Oliver Nolan Craigmiles

I would just like to send a belated “Welcome to the World” to little Oliver Nolan, my nephew born 4 pounds 13 ounces (and about six weeks ealry) to my sister in Portland, Oregon. I think he looks a little like an alien here, but i think that about all babies (especially pre-mies). 

So, I’m an uncle. I feel old.

The day Oliver was born, I spoke to Adam (my brother-in-law) on the phone while I was waiting for takeout in a Thai restaurant during my lunch hour. He described how well my sister my did in labor and how Oliver was fully healthy. He seemed generally excited and proud.

After listening to his stories and extending my “Congratulations on creating life”, I really didn’t know what else to say. What else can you say? It’s such a grand moment, that it completely dwarfs anything going on in my own life. 

I mean, what do I counter with: “Um, I’m pretty psyched about this Pad Thai Shrimp I ordered”, or “So, you wouldn’t believe this woman yelled at me for yawning on the subway”, or “I watched my girlfriend’s cats lick each other for about 15 minutes straight the other day”. On second thought, maybe it wasn’t the “grandiosity” of the moment that left me speechless, maybe I just need a more exciting life.

Anyway, congratulations Adam and Nicole on that whole, “creating another human” business. You won this round in the conversation wars.