Gramps!!!

You're old!!! I have heard this many times from my children, their friends and even my spouse! I have always thought age was a state of mind...hold on, I forgot what I was thinking... O.K. I remember now. I really don't feel that much different than I did when I was in my twenties. Time seems to be moving faster, I have gained some weight and hair seems to have been redistributed from the top of my head down to my nose and ears (must be happening in the shower!), but other than that I feel pretty good. Until...

Our oldest daughter calls and tells us that her and her husband are expecting their first child together. I am still a young guy at 46 (younger people would disagree), but the prospect of being a grandparent seems to have accelerated the aging process. Maybe it's just the names - Grandpa,Pa Pa,Pappy,Granddad, Grandfather, or my personal favorite "Gramps". If these won't make you feel old, nothing will. Maybe its the cheesy sweatshirts and hats that say "World's Greatest Grandpa" or the ones that have those black & white scanned photos of the grandparent and/or grandchildren on them.

I have always heard how enjoyable it is being a grandparent. Being able to spoil them and send them home, not having to have the grandchildren follow the same rules as your children, etc. These could provide some great opportunities for me to reclaim some of my childhood.

Maybe it's not about what your called or what you wear, maybe its just about enjoying where you are in life and what you have been blessed with! Did it really take me being a Grandparent to figure this out??? Sometimes I forget, but maybe that's just a function of old age... Must be time for my nap...

P.S. It's a girl!!!