5/3/26, The Deep End
Wizard Fight, Weedeater - Jack is starting to come around to metal, which is good.
Upon Jack’s arrival, I was quick to update my insurance and move forward with a knee surgery — the dark cloud over my head for the past 2 years. On one hand, stoked to finally fix this thing that’s been nagging at me. On the other hand, stressed about the road to recovery, especially with the baby. I tried hard to focus on “glass half full” , but I couldn’t get there. In full honesty, I was throwing myself a pity party, with a known and bleak depression scheduled for the month of May.
Let’s make it pour.
Figured I’d get a vasectomy in the same week and line up my recovery windows. The right move. Good execution.
And miserable, as anticipated.
And if a knee surgery and vasectomy in the same week wasn’t already hard enough. Let’s add the Flu, hitting the day before surgery. And of course, passing the flu to Jack.
Two people in the household with the flu
Knee surgery, can’t walk
Vasectomy, balls really hurt
Not being able to walk makes the baby thing extremely hard. As a man of few (yet effective) tricks, walking was among the top of the desired and effective tricks for “fixing” a fussy baby. No more. When Jack was sleeping on my chest post feed, all good. Any other situation? Disaster.
The vasectomy. Let me tell you. Holy hell. That hurt. The sharp lightning bolts of pain, directly to my balls. So much so that it would create a churning of my stomach and intestines. Sitting in my rocker. Legs up. Ice pack on the balls. Ice pack on the knee. Heating pad on the stomach. Fuck me. Luckily I had oxys and edibles, a minor consolation prize.
The depth of darkness in the tunnel was short lived. Within a few days I was able to walk around the house. And after a few days, the balls recovered.
The ability to do a short walk around the neighborhood with Blu and Jack has never been more valued. When you’re on the other side, the gratitude really kicks in. “Loving life” because you can walk around the block is a beautiful thing.
::
5/10/26, Mothers Day
Mother, Kacey Musgraves - the gift that keeps on giving
Mother’s Day holds a very different meaning this year. The density of work, attention, and effort over a sustained 10 week (and forever to go) stretch has been a test unlike any other. The benefit of that forced step back, to acknowledge the effort and celebrate the journey. I welcome it.
Seeing the growth of your relationship with Jack has been magical.
I wrote that to Julia, and it’s truly been one of the best parts. With each year, the value and appreciation of each additional year intensifies. We are extremely lucky to have had 17 years to build our foundation together. And in that 17 years we’ve developed a depth of relationship that is unique and rare at my age. This depth has shown itself in the 10 weeks with Jack across a vast range. I see the best of our relationship, friendship, and love in my son.
Today is worthy of celebration.