Feeling Old

I talked with my oldest son today on the telephone. We spoke for about an hour and he updated me on the latest with his fiancée, and my soon to be born grandchild.

They went to the Ob/Gyn on the 20th of last month. The baby appears to have all the usual number of digits and is not, in Eric's own words, "a monkey, or some alien creature," which I can only assume is a relief to Beth.

They have, now that the child's gender is known, decided to name her Ember Nicole. I like this name. I like it much better than the name my ex-wife's mother was pushing for, which was Erica Michele. Yes, Erica Michele, daughter of Eric, granddaughter of Michael. PUH-leze! Let's allow the child her own identity, thank you. Beth's due date is 23 October, though both of them are hoping for a Halloween baby, which would then give us two of them in the family, as my niece Kimber was born on All-Hallows-Eve.

Eric also told me that the baby shower is set for 25 September, which is his 21st birthday. Happy birthday, here's a stroller kiddo. They have already received a crib, bassinet, two car seats, and other miscellaneous things for the baby.

I looked at pictures of them I took over last Christmas, and I am at first struck by how young they are. But I was younger still, and survived being a father. My brother Brian was also younger than Eric when he became a father, and now it seems to be the best thing to ever happen to him. Brian loves his wife and daughters intensely. He stopped being a little punk, instead becoming a loving husband, a proud father, and a hard working middle-class everyman. I'm very proud of my little brother. Moreover, my sister Shannon was even younger when her daughter Kimber was born, and I am pleased to report they (as well as the three boys born later) have turned out just fine. So I try not to worry too much. But of course, I do worry; after all, he's my son. In fact, I worry about all of them.

Eric does seem to have a good job. He works for Delta Faucet in the manufacturing plant, and Beth is on leave from her position at Gabriel Shocks and Struts (Buy from these two companies. Help support my children and grandchild).

In news of the weird, I discovered that Beth's mother is someone I was a friend with in High School. I hadn't given it any thought before, or asked her about her mom, because she lives in Killeen, TX (not far from my sister and mother in Waco), so I assumed I didn't know her. However, Linda and I have a bit of history between us (and no, we never slept together, let's just get that said right off). It feels weird, almost. I admit that had I not spent most of high school involved with, and then later married to, my ex-wife, I would have made a concerted effort to date Linda. There is some other history between us, which I shan't go into on a public forum, and yeah, it seems a little weird.

Of course, the idea of being a grandfather seems a little weird.

In Deep Peace
Michael

Feeling Old

I talked with my oldest son today on the telephone. We spoke for about an hour and he updated me on the latest with his fiancée, and my soon to be born grandchild.

They went to the Ob/Gyn on the 20th of last month. The baby appears to have all the usual number of digits and is not, in Eric's own words, "a monkey, or some alien creature," which I can only assume is a relief to Beth.

They have, now that the child's gender is known, decided to name her Ember Nicole. I like this name. I like it much better than the name my ex-wife's mother was pushing for, which was Erica Michele. Yes, Erica Michele, daughter of Eric, granddaughter of Michael. PUH-leze! Let's allow the child her own identity, thank you. Beth's due date is 23 October, though both of them are hoping for a Halloween baby, which would then give us two of them in the family, as my niece Kimber was born on All-Hallows-Eve.

Eric also told me that the baby shower is set for 25 September, which is his 21st birthday. Happy birthday, here's a stroller kiddo. They have already received a crib, bassinet, two car seats, and other miscellaneous things for the baby.

I looked at pictures of them I took over last Christmas, and I am at first struck by how young they are. But I was younger still, and survived being a father. My brother Brian was also younger than Eric when he became a father, and now it seems to be the best thing to ever happen to him. Brian loves his wife and daughters intensely. He stopped being a little punk, instead becoming a loving husband, a proud father, and a hard working middle-class everyman. I'm very proud of my little brother. Moreover, my sister Shannon was even younger when her daughter Kimber was born, and I am pleased to report they (as well as the three boys born later) have turned out just fine. So I try not to worry too much. But of course, I do worry; after all, he's my son. In fact, I worry about all of them.

Eric does seem to have a good job. He works for Delta Faucet in the manufacturing plant, and Beth is on leave from her position at Gabriel Shocks and Struts (Buy from these two companies. Help support my children and grandchild).

In news of the weird, I discovered that Beth's mother is someone I was a friend with in High School. I hadn't given it any thought before, or asked her about her mom, because she lives in Killeen, TX (not far from my sister and mother in Waco), so I assumed I didn't know her. However, Linda and I have a bit of history between us (and no, we never slept together, let's just get that said right off). It feels weird, almost. I admit that had I not spent most of high school involved with, and then later married to, my ex-wife, I would have made a concerted effort to date Linda. There is some other history between us, which I shan't go into on a public forum, and yeah, it seems a little weird.

Of course, the idea of being a grandfather seems a little weird.

In Deep Peace
Michael