Perhaps two months after Roby was born Abby and I took her to the coop. While we were walking around a man with a real jolly face stopped us. He was emphatic in his joyous congratulations.

It’s the best!
Just the best,
wow,
congratulations,
what an incredible thing,
I’m so glad for you. 

It was like running into an old friend I hadn’t seen in years, but I had never met him before. I’m not quite as gregarious as that, yet. But I do think that in not so long I’ll have lost the embarassment in the way that I’ve seen other parents lose it, and I’ll be emphatic as I like. Heck, I already am for the most part. 

We ran into him at the grocery store yesterday or the day before and we recognized him. He was with his daughter, she’s 14. He assured us it only gets better and better, it’s the best, and wow how large and beautiful Roby has gotten. 

Was lovely feeling to find in a grocery store. 
I appreciate him a lot, and I hope I see him again sooner than 12 and a half years from now.