My Life Changed 36 Years Ago Today

It was 36 years ago today when as the co-host of the morning show on 92.7 WOBM I received a call from Point Pleasant Hospital (now long gone) that I should get there fairly soon because my wife Jane was in labor.  I bolted out of the studio and drove from Bayville to Point Pleasant in record time, parked my car, ran to the floor and was given hospital scrubs and told to wait in a room.  I was by myself for what seemed like an eternity when a nurse came in and told me that because the baby was in fetal distress they would have to do a Cesarean section.  Oh and I could not come in.

So much for those weeks of Lamaze training and breathing and hissing and all of that.  Finally at 11:27am Jane gave birth to a 7-pound 4-ounce boy.  At that time you did not have an option to find out whether it was a boy or girl and of course like every first time parent I professed that all I wanted was a healthy baby….10 fingers and 10 toes.  In truth I wanted a boy because I had the name picked out and if it was a girl then Jane made the call.  Brandon James Williams changed my life because I was now a Dad and it’s the best title I have ever had.

I know my daughter Alexandra who was born six years later will demand equal time in November when she turns 30 and I will grant it.  But your first is special simply because it’s your first.  You make all the mistakes with them, keep Dr. Spock’s book close by and experience things you could not imagine…like changing a dirty diaper and being target practice when he goes #1.

I wonder where the years went because as you’re holding that little baby in your arms you can’t fathom that at some point they will be 36 years old and the father of a 2-year old.  Wasn’t it yesterday I walked him to school on the first day, coached his soccer and basketball teams, and watched him play Little League baseball, graduate from 6^th, 8^th and 12^th grades and Penn State University?

Now he’s all grown up, has a family of his own, a great job and a new house. But he still calls me Dad which remains the best thing I’ve ever been called. Happy birthday Brandon…I love you as much as the day you were born.