I’ve written a few times that this is the Best Summer Ever and that 2016 is the Best Year Ever!
A National Championship for UST!
Our 35th wedding anniversary!
My folks celebrating their 60th!
Josie turned 21!
But none of that is the biggest, best news of the year.
I don’t remember if I’ve written about the Chain of Eight. Many years ago, I noticed that every eight years, since I was born, there’s been a girl born into the family somewhere.
1960, 68, 76, 84, 92, 2000 and ’08 are when me, Katie M, MJ, Katie P, Alex, Hattie and Nanners were born.
Earlier this summer, Molly made a very good case for the inclusion of herself (’01) and Katelyn (85) into the chain because the female born eight years earlier than each of them had not yet turned nine when they appeared. It was a good argument but sorry, Moll: not good enough.
By the time you were each born, I was no longer an age divisible by eight. There’s never a time in the year when the whole chain is 8 years apart if we include either of you. If you and Katelyn had been born before mid-April, it would’ve worked but you weren’t so…you’re out.
For those of you who are math impaired, that means there should be a new girl born into the family tree this year. As April rolled in to May, I began to realize that the chain may be broken. No baby news from any quarter and time was running out.
Two years ago, my beautiful, brilliant, talented daughter Katie (a member of the chain, herself) married a handsome, brilliant, talented young man. They are both over thirty with booming careers in their chosen fields.
I knew Katie always wanted kids but I also knew she wasn’t in a big hurry. I never wanted to be the Mom who pestered “when are you two gonna have kids?” cuz everyone hates that mom but the truth is I am greedy for grandkids and I figured the longer they waited, the fewer kids they’d ever have. Especially since Adam is an only child and therefore unacquainted with the joys and importance of siblings. Being a very intelligent man, he is slightly daunted by the idea of fatherhood: and this is a guy who hunts with a crossbow. Like I said: very intelligent.
I assured him that parenthood was more than enough fun to make the hard parts worth while. Yes, having a baby does change your life: falling in love always changes your life.
But like I said, they were not in any big hurry. They’re young and have plans.
God laughed.
And then He laughed again.
Katie told us in June that she and Adam are expecting.
Twins.
Identical little girls will be extending the chain this winter.
Best. Year. Ever.