When Ellis Met Grandpa

Photo Credit: Rod Moser

I waited three weeks to see him, mostly to avoid the chaos that a new baby creates in the family. The grandmothers were there, an uncle, the uncle's girlfriend, the other grandfather, and an assortment of friends and neighbors - too many people. I knew he was healthy and I saw his picture (actually, a hundred or so pictures) that were posted on the Internet by the proud parents. When I finally did meet my grandson, I felt I already knew him.

Ellis lives with his new parents about 9-10 hours away by car. My wife and I like to drive when we can so that we can create our own schedule. So, we both canceled some previously-scheduled patients (we hate to do this, but all of my patients know this is important) and took off at 5 AM. I love driving early in the mornings before traffic starts. It is quiet; the stars are out, and besides, I am awake anyway. For some reason, as I have aged, I tend to require less sleep, which is contrary to what others might experience. I would love to sleep for eight hours, but my body simply refuses.

We live in Northern California in the Sierra foothills, so the quickest route south is through the Central Valley. This time of year, the valley is just awakening with all of the fruit and nut trees blooming. In contrast to the boring scenery most of the year, springtime in the Central Valley is beautiful. There was even some snow on the Grapevine - a high pass out of the valley into the Los Angeles area.

Perhaps it was my anxiety about meeting my grandson, but I made "good time" on the route south, hitting the highly-congested LA traffic just right. An hour later and I would be sitting in a slowly-moving parking lot.

We arrived at our hotel promptly at 2 PM, their check-in time. Of course, the room was not ready. Exhausted from the long drive, we waited...and waited. They offered us a smaller room (for the same price, of course), but I chose to wait. After about an hour, they offered me a room normally reserved for handicapped guests. I refused; just like I refuse to use the handicapped stall in the restroom. What if someone came in and needed it? I agreed to the smaller room.

Of course, the hotel was being remodeled - just my luck. The smaller room reeked of fresh paint to the point of utter nausea. The window was open to air it out, but of course, that looked out on the freeway. They offered to bring an ozone machine, but told me that we could not be in the room while it was running! Should we camp out in the hall? They offered the handicapped room again. This time, I accepted. At 8 AM the following morning, I regretted that decision, too. The workman in the room next door where apparently setting up a saw mill and had a hammering contest. Nice place. This will be the last time I will stay there, of course. The front desk offered to reduce our room rate. I saved ten dollars!

Ellis had no idea what we went through to see him. We drove to my son's house. He had mistakenly given me the name of the wrong hotel, so it was about another half hour away. We passed the hotel that he really intended to tell us about a mile or so from their home. Don't feel bad for me. A lot of our trips are like this. I sort of expect it now.

We knocked lightly on the door so that we would not wake up the baby. A cacophony of barking dogs followed. If Ellis was sleeping, he is awake now. My son and his wife have two young Boston Bull Terriers that are not noted for their quiet demeanor. They were jumping and barking, in spite of their bark collars. Like many new couples, they often get dogs to see if they will be capable of being good parents. Those dogs are pampered (not literally). Later, I wish they were in Pampers. They were the Farting Dogs (see my previous blog post). I had experienced my first (of many) raunchy dog farts, initially thinking it was a poopy diaper. A poopy diaper is like a flower compared to what emanates from those two dogs.

Ellis was upstairs nursing. I could hear him fussing around, but I had to patiently wait until he was finished. New mothers tend to be a bit shy when breast-feeding, as they should. Breast-feeding is natural and beautiful, but it does not have to be a public performance.

We brought Ellis a blanket that was handmade and embroidered by my mother - his 87 year old great-grandmother who is now in a nursing home with Alzheimer's. She made it in 1980; when my son was only two years old. Sadly, she does not know she has another great-grandchild, so we gave Ellis a picture of my late father and my mother - two of his great-grandparents.

Photo Credit: Rod Moser

My heart raced as my daughter-in-law proudly carried Ellis down the stairs. There he was; satiated and bundled in a blanket. He looked just like my son, only smaller. She handed him to me; my grandson. I looked into his little eyes. He looked at me (or the ceiling fan). I smiled. I did not cry (on the outside). For the next two days, I tried to hold him as much as I could. I sang to him. We talked. Well, I talked and he listened. I really wanted to call him Elmo, my chosen nickname, but I know my daughter-in-law does not like it, so I restrained my normally-unrestrained self. Ellis will be loved.

I was proud of these new, albeit sleep-deprived, parents; this is not an easy job. Babies nurse, poop, and sleep, interspersed by crying and fussing. Sometimes, they just lie their quietly staring at nothing, perhaps wondering where in the hell they are. Their little senses are being constantly challenged with new faces, new sounds, new experiences, new things to touch, and new smells (like those dog farts).

I have three other grandchildren from my wife's lineage and prior marriage. I love them just as much, but seeing your first, biological grandchild is an unbelievable experience. When your youngest child has a child, you do feel a bit older, but that is expected. I wish we lived closer.

Today, I got my first phone call for advice and I was thrilled. They found "crystals" in his diaper and were worried. Immediately, I knew they were from the diaper, not the diaper-user.

I gave my son an otoscope and my book, Ears: An Owner's Manual. He will need it in about six months when the maternal immunity wears off and the ear infection years begin. My son is an RN; my daughter-in-law is a teacher. They will both need those complimentary skills in raising my grandson.

Photo Credit: Rod Moser

Ellis will make me take better care of myself. I want to be around a long, long time to watch him grow and hear him call me Grandpa. Grandparents are very important and I plan on being important to him and my other grandchildren. That is what grandparents are supposed to do.

Related Topics:

• Parenthood: Life After Baby
• Grandma Spoils My Kids!
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