Greetings fans,
I was going to start this post with "Your favorite nightwalker is back with another exciting post." Until I looked up the definititon of nightwalker. So now I must settler for this instead:
Here is another post. (safe and to the point)
May 16, 2013 will always be a special day for me. Not because that was the day the series finale of The Office aired. Fun fact: I've seen The Office at least 10 times but have never seen the series finale. I may get into those reasons in another post but I digress.
5/16/2013 is the day my baby boy John came into this world and changed the course of elder John forever.
I remember finding out late in 2012 that my then-girlfriend Francis was pregnant and all I could do was laugh. I don't know why I laughed. I never wanted kids or thought about having kids. But, for whatever reason, I was happy.
Francis, not so much. She cried in the bathroom of our one bedroom apartment in Columbus as soon as it was confirmed she was going to be promoted to babymama.
The next few months were not ideal. Francis returned home to Mexicali and San Diego to plan the wedding that would eventually get canceled, while I stayed in Ohio for work anticipating her return. In January of 2013, the day before buying a car that we would need once the baby arrived, I got super high with a buddy before entering a casino that would keep me prisoner for what seemed like 45 minutes but really was eight hours. When I told Francis what happened, she let me hear it. "Ya vas a ser papa! Asi vas a estar cuando llegue tu hijo?!?! Que chingados te pasa!?!?" I didn't feel like I did something wrong, but that was the first time I've been yelled at as someone responsible for another life. It was weird.
Later that week Francis had her visa taken away while in Mexicali, leaving me with a worry that was hard to deal with. Our baby was five months away from being born and my future was full of uncertainty.
My mom was the one who broke the news to me that my baby was going to be a boy. I was on my way home from a wrestling tournament with the Mifflin High Punchers when she let it slip over the phone. Those who know my mom would not be surprised by this. I did not want to know the sex of the baby, and at first I was bothered, but that feeling quickly evaporated. I was going to have a baby boy. That's not news one should be mad about.
I made the decision to leave everything behind and drive home from Ohio to Mexicali with my belongings and three cats. It was a long trip that consisted of naps in a Denny's parking lot in Kansas City, a friend's house in Denver, and at my cousins in Mesquite before arriving in San Diego.
I arrived in San Diego on May 14th in the evening. I was exhausted. I planned on staying there a day or two before making the two hour drive to Mexicali. I spoke with the babymama the next day and told her I'll be out there the following day. She told me to pack the car with all the baby supplies and I, in true John fashion, told her I absolutely would and definitely did not.
My precious sleep was interrputed early in the morning on the 16th. Francis called me to let me know that she was on her way to the hospital because baby John was going to make his grand arrival. She asked me if the car was packed and ready and I said, "Claro. Ya ahorita voy en camino."
I hang up the phone and wake up my mother and plead with her to help me load the car with all the supplies because the baby is on his way and I told Francis the car was ready and I need help now because if I show up late she's going to assume I didn't load up the car and probably kill me. This isn't far-fetched. Mexicanas are scary creatures. Pregnant Mexicanas? Their anger comes from the depths of Mount Doom.
We load up the car in record time and we head out to Mexicali. Fortunately for me, it was a false alarm. Unfortunately for me, since I wasn't there, her pops had to take her in his car. His car decided to run out of gas.
Normally one would say, "hey, it happens." But we're talking about Mexicali in May. The heat was in the triple digits and my sumo-shaped babymama was about to burst. You can say her mother was a bit upset with her husband. Surprisingly she didn't Will Smith him. Sure enough, when I get there later on the blame is put on me. Apparently if I would have arrived the day before none of that would have happened. How was I supposed to know the man wasn't going to have gas in his car?
Anyway, shortly after her water breaks. I manage to take a mirror picture of the historic event.
We go to the hospital and I'm not allowed to join her. All I could do for the next many hours is pace back and forth, worrying, hoping, thinking. It wasn't until about 10:30pm that I'm told my son was born a few hours earlier. I was now the proud papa of a healthy, handsome baby boy. I was told to return the next day to meet him during visiting hours.
I go back to the house and can barely sleep. I wanted nothing more than to see my son and Francis. I was invited out for some drinks by my future brother-in-law but I declined. I just wanted to shut my eyes asap so tomorrow can arrive quickly.
May 17, I meet my son.
It was very surreal. I couldn't believe it. I fell in love. I felt excitement. I felt fear.
To be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect when I returned from Ohio. I was returning to be a dad and hopefully a husband. It took me a while to process everything. Maybe too long. The feeling of doubt was lingering above me since returning. But my son always reminded me of why I made this decision.
One moment stands out in particular. I was working at a job I hated. The hours were terrible, the pay even worse and the work environment was toxic. I hated life. But kids have a unique way of easing your troubles. It was around Thanksgiving when I got home and John was sleeping. He must have heard me because he opened his eyes. And the first thing he does is make eye contact with me, and just smiles.
Fast forward to 2022, and John is nine years old. My first born. Mi viejo. Older brother to la Pechocha and Pepeton. He's made me become a responsible dad who does anything and everything to make sure he and the family are all right.
What I like most about my son is that he is a good person at heart. He enjoys helping people. He wants everyone to be happy. Despite claiming otherwise, he loves his sister and supports Isabella in everything she does.
A few weeks ago, they had their first jiu-jitsu tournament, and while Isabella was competing, the loudest in the gym was John. He was yelling out instructions and encouraging her to do well. While winning the match, Isa began to cry because she got scared. As soon as she got off the mat, John was there to console her to let her know she did great. That's who John is.
For someone who never wanted kids, I feel I've done a pretty good job raising my son. I know I tend to be too hard on him at times and for whatever reason, I have high expectations for him. I'm trying to be better with that. The wife has helped me tremendously with this. Being a dad has been the best thing that has happened to me.
I don't know if John will ever read this. I'm not one to celebrate people online. I like to let them know in person my feelings. I tell my kids everyday that I love them. This post is for my fans and groupies to let them know I have a pretty amazing son. Aside from the fact his dream is to grow up to be a Youtuber, he's got a good head on his shoulders and a big heart.
Feliz cumpleaños a mi viejo.
Take care everyone. And never forget: Black Lives Matter. Fuck ICE. No human being is illegal. Love is love.
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