I met Jack for the first time this past weekend as family and friends from across the ocean and across this country came together for his parents' wonderful wedding and reception in Halifax, Nova Scotia; savoring the sights of the glorious Halifax harbor, and honoring their wedding hosts on this memorable day.
This wedding weekend was also notable since I saw my beautiful daughter Heather for the first time in six years, and finally met her long-time partner and my new son-in-law, the charming, handsome and eminently likeable James Michell.Heather and James got engaged about two years ago in Brussels, Belgium in a scene right out of a classic Hollywood movie during a weekend away from their home in England. As Heather told me, in an extraordinary telephone call just minutes later, James surprised her with an engagement ring as their car in a Ferris wheel started its descent, approaching the ground. I have never heard her sound as happy as she did that night.
Heather has a healthy sense of adventure and curiosity about new places. So, I wasn’t completely surprised when, several years ago, after earning her university education, including her teaching degree, in her home country, Canada, she announced she was moving to England to pursue her new teaching career. At the time, she couldn’t have known she would, one day, serendipitously meet James, in his home country, England; eventually culminating in little Jack’s birth six months ago—did I mention he’s my new grandson?
At the time of this writing, Heather, James, and Jack are enjoying a well-earned vacation at one of Prince Edward Island’s fabled beaches; renting a cottage only a short walk to the sand and surf. For Heather and James, this respite-by-the-sea could be just what the doctor ordered.
For much of the past year or so they have, understandably, been preoccupied and perhaps sometimes stressed by organizing wedding and reception plans, largely from a distance in England, for their very special wedding weekend; with invaluable help from wedding professionals and hoteliers in Canada with whom they could communicate easily and electronically.
Now, with the formal events completed they can try to relax. Now, at the beach, Heather, James and little Jack can be just a family trying to enjoy the summer sun, without the pressure of having to finalize plans for the wedding, reception, and christening.
From what I saw at the wedding and reception, and at Jack's christening in Heather's hometown, Charlottetown last weekend, his mommy and daddy seem relaxed and comfortable with their precious little boy, and appear to be relishing and enjoying their new roles as parents. Ultimately, seeing my own little girl become a woman over the years who now has a husband and little baby of her own seems strange, but wonderful.
For my part, this new grandpa gig took a bit of time to process in relation to myself--i.e. how could I, of all people, be a grandfather since that only happens to old people, doesn't it? And my favorite: how could Heather do this to me, especially since I'm so young (at heart, anyway)?
But now, with my fresh memories of talking to Jack and holding him as often as I could in Halifax and Charlottetown, this new role of grandpa feels pretty special. And I feel sure Jack is destined, in the coming years, to continue enriching the lives of those who already love him dearly, in ways we can only try to imagine at this point.
