The Kid

Here's something old I wrote back in March 2010 on Facebook.

Back in January of 2010, it was probably the most scary time of my life and also the most happy. The night before Gladys told me that she was going to the doctors for a check up. She had an idea that her body was changing. For me, I thought she was having the flu. So it was no big deal, go to the doctor, get a check up, take some meds and get better. I didn't know what was coming would change our lives FOREVER.

The next day while I was at work, minding my own business, my wife Gladys calls me on my cell phone. I pick up and say "Hello?" She says, "I'M PREGNANT!!!" I was stunned silent. It was one of those moments where I should have said something. I should have said "Atta Boy Howie" but silence, absolute silence for about 10 seconds on the phone. I finally muttered something, and still I don't remember what I said. Since the news of the pregnancy wasn't a full 3 months yet, I couldn't tell anyone at work. My parents were asleep due to the time difference, between Taiwan and the US. I just sat in silence at work doing what I had done before, but I was more distracted than anything else. Chinese customs said that its bad luck to announce a pregnancy before 3 months.

That night, I told my parents about the good news and what was most surprising was that my sister Jennfier was more excited than my parents. Thats what you get for having Asian parents. In the end, when I met Gladys that evening, I finally had to smile and what she said earlier finally sunk in. I'm going to be a Dad, we're going to be parents.

So the Kid, a son by the way, will be due in July. More responsibilities, more joy, more laughs. To the next stage in life, more growing up.