It’s been a while since I’ve written a personal column. The last one was at Thanksgiving when I wrote about my many blessings in 2014, including my son’s renewal of vows a year after his wedding and his deployment to Afghanistan.
I have written about Andy many times.
I wrote about him when he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and again when he became engaged to Erin, a sweet schoolteacher from Wisconsin. I wrote about their marriage a few months later, before Andy left for his deployment, and again when they renewed their vows after Andy returned home.
I figured the column about the ceremony where Andy and Erin renewed their vows would be the last column about my son for some time. As my father often advises, I am wary of overdoing family columns because I don’t want readers to think of my columns as one of those dreaded Christmas newsletters that go on and on and on about their kids, their pets and travel.
So, when I learned in December that Andy and Erin were expecting and I would become a grandmother for the first time, I deliberately decided not to write about it — despite my excitement.
But I can’t hold back any longer.
And, I blame it all on Autumn Nicole Bennett, the adorable, three-month-old granddaughter of Carolyn Bennett, my friend and longtime employee in sales support.
Carolyn took some time off recently because Autumn was here from Kentucky with her father, Travis, who is Carolyn’s son, and her mother, Lindsey.
It was the first time Carolyn met her granddaughter and she had a glorious week taking care of the baby and relishing the time together with Travis, Lindsey and the rest of her family.
On one of the days they were here, Autumn and her entourage came to the office at the insistence of her grandmother’s co-workers.
We took turns passing the baby around and going on and on about how beautiful and good-natured she is.
When Autumn starting cooing as I held her, that was it for me. Andy and Erin’s baby is due at the end of July, and holding Autumn crystallized for me that soon I would be holding my own grandchild in my arms.
Once I learned that I’d be a grandmother, I began getting all sorts of advice about assuming that role from those who already have.
I fully anticipate that this child will do nothing wrong as far as grandma is concerned, and that the love I will feel will even surpass the love that I felt when my own children were born.
To make this joyous occasion even better, my niece, Natalie Kortus, and her fiancé, Paul Smith, are having a baby three weeks after Andy and Erin.
Natalie is the daughter of my brother, Jimmy, who lives in Gainesville. Natalie and Andy grew up spending just about every holiday together. It is thrilling for our families to have two babies on the way at the same time.
So, be forewarned: In less than four months, I will be a grandmother, and I expect you will be hearing a lot about this baby and my great-nephew.
But don’t worry. I will do my best to not overdo it with baby columns.
Of course, I can’t promise that.
According to every grandparent I know, there is nothing more amazing and worthy of talking about than your grandchildren.
Published April 29, 2015
