Another firecracker

My friend Mellisa (the one the left), who is currently teaching at a university in South Korea, just announced she's pregnant. I kind of figured after the trio of weddings last summer (along with myself and Cathy, our friends Corey and Donna along with Chris and Lisa, also got married. All within an eight day span) that there would be a few announced pregnancies before Christmas. I didn't think it would be Melissa announcing first, though. Still, a big congratulations is in order for her and her boyfriend, Dong Jin. Another firecracker in the fold.

(During the weddings, someone suggested the next wave of children my friends are having should be called firecrackers. It's an in-joke, but a cute one).

This is the point, I guess, where my circle starts having kids. I'm in my mid-30s and most of my friends are the same age or a bit younger. It's not so much "Ah ha, the clock is ticking" as it is this is how long it's taken them to get their shit together. By the time most of them graduated university, went to grad school (I feel undereducated with only two Bachelor degrees), gave up trying to find work in Newfoundland, move away, try to meet the right person, get married, buy a house, start a career and other stuff, they're pretty much on course.

Besides, everyone knows that college educated people generally don't start families until their 30s. So I imagine the next few years is going to be very busy with the pitter patter of little feet.

It's still kind of surreal to watch it happpen. I imagine everyone goes through this when their friends start having kids, but I know these people really well. We went through MUN together. We survived The Muse, with its insane deadlines, cliques, inter-dating, alocholism and general mistrust from the rest of the student body. I don't drink that much, so I was normally the sober one when we went out and did stuff. I was a designated driver for about six years. I saw many strange things while sober.

I look at these people, becoming parents and think, "Wait a sec, you were arrest for attempted break and enter (aquitted, btw). You ran naked down city streets. You raced a sofa down an icy Downtown hill on New Years and nearly killed three people. You were once told you could 'drink an impressive amount for your body weight.' I held your hair back when you were puking. You once stayed awake 60 hours doing the paper and writing paper's and now you're having trouble staying awake because of the baby's crying. And hey, weren't you gay at one point?" (Yes, I know gay people can be parents. I'm making a point here.)

Weirdness.

(Disclaimer: All of the above actually happened, although not necessarily to the people in the picture above.)

Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled they're having kids. Almost without exception my circle of friends are intelligent, compassionate and passionate about everything they do (hence, the boarderline alcoholism while at MUN. They were passionate drinkers). You couldn't ask for better people to be parents. These are the type of people you want to have children. It's funny, but kind of cool.

Of course, so far I've yet to be asked to be a godparent to any of these children. Clearly this needs to be remedied in the near future or in about 15 years time I'm going to start taking my friends' kids out for coffee and tell them stories about mommy and daddy when they were younger.

"Let me tell you about the time your dad was almost sued for being a racist in St. John's."
"But, dad's from Sri Lanka. He's brown. How could he be accused of being a racist in St. John's?"
"Well, my boy, there in lies a tale. Let me tell you about it...."

Last 5 on iPod
1. Even in the quietest moments - Supertramp (The Very Best Of...)
2. Weather Channel Music - Ben Folds (Songs For Goldfish)
3. Don't cry for me Argentina - Me First and the Gimmie Gimmes (Are A Drag)
4. All I want is you - U2 (Rattle and Hum)
5. Jackie - The New Pornographers (Mass Romantic)