Three come to mind:
1. When my son was born (and the week after). Chris was supposed to be three weeks away. I had started doing the nursery with wallpaper and brightly colored paints; I had picked up the crib but not yet assembled it. All day I worked on the walls and finished papering before going to bed.
I was awakened (half) at 1:00 a.m. by the (now ex) wife who said something was happening. I told her it'd be okay and she informed me that she thought her water had broke. I remember saying, "ya-ya" and trying to roll over and go back to sleep. She shook me again and all of a sudden I realized I was about to be a father!
The drive to the hospital was about 40 minutes; I think we made it in 20. It would be 1 p.m. in the afternoon when I saw his little head begin to crown and move into this world. He was "sunny side up," meaning his face was up instead of down and he slithered into this world after a lot of pushing. I remember his head looked like something from the "Coneheads" on Saturday night live; thank God for the little caps they put on. I held him and cut the umbilical cord. He nestled into my arms.
Within days of coming home he began to turn yellow from jaundice caused because my and wife's blood incompatibility (the first of many things incompatible!) We took him back and I stayed with him through the night as he held my finger while they prepared him for a transfusion. The tears streamed down my face as I thought I might lose him until his bilirubin count finally began to drop (a long and miraculous story).
2. The birth of my daughter. Wife went into labor at 1 a.m. and I slept the rest of the the night in the same lumpy chair as I did for Chris. Alyssa came out face down and with less pushing just before noon. I remember as I told her "hello little girl" and touched her forehead, she wrinkled up her brow and tried to open her eyes and see who the hell had just disturbed her little world! She's 21 and she still has daddy around her finger!
3. Last Friday, March 18, when I walked out and stood before close family and friends on the roof of 425 Massachusetts Avenue.
A gentle breeze teased the candles on the little table/altar and caused the rose petals to dance while the air was a remarkable 76 degrees -- the warmest yet for the year.
The sun was just starting to set as we looked over the National Mall and turned to face everyone. Shortly after 7, we said "I do" and Barry became my husband!
1. When my son was born (and the week after). Chris was supposed to be three weeks away. I had started doing the nursery with wallpaper and brightly colored paints; I had picked up the crib but not yet assembled it. All day I worked on the walls and finished papering before going to bed.
I was awakened (half) at 1:00 a.m. by the (now ex) wife who said something was happening. I told her it'd be okay and she informed me that she thought her water had broke. I remember saying, "ya-ya" and trying to roll over and go back to sleep. She shook me again and all of a sudden I realized I was about to be a father!
The drive to the hospital was about 40 minutes; I think we made it in 20. It would be 1 p.m. in the afternoon when I saw his little head begin to crown and move into this world. He was "sunny side up," meaning his face was up instead of down and he slithered into this world after a lot of pushing. I remember his head looked like something from the "Coneheads" on Saturday night live; thank God for the little caps they put on. I held him and cut the umbilical cord. He nestled into my arms.
Within days of coming home he began to turn yellow from jaundice caused because my and wife's blood incompatibility (the first of many things incompatible!) We took him back and I stayed with him through the night as he held my finger while they prepared him for a transfusion. The tears streamed down my face as I thought I might lose him until his bilirubin count finally began to drop (a long and miraculous story).
2. The birth of my daughter. Wife went into labor at 1 a.m. and I slept the rest of the the night in the same lumpy chair as I did for Chris. Alyssa came out face down and with less pushing just before noon. I remember as I told her "hello little girl" and touched her forehead, she wrinkled up her brow and tried to open her eyes and see who the hell had just disturbed her little world! She's 21 and she still has daddy around her finger!
3. Last Friday, March 18, when I walked out and stood before close family and friends on the roof of 425 Massachusetts Avenue.
A gentle breeze teased the candles on the little table/altar and caused the rose petals to dance while the air was a remarkable 76 degrees -- the warmest yet for the year.
The sun was just starting to set as we looked over the National Mall and turned to face everyone. Shortly after 7, we said "I do" and Barry became my husband!
