It’s been quite the eventful 2006, considering. A true “single life” looming like 5:59am in the morning waiting for the 6:00am alarm; finding oneself finally embracing a city that was once loathed with such distain and a want for forgiving acceptance; a ghostly apporition of a memory of surviving in an alien existence in this new place called home; a death so close to my heart that has pulled my family together with a force of gravity that’s rivaled only by that of the sun and its third planet’s celestial sister; crossing paths with someone so profoundly life changing that it rewrites the entire book on relationships; the birth of such a gift to humanity that it brings forth such pride through his tiny smile… my nephew, Alex.
[sigh]
This year we were given, shall we say, a reprive. A reprive that has has affected me on a level I never thought I’d be afforded. Beautiful Alex, my nephew. I remember when he was born - the call from my mother, crying, in a voicemail - so happy, I could feel her smile through the airwaves coming to me courtesy of Verizon’s central wireless servers. After holding him in my arms in May this year everything changed. I changed. My mindset changed. Priorities took on new order. A new life bringing with it a level of profound meaning, a clarity that I have seldom experienced first hand.
I am proud to be an uncle, proud to be my brother’s brother. Proud beyond words to be my sister-in-law’s brother-in-law. So proud to be the son of my mother, a new grandmother. Proud to have been brought closer to a stepfather that I have grown to love, to respect, to call Dad. Proud to know that my rock of a grandmother had the chance to see him, to hold his hand, before she left this place.
Alex, I can’t wait to see you grow - I may be a few thousand miles away but you’re never far from my heart.
Thank you for coming into our lives. I hope that some day I can teach you that the world is an amazing place full of wonder - opportunity - of love - and to some day shake your hand as a man and tell you I love you.
My nephew, you have changed me.
Without conscious motivation, you make me strive to be a better man.
Thank you.
October 6th, 2006 at 7:59 pm
Strive to be a better man? I tell you something now brother. Whatever level is above the human race,i strive to be just that.My son makes me , sorry he elevates me above all things. I had my own evening last night,all on my own. It killed me.An emptiness overwhelmed my soul. For one night out of seven i felt alone.
Faye arrived back to me opening the front door (proper timing) i smiled at her and went straight to the car,opened the door, got Alex and returned inside. I was greeted with “What about me?Where is my kiss?”
Sorry Faye. I have a new #1 priority just like you do.
Mr Blonde is my all.My be all and end all.
October 8th, 2006 at 10:09 pm
I can’t begin to imagine how it must make you feel BB. I have a second cousin who was born 5 or 6 years ago. It was amazing holding her as a newborn, but knowing I could see her so easily is nothing when in comparison to holding a loved one who is 4000 miles away.
I’m happy for you.