2026 marks America’s 250 birthday and the signing of The Declaration of Independence in 1776. Many of us remember our country’s bicentennial in 1976, an exciting time of Tall Ships, parades and much pomp and circumstance. In Bristol, we have a robust 250 Commission assigned with the task of creating our own celebrations and we have been running a weekly feature called 250 Words of Joy. With the holiday behind us, we we be running the last few submissions over the next couple of weeks.

1976!

What a year! Bicentennial year of our country, the United States of America! Excitement over the arrival of the Tall Ships in Newport Harbor! What a thrill!

But, 1976 was even more exciting with the birth of my third child and first son July 9, 1976.

St. Joseph’s Hospital in Providence, my 10 pound 6 oz beautiful baby boy James Gerald, was born!

My sister-in-law was due 2 weeks before me with her child. I kept asking the nurses if my sister in law had come in yet. Sure enough she arrived and was induced by her doctor and delivered her 6 pound daughter Jessica, 2 hours after my son was born. Sidebar: unfortunately her doctor was killed in an automobile accident after he left the hospital. Jessica was the last baby he delivered.

The nurses ran out of blue blankets, so James was wrapped in a pink blanket but was accidentally put in with all the girl babies. He was in his glory! The nurses found him, thank goodness!

My sister in law and I were in the same room, so the nurses called our room the “Jessie James” room!

So, July 12 we will be celebrating the “twin cousins” 50th birthday with our whole family. Thirty people will be in attendance. (Although our family is much bigger than that!)

So, my joy that year was the birth of my amazing son. Although I had that same joy with all 5 of my children the youngest was 10 pounds 8 oz.!! My babies were so easy to hold and my biggest joy for all 5 was nursing them. Such beautiful & emotional closeness with my cherished babies.

1976….joy number 3! Happy Birthday America, and James & Jessica.

- Barbara Pimental