May 01, 2003

The Change of a Lifetime

So, here I am - a mere 13 hours and 49 minutes away from what will, I imagine, be the biggest change of my life: the arrival of my first child. I'm surprisingly calm about the whole affair, but then again, I'm not the one who is going to be on a table getting their belly cut open. I have the easy part - my wife is the real trooper.

I still find myself looking at her in awe sometimes - I don't know if I could have put up with the inconvenience, the pain, and the mind-bending emotional roller-coaster that she's been on for the last 9 months. Women - for all their genetically-induced faults (a joke! a joke!) - can be amazing. She's amazing.

So, tonight will be spent making sure our bags are packed, digicam batteries are charged, and house-sitters have sufficient instructions for caring for our menagerie. I'm not planning on sleeping well, if at all - and it's not a fear of fatherhood that will keep me awake. No, I'm looking forward to that now - to holding my child, caring for it, loving it unconditionally. I'm ready for that.

My fear - no, scratch that and choose a new take on it - my hope - is that my child is healthy. Boy or girl, I don't care - that's all I would ask, were I the sort to make appeals to the heavens. That he or she enters the world ready to take it on and greet it, in due time, with a gummy grin, bright eyes, and a diaper full of green poop. I don't even know this child, not really, but it's already the most important thing in the world to me.

I can't even imagine how I'll feel tomorrow when I hold him or her for the first time. My first born child. Here. Soon. Really soon.

Eek.

I can't wait.

On a sadder note, the Right Wing Texan has posted the story of his first born here. Scroll down to 4/28 and read your way up. He and I have not talked much - a few differences of opinion here and there in some comment box or other - but he's a good man and a good father. Go and read it.

As for me, I'm signing off until the arrival of the WWRunt. Details tomorrow. A warm thanks from me and the wife for all of the support and well wishes we've received from friends, family, and strangers who - for some reason - enjoy reading what I write. You have no idea how much it means to us.

Thanks again.