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I Just Became A Granddad: This Crap Just Got Real! (Congrats)
Townhall.com ^ | April 26, 2015 | Doug Giles

Posted on 04/26/2015 7:17:21 AM PDT by Kaslin

Last Thursday my wife and I welcomed our first grandbaby into the world. My oldest daughter Hannah (who leveled ACORN) and her husband Joe (who’s currently leveling other nefarious nuts) had a handsome little boy they’ve named, Hamish. Badass name, eh?

Obviously, we were elated for Hannah and Joe and the thought that we get to have a new little life scooting around occasionally at our casa felt pretty cool to us as well. But truth be told, it also freaked me out a wee bit.

So … what was perturbing to moi?

Well, it was largely the realization that I am officially … old. What the heck just happened to me? I know, I know, I should be rejoicing about the “new life” and “grand-baby” and yada-yada but when I drove away from the birthing center I was having a weird soul moment because it seemed just like yesterday that I was a 17-year-old hellion drag-racing my Z28 down Slide Road in Lubbock, Texas terrorizing blue-haired old ladies slow crawling their Delta 88s but now … I’m gramps.

I kind of knew I was getting up there in age by …

1. My age, 52. Duh.

2. The weird, long and gray, wiry hairs growing furtively from my ears, nose, back and brows to ludicrous lengths that, heretofore, never used to be present.

3. The fact I have urine flow envy.

4. The 17 pairs of reading glasses I have scattered strategically throughout my house and vehicles.

5. And the fact my daughter’s 26, married and now a mom but I still thought of myself as “forever young” ‘til the grandpaw moniker was affixed to me Thursday night.

“Geez, man. This is my end game,” I thought. What do I do now? Start shopping cardigans and coffins? Get a rocking chair and say, “I remember when” ‘til it drives everyone in my vicinity crazy?

How does one adjust to this new reality and role because this granddad stuff is new to me? How do I act? What do I wear? Should I opt for the Matthau/Lemon “Grumpy Old Man” motif or choose to live in denial like Mickey Rourke and wear T-Shirts that are too tight and confuse my grandson? How does one roll with this punch?

Here’s what I’ve decided. I’m going continue to be me. I’m not going to change squat. I’m not going to go quietly into the night and I’m going to try to be an example to little Hamish of a God-and-freedom lovin’, cantankerous old bastard/patriot, that’s what.

Yep, by God’s grace, I’m going to leave an imperfect wake of loving a perfect God and I hope to show this little rascal that granddad is an unapologetic adherent to the eternal verities of liberty, AC/DC music and justice, of course. Hopefully, the positive aspects of my constituent funk will help him navigate life’s ever-increasing, tricky glide paths and I will have left a positive mark on his psyche.

My prayer for Hamish, my other grandkids to come, and yours is that they overwhelmingly add to the human equation and not be a soul-taxing, money-draining and government-trusting stooge of the machine.

Yep, I would love nothing more than to leave a mark, as an “old man,” on my posterity that’ll fill that young man with courage, honor, loyalty, a hardwork ethic, selflessness and a sense of God and country that will further this grand experiment in self-governance and do all the aforementioned with hope and a big, devilish/confident grin on his face.

And that, my friend, is the granddad I’d like to be. If I can grow old doing all of that then I, personally, will eternally sleep the sleep of angels.

So, God bless Hamish and God bless your grandkids and may they never be big-government-politician beholden goons but rather liberty loving charges who live honorably, boldly, wild and of course … free.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: faithandfamily
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1 posted on 04/26/2015 7:17:21 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

I cry when I think that my two grand daughters will not grow up in an America enjoying the same freedoms I did. And the Republican leadership are all in bed with the New World Order fascist/socialists.


2 posted on 04/26/2015 7:19:49 AM PDT by stockpirate (A corrupt government is the real enemy of the people.)
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To: Kaslin

Congratulations on the new grandson.........Wait till your a “great grandfather” and tell me again about being old. Our great-grandson will be two in October.


3 posted on 04/26/2015 7:20:23 AM PDT by DaveA37
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To: Kaslin

Great post! That’s what it’s all about.


4 posted on 04/26/2015 7:20:37 AM PDT by abclily
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To: Kaslin

Congrats, I have 5 grandchildren the oldest a 14 ear old girl. They are a blessing. One of the girls and two of the boys participated in hockey, it’s a hoot.


