I’d been waiting to hear those words for the past week or so, and I finally heard them today when my mother called to tell me that the newest addition to our family had arrived this morning. A little boy. My parents’ 11th grandchild.
As I sat and thought about this brand-new baby (and wished I could see him!), I realized something: this child is the first one in the family that will know George only as “Uncle.”
No “Mr. George” for this child.
Unlike his siblings and cousins, this little boy will never remember a time when George wasn’t his uncle. A time when Aunt Treasa lived with Grandma and Grandpa. A time before Uncle George and Aunt Treasa went together like cheese and crackers.
His siblings and cousins, on the other hand, will have to get used to the name “Uncle George.” They’ll have to adjust to the fact that Aunt Treasa won’t be living in Grandma and Grandpa’s house anymore. And they’ve already had to learn to accept George as a new member of the family.
But this new bundle of joy, about whose birth George was just as excited as any uncle could be, this little miracle will grow up always knowing his Uncle George.
And that’s kind of amazing.
Welcome to the family, little one! We can’t wait to meet you!