When my oldest son was eight days old, his mother had a serious blood clot in her upper leg near her hip.
We rushed her to the emergency room at the hospital where she just gave birth earlier in the month.
She was admitted into the hospital and there I was back at home with a baby in his second week of life.
Our bond took hold immediately as we flash forward to this morning.
At 12:43am the eighteen-year-old version of that eight day old baby climbed into my bed.
He was doing the same thing that I did at that confusing age of early adulthood. Reaching for the musky, rough tenderness of dad.
The safest place in the world is your parent's bed.
Or in the Divorced Dad District of Riverside, your dad’s bed.
After about an hour… “I think I’ll go back to my bed now.”
I got a kiss on the forehead and my blanket tucked back over my shoulder.
I laid there in my cats in the cradle moment when it occurred to me…
My son arrived just the other day and now he is at that crossroad into becoming an adult.
Just like Harry Chapin said it would happen.
My son never had a breast to cling to. The blood clot took place during that crucial time when a baby learns to latch on to mommy. The blood thinners prescribed for the clot didn’t help the situation either.
I guess by instinct, that is how the foundation of our relationship began. Me, a bottle of formula at 12:43 in the morning and a fussy baby boy.
I’m not sure what’s going on in the wiring through his brain right now, but for an hour on this Tuesday morning it was little boy blue and the man in the moon.
Today’s quote takes years to learn. You can’t worry about things that you can’t control. Just like my Oldman told me years ago when I climbed into his bed.
“You’re not going to be able to hurdle tough situations Moose.
Lower your shoulders, bow your neck and steamroll that somabitch.”
And that is what I’ve done and that is what George will need to learn.
At this point, I’m not going back to sleep. I think I’ll have a piece of toast.
Toast with a lather of butter and a smear of jelly is the best replacement for the comfort of my Oldman’s pillow and hug.
Garlic bread is good too!
I put a smile on the sun today. Perfect for a walk with your long December shadow. The air is cold enough to nip your nostrils with winter, but not too cold where it paralyzes your nose hair.
I’ve been astonished since 12:43 this morning. I hope astonishment finds you early as well.
