Hope all y’all had a great Easter weekend. Apart from its religious significance, Easter has become a secular cornerstone of holidays in American society, a time for family gathering and renewal.

That was brought home to me the day before Easter Sunday when my third grandchild came into the world. Benjamin arrived good to go at Apgar 8 and 9, weighing nine pounds twelve ounces and measuring 22 inches, exactly the same specs as his mom a quarter century ago. I delivered that little girl with my own two hands – the single coolest thing I’ve ever done in my life, which is why I still tell total strangers about it – and on a weekend when we celebrate birth and rebirth, it’s beautiful to see that completion of the circle.

Benjamin was born on April 3; another day, and he would have shared a birthday with my dad, who would have been 110 on April 4. Benjamin’s older sister, my first grandchild Robin, shared her birthday with my mom…how cool is THAT?

On April 4, I celebrated Easter and my father’s birthday shooting in the IDPA event of the Florida Sunshine Games. Dad owned his share of auto pistols, but always carried a revolver for serious business. When his only son developed a preference for the .45 automatic at age twelve, he rolled his eyes and didn’t quite SAY, “Well, at least the kid ain’t a commie beatnik drug addict,” but the message was clear. So, I shot a wheel gun – the S&W Performance Center .45 mentioned in our coverage of the SHOT Show here a few months ago – and managed to turn in the top revolver score.

Just couldn’t shoot an auto on my dad’s birthday…ya gotta pay respect to parental values somehow…and shooting a match that replicates the defense of the innocent doesn’t strike me as at all incongruous to the celebration of life that is Easter.

The important thing from my perspective is, mother and baby are doing well, and life is good, and it was definitely a happy Easter on this end.  Hope it was on your end, too.  Feel free to tell us about it here.

1 COMMENT

  1. Many congratulations and well wishes, and thanks for reminding us of what makes it all worthwhile.

  4. Congratulations, Grandpa! I share your “coolest feeling” as I delivered my own daughter a little over 27 years ago and she has since blessed me with two wonderful grandsons. Thanks for the memories….

  5. Excellent post — on what is absolutely the most important thing in this earth life — being a good dad, grandpa, husband, friend, son, brother.
    Thanks so much!

  6. A great Easter weekend it was! I got to spent Saturday shooting an IDPA match and then having lunch with great friends. Sunday I got the rare chance to get to church and see my father in law, and WWII vet, give 2 readings at church. Ashley (4) left a shower of sprinkles from her glittery dress all over the place, and Daniel (7) dropped his program forward of the pew halfway thru the service and spent a good portion of the rest of it teetering at midrift on the pew back trying to retrieve it, unsuccessfully. Big family dinner later in the day. As my old pal Bob Smith likes to say, Life Is Good!

    By the way, that’s a cute little fella there! Thanks for the news and the picture, best to baby and family! Congrats also on the top revolver score!

    Your story of births and revolvers reminds me of my family story that started with my Dad getting me a Steyr 243 rifle on the day of my birth. I have that rifle now and cherish it greatly. In keeping with the tradition, and because my Dad had always been a Ruger fan, I bought each of my kids, on the day they were born, a Ruger revolver.

    The boy will eventually have “his” Single Six 22LR and the girl will eventually take possession of “her” Bearcat 22LR revolver. I plan to use each child’s revolver eventually to teach them shooting fundamentals. They will each be instilled with what my teachers taught me, safety, proper technique, and a respect for the important role that weapons play in protection of the innocent.

    Thanks for the great Blog, and congrats again on the grandbaby!!!

  8. Very cool and congrats! I delivered my second son (our midwife was coming in the front door as I was catching). My wife says she did all the work; I say she doesn’t know how slippery those little guys are.

  9. “Slippery” is the operative term, isn’t it, Alan? 🙂

    That was one of the first things that went through my mind as my daughter came through the birth canal and into my waiting hands… I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. It turned out to be the obstetrician, his hands reaching out reflexively to catch the baby he thought I was going to drop. Turned out I was the first dad he had allowed to deliver his own baby under his supervision: it was the “in thing” back in 1985, but I guess he still had his doubts.

    Alan, I think your wife was right. The moms delivered the babies. We just “accepted delivery”… 🙂

    Thanks to you, Alan, and all before you who submitted comments. Let’s hear more!

  10. Hi Mas,

    We too, had a wonderful Easter. I played (trumpet) at a Church and then we went my Cousin’s for a family get-together.

    While there I conducted a gun-orientation and safety presentation for several members of the family, aged 8 to 50 something. Several of the people involved were of the gun-fearing liberal persuasion BERFORE said presentation (all the myths still exist with the typical non-gun person: the hollowpoints that leave holes a softball could fit through, guns like Glocks being dangerous if they don’t have a manual safety, etc.). I’m happy to say, they left with a more informed and neutral opinion. Next on the plan is a family get-together at the range.

    Best wishes,

    John

  12. Congrats Mas, what a wonderful time to be in the spirit and to have a Grandchild this Month. My Son was also Born on April 8.
    God bless and thanks for sharing.

  13. “shooting a match that replicates the defense of the innocent doesn’t strike me as at all incongruous to the celebration of life that is Easter.”

    Amen. Happy Easter and Congrats, Mas.

  16. One grandpa to another, Congratulations! Big, good-looking boy, he is! Our latest grandbaby arrived two days before Benjamin, so I’m right there with you. Nine pounds-twelve-Wow! He’ll be ready for a 1911 by next year!

  17. Congrats, Mas,
    My daughter was born two days before my Moms’ birthday and the daughter had her daughter on my Dads’ birthday. It’s great having Grandkids.

  20. Congats Maas. You do realize it’s your job, as a Grandparent, to spoil these little bundles of joy as rotten as you can.
    It truly is a miracle that only God can preform.

  22. Congrats. I also caught my oldest when he made his slide out into the world!
    It was indeed, the coolest thing I have ever done before or sense. God Bless.

  23. Congrats, Mas.

    It is good to be reminded about the important things in life. Thanks for sharing.

    Beautiful baby. You sure he is related to you? 😉

    Mike

  24. Great looking Grandchild! My first Grandchild was born on the 13 of march. Spritely lass, small but game with a set of lungs like a banshee. The wee ones always remind me that the being armed means protecting our family.

  25. My daughter was born in 1985 also. She made me a grandpa Aug. 16th of last year. As Mike said, it is good to be reminded what is important in life.

    Congrats and best wishes,
    Wayne

  26. Congratulations on your blessing this Easter. As one of my favorite writers, you deserve becoming grand.

  27. Congradulations Mas, and belated Happy Easter!

    My Easter was spent very quietly with my wife, and while it was nowhere near as cool as your Easter, it was a very good way to spend it. 🙂

  29. One more congratulations, Mas!
    My daughter was born in ’85 also, although the doc caught her, I was there to cut the cord. Seems like it was just a few weeks ago.
    Benjamin’s a handsome little guy, and it looks like he’s already practicing his grip! Although I suspect right now he’s more interested in a different kind of “milking action”!
    Seriously, congratulations and thank you and all your peers for helping to make this world a safer place for our children to grow up in.