5 years ago

It hardly seems like 5 years ago when the phone rang and it was my daughter, telling me that she was heading to the hospital as she was beginning labor. "No need to rush, Dad. It just started, so you've got plenty of time."

I called my bride, her mother, of course, told her the wonderful news and told her to hurry up home. She was at work, and left immediately. When she arrived, we jumped in the car and headed to Oklahoma City - a mere 110 miles from our home in Tulsa. As the drive is mostly via a turnpike connecting the two largest cities in the state, we had made it numerous times in the past. While we hadn't been to the specific hospital where our first Grandchild would enter the world, we - or I should say, my wife - knew where it was at.

The drive to OKC usually takes about an hour and forty five minutes. However, this day, I'm sure I must have set a new record, making it in and hour and 20 minutes. After all, this was my daughter. My only daughter. Daddy's little girl. My first child. And soon, my first Grandson would be arriving. The magic of a sonogram allowed the parents, and, in turn, the grandparents, to predetermine the gender of the child months before delivery. You could surmise that my bride and I were excited.

We met our daughter and son in law in their room. While they appeared to be excited, I think the Grandma and Grandpa to be were filled with more anticipation than they were. As the minutes - then hours - slowly ticked by, the other prospective grandparents arrived, as well as our son in law's siblings. We were fortunate, as the location of their room was at the end of the building, so we had an area that we could all sit and make some infrequent visits in to visit the expectant parents.

Immediately prior to the birth, we were checking - for my daughter - how the TV Show "Survivor" was going. Specifically, who was getting voted out that night. Finally, with the moment at hand, doctors and nurses appeared from nowhere, scurrying about. I was even more nervous than when my little girl went out on her first date.

Then we heard him cry. We tried to peek around the corner to see him, but the doctor closed the door so we couldn't. My wife and I hugged each other as tears filled our eyes. After what seemed like hours, our son in law came out and asked us if we'd like to go in and meet our grandson. My beautiful daughter was holding him as she lie in the bed. She looked up at me with a smile and asked me if I'd like to hold him.

As I took my beautiful little grandson into my arms, I fell in love again. It was the fifth time in my life I had done so. The first was with my bride; the next three were when I held my three children in my arms for the first time. Now, with my grandson.

After spending some time visiting with him and the happy parents, my wife and I decided to drive home. She would make the drive back in a day or so after my daughter was released from the hospital, to help out a bit. On the drive back, I know my emotions overcame me and I started crying pretty hard. I'm just that way. The beauty of the day. The magic of birth.

In the five years since his birth, I have had so much fun with this little boy. We have laughed together and I have done so many silly things to make him laugh I know it's not dignified at all. But, he calls me "Bop" for whatever reason, and his hugs and kisses are something I treasure more than anyone can imagine.

Unfortunately, I never had the chance to know either of my grandfathers. One - my mom's dad - left my grandmother when my mom was a young girl; the other, my Grandpa Hughes, died when I was an infant. Not having known them is something I regret. I will do anything humanly possible to make sure my beautiful grandson knows and remembers me.

He is at Disney World today with his Mom & Dad. Happy Birthday - I love you more than life itself!

Old Fart Mike