Our Mindi is Born
A Unique Entrance Indeed
Mindi was born in Tooele Utah, April 20, 1971 to her mother Kathie Abbott. That part is already common knowledge, but what you do not know is how the labor began...
Mindi's soon to be family were visiting relatives in Grantsville.
The occasion was ordinary enough, soon to be cousins were running around playing and expending their youthful energies, and the adults were catching up and visiting in the house. Outside however, the cousin's wandered themselves into the family car. Mindi's older brother was seated in the front seat of the car, and the cousins were seated in the passenger side, and rear seats.
Buttons in the car were pressed, windows rolled up and down, all the while everyone was pretending to be driving to some far off destination. Sound effects of roaring engines, and screeching tires were being made by all the kids in the car. But just then...
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Mindi's older brother not more than four or five at the time grabbed the shifter knob on the steering wheel, and accidentally put the car into neutral. The car being parked on somewhat of a slight uphill grade on the street began moving itself in a backwards direction as gravity took control of the car. As the car began to roll faster in its backwards direction, Mindi's older brother panicked and jumped out of the car, as did the other cousins sitting in the front seats. The other's in the back seats did not jump out, and before long everyone who had bailed out were screaming to the other children in the back seats to get out of the car!
Mindi's mother 9 months pregnant at the time and expecting at any day, wandered outside to see what all the commotion was all about. Seeing the car rolling backwards down the hill, and the children in the back seats, Kathie did what any mother would have instinctively done. Even though she was 9 months pregnant began running after the car with Mindi's Aunt right behind her. As the car slowed to a stop Mindi's Mother and her Aunt finally caught up to the vehicle to secure it, and release the kids from the back seats to safety. Not 5 minutes after everyone calmed down Mindi's mother went into labor, and was taken to the local hospital in Tooele.
After many hours of labor Kathie Abbott gave birth to Mindi, and that is how my sister was born.
Perhaps, getting jostled all around in her mother's belly, and hearing all the excitement Mindi wanted to come out and join all the fun?
MINDI - EVERYONE'S FAVORITE
Have you ever noticed, that every now and again you meet someone, and at no matter the age, you know they are uniquely special?
That was our little Mindi, or at that time known as Mini-Pooh, or Pooh.
Mom always told us how as an infant and toddler Mindi got the name Pooh. Mom was cradling Mindi just after nursing and burping her. In those moments Mom recalled: "Mindi opened her eyes, looked into mine, and like the coo of a dove, said: "Pooh." From then on our little Mindi was known as Pooh.
During her earliest years, and as far back as I can recall, Mindi was everywhere. She had super bright blonde hair. Great big pretty blue eyes. A cute little face, and the most contagious smile, and laugh. She was always curious, and always ready for the next adventure. Everyone tended to gravitate to her natural charismatic personality. At the time we lived in Sunset Utah, and there were all sorts of other children that Mindi made friends with. Exploring all sorts of situations around the house, and around the neighborhood. It was a very rare day when Mindi wasn't out and about with her friends, or as pictured below, had her friends over for a visit. When we would attend family get togethers most of the cousins would seek Mindi out. Encouraging her to hurry up, and come and play as they enjoyed being around Mindi, and would have fun laughing, and playing games.
Mindi being silly 1974
Mindi Camping 4 1/2 years old
Mindi and friend 1976
Mindi Christmas 1975
Mini-Hotwheels - How Mindi Got Her Famous Nickname.
When Mindi was around four or five, she really enjoyed playing, and driving around anything with pedals on it. Tricycles, old fashioned push pedal cars, little manual push carts, and of course The Big Wheel. A very popular toy from around 1969 - 1981. I've never met anyone so at home with forward locomotion. Once Mindi laid eyes on it, she was off like a shot, and you couldn't pry her out of one, even for lunch or a snack although, many tried. I remember we were at our Grandmothers home for a visit, and it was a pretty cold October day. That didn't stop Mindi, she got on the tricycle that was usually in the front of the house, and zooom! Off she went. When it was time for lunch I went out to get Mindi, and she refused. I told our mother Mindi said no. So mom went out to get Mindi. Holy cow you would think Mindi was being tortured for all her commotion, and carrying on. That's how much Mindi loved to ride, or drive.
Mindi, being the youngest always enjoyed the luxury of being pushed in old fashioned pedal cars by the older cousins. We would go fast for a bit, or until my lungs needed a break, so we slowed the speed to a fast walking pace for a bit, then right back up to a kind of run pace for a while, and on like that. Once I was worn out another of the cousins would take over. This went on for hours at a time, until all the older cousins were tuckered out.
On one visit when Mindi was about nine, maybe ten, as all the cousins took turns pushing Mindi forward in the push pedal car, one of the cousins called out loudly: "Hey you ready for a push Mini-Hotwheels!?!?" To which Mindi called back: "Heck Yeah!"
And the name stuck. From that time forward and for the rest of her life Mindi's Nickname, to those closest to her would call her by: "Mini-Hotwheels."
Mindi had a few other nick names as well from those who loved her. The list goes some thing like this: Mini, Mini-mins, Mini-Mini, min'dz, and later Mini-siser, from myself. None of the nicknames were ever mean spirited, and Mindi loved them all. She knew and accepted her nicknames knowing they came from a love, and place of special status.