Having a Son

A friend of mine shared a quote with me the other day:

"The closest a man can get to immortality is having a son."

I thought it was a great quote; but, I also wondered how much truth there was in it. Erica and I are expecting a son soon. In a couple of short weeks he will join our 20 month-old daughter in the tiny second bedroom of our apartment.

The idea that having a son could somehow help you live forever is somewhat attractive, no doubt bolstered by dreams of taking him fishing, snowboarding, and golfing (though I hope he is better than I), and the best way to shave your adams apple without getting cut (still working on that one too...) I think every excited dad dreams his son will be the next Tiger Woods or Lance Armstrong or Shaun White.

I do know that the reality will probably be much different than anything I could anticipate. I get scared sometimes - could my son turn out to be the next Seung-Hui Cho or Dylan Klebold, or heaven forbid he turn out like this guy:

Though chances are slim my son will fall through the roof of a convenience store, you just never know. While immortality may seem somewhat attractive, I think it best not to think too much about it and spend one day at a time doing the best you can with what you have right now.

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Comment by Aaron Shepherd on June 12, 2007 at 2:01pm: How come you didn't mention I could take her golfing too?? :)

Comment by Kristina Ching-Martinez on June 12, 2007 at 11:12am: Your "immortality" was accomplished when you had your first "child". Son or daughter, it really "should" not matter. A dad can take his daughter fishing and snowboarding too, and again.. "should". Maintain your solid Father/Daughter relationship, and she will undoubtedly grow to be a secure and strong woman with equally high standards for her own husband.

And, by the way... if your son ever falls through the roof of a convenience store, don't send him to live with Aunt Kristina!!! That video is probably funny to everyone, but his parents, huh? Some things are out of hands, unfortunately... no matter how good of parents we strive to be. Guess that's what Faith is for...

Comment by Erica Shepherd on June 11, 2007 at 9:22pm: I love your blog!! You can always make me laugh!! and yes... God forbid he turn out like that crazy lunatic!!