NYC Baby Shower festivities.

So instead of running to the computer to get a post into my blog, I settle back and assess the feelings. It’s my new way of making sure I have all the right words down. It’s not easy trying to be a writer but try being one that is really out of practice.

The past couple of days have been special to my wife and I. We were fortunate enough to fly to NYC to be with my mother and father for Thanksgiving. We also took the opportunity to get some partying done. So we organized a party for our upcoming baby. We had a final total of 82 people come bless my wife and I. Her perfectly round baby bump was the center of attention. It was a total and completely loving experience.

The highlight of the trip was finally getting my parents connected to the internet via a skype phone. It’s probably the easiest thing for them to operate. It will give us a great opportunity to chat with them when the baby is here and they will see the growth of the child in real time instead of still photos. This was a phenomenal idea from the wiff.

Thanksgiving was nice as my dad made a turkey that was basically good enough to eat 16 pounds of it on your own. I don’t know if it was jet lag or just a massive overdoes of tryptophan, my wife and I knocked out cold on the couch.

Historically, my Thanksgiving holidays have always been very small. My family and I never really went out to peruse the kitchens of other family members. We just stayed at home and ate and watched TV. The only time we made a big deal out of the holidays was when my uncle was alive. He was killed in March of 1990 and after that, the divide of the family started. “Divide” is a very ugly word to describe what happened but that is the only one that could adequately describe how we all went our own separate way.

Coming back, I had a conversation with my only surviving Blood cousin Edwin. I told him that for the past few years that I felt I’ve taken the responsibility of trying to keep what little family I have left together. It’s been tiring and I feel that he needs to share that responsibility also. Some people might think that I have a huge family. Most of that comes from distant cousins from my mother’s side. We are a dying breed on my father’s side. Here is a little known and extremely scary fact. If my wife and I do not have a boy, the name Vargas has a possibility of dying with me. I never gave this too much thought but it scared the hell out of me a few years back. What difference will my name make in this world. Am I going to just live an existence that makes absolutely no contribution to bettering this world? I hope everyday that my brief amount of time on this rock will make an impact for the better for my kids.

The baby shower was completely amazing. My wife and I had a great time. Some of the most special people in our lives made the special trek to show us some love. The funny thing is that after a while I had to force myself not to think about the ones that didn’t make it. I had to appreciate the family who laughed, hugged, and genuinely loved us on that day. The Bruckner Bar and Grill was great in their treatment of us. They gave us a great deal and the food was on point. That seems to be the spot that I will always visit upon my return to NYC. It has a special place in my heart as we organized some of our finest poetry readings there.

When my wife and I got home, we went through all our cards and it was such an outpouring of love. I was taken aback how people took the time out to go out of their way to make sure this little baby girl will have everything she needs upon her entrance to the world. I have about 27 thank you cards to write and each one will have its special feel.

My wife and I both battled colds in the past week. So much fun.