car. He drove very fast and since it was very late at night, he ran the red lights (safely but with a sense of urgency) to get to Columbia Hospital for Women as fast as they could.

The doctor met them there and helped my mother get through several hours of labor. Then, just before dawn, I was born.