First Thing First

Elisha Cooper wrote, quite possibly, one of the best opening lines of any book ever published: There’s a head sticking out of my best friend.

This line, from the book: Crawling: A father’s first year, is Mr. Cooper’s humorous, touching account of fatherhood in the first year of a baby’s life. I have never met the man or spoken to him, and I am not getting any endorsing fees in any way. I just wanted to tell you that this book is a wonderful read for any man about to become a father

My little girl, Prudence, was born on Saturday, June 2. Fatherhood has pretty much taken over my life with a vengeance. I quickly realized that the tiniest of things this little girl does has a bigger impact on my life than anything I used to worry about before. Things just don’t matter as much as they used to when you have a child.

“The freaking check-engine light came on in the car today,” I said as I entered the house from a long day at work. “That means I have to write a check to make the engine light turn off. Sheesh, I’m just so aggravated. Like we can afford this crap. Not to mention I don’t have the time—“

“Honey, she smiled today for the first time,” my wife interrupted.

I quickly deflated.

“Aw, really?” I said. “I want to see. Make her do it again,” as if Prudence were a circus act.

I find myself anxiously anticipating all of her many firsts as she grows from babyhood; her first smile, the first time she rolls over, her first haircut, the first time I stand before a judge for beating the shit out of her boyfriend.

It’s a long road from childhood to adulthood and I’m so glad to be along for the ride. I just hope the check-engine light doesn’t come on.