5 posted on 04/26/2015 7:21:50 AM PDT by UB355 (Slower traffic keep right)
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To: abclily

It is indeed


6 posted on 04/26/2015 7:22:06 AM PDT by Kaslin (He needed the ignorant to reelect him, and he got them. Now we all have to pay the consequenses)
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To: Kaslin
One of the best experiences life has to offer!

Grandchildren are just like your first children but without the dramas, tensions, and complications! They're your reward for enduring all that your children put you through--but you worry about them just like you did your first crop of children. It's never over!

But there's nothing better!

7 posted on 04/26/2015 7:22:37 AM PDT by Savage Beast ( "Me and my brother left D.C." is indicative of the me-first culture that is so pervasive! A message)
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To: Kaslin

Congrats from an envious 63 year old who has yet to become a grandma. Enjoy! That little guy Hamish (love that name) will keep you young.


8 posted on 04/26/2015 7:22:40 AM PDT by MomwithHope (Please support efforts in your state for an Article 5 convention.)
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To: Kaslin
Five grandkids at 53 isn't bad either. I got to teach 3 of them the Greek Alphabet this summer when they stayed over here.

Grandkids are great.

/johnny

9 posted on 04/26/2015 7:26:22 AM PDT by JRandomFreeper (gone Galt)
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To: Kaslin
The fact I have urine flow envy.

I never know that PITA condition has a technical term...

LOL...I feel your pain...

10 posted on 04/26/2015 7:27:12 AM PDT by Popman (Christ Alone: My Cornerstone...)
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To: Kaslin

11 posted on 04/26/2015 7:31:45 AM PDT by DuncanWaring (The Lord uses the good ones; the bad ones use the Lord.)
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To: Savage Beast
I love grandkid stories. Much better than kid stories.

/johnny

12 posted on 04/26/2015 7:32:58 AM PDT by JRandomFreeper (gone Galt)
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To: Kaslin

Congrats and may GOD bless em all.


13 posted on 04/26/2015 7:33:33 AM PDT by Joe Boucher ( Obammy is a lie, a mooselimb and pond scum.)
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To: Kaslin

... a handsome little boy they’ve named, Hamish. Badass name, eh?
++++
Badass indeed. Great choice. Welcome to the FR Grandfather Subcommittee. We’re in charge here so we expect frequent posts and comments from you at least when you’re not babysitting.


14 posted on 04/26/2015 7:39:31 AM PDT by InterceptPoint
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To: DaveA37
To: Kaslin
Congratulations on the new grandson.

FWIW, it's Doug Giles, the article author who has the new grandson.

15 posted on 04/26/2015 7:45:15 AM PDT by Leroy S. Mort (The further a society drifts from truth the more it will hate those who speak it ~ G Orwell)
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To: Kaslin

How blessed you are! What a wonderful name, Hamish.

We still remember the service that Hannah did to the nation on Acorn. May all her family live a long, prosperous life.


16 posted on 04/26/2015 8:02:47 AM PDT by conservativejoy (We Can Elect Ted Cruz! Pray Hard, Work Hard, Trust God!)
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To: Kaslin

52 isn’t close to being old.

Live it up baby! You ain’t getting off this rock alive anyway...


17 posted on 04/26/2015 8:06:44 AM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously-you won't live through it anyway-Enjoy Yourself ala Louis Prima)
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To: stockpirate
I cry when I think that my two grand daughters will not grow up in an America enjoying the same freedoms I did.

Few have. Most of them had to fight for it.

18 posted on 04/26/2015 8:12:05 AM PDT by 9thLife ("Life is a military endeavor..." -- Pope Francis)
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Hamish Badass is a cool name.
19 posted on 04/26/2015 8:12:24 AM PDT by 9thLife ("Life is a military endeavor..." -- Pope Francis)
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To: stockpirate

I ain’t crying, dammit. I’m fixing to have nine grandkids, and I’m only fifty. My wife plans a minimum of thirty—I figure she’s conservative that way. Anyhow, all these young ones are going to make a difference, or die trying.

God,family and country aren’t dead yet! His Word shall endure forever:

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,

The fruit of the womb is a reward.

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth.

Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;

They shall not be ashamed,
But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

Still works for me...


20 posted on 04/26/2015 8:24:10 AM PDT by antidisestablishment (GOP delenda est!)
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