From the Union Street Roastery, on the corner of Fillmore and Union Streets in San Francisco, this long overdue post is born. The floors are wood, the coffee earthy, and I am plugged into the wall through Grandma Janet’s laptop.

We are in a season of Firsts. Everyday marks a first something for the boys. Mostly completely unremarkable firsts, like ‘first February,’ and several remarkable ones. Meaning of course that the proud, if long-winded, father is willing to remark. Amongst these are things that every one the 6 billion of us have done, yet become amazing, life-changing, telephone call provoking, remarkable events, when done by one of our own. Wednesday Ian rolled over; once as an accident and then once again to prove that it wasn’t. Thursday Jeremy and Ian produced what we deem their first ‘genuine’ smiles. It is always hard to be sure, but the evidence became conclusive when neither smile was followed by passing gas. Proof positive in our books. How could any of this be entertaining? I do not know. Except that perhaps it is one of the few things in our lives that we enjoy at the right time. Neither looking forward to the next first, nor glorifying the last one, but as genuinely excited as a cynical 30-something might ever be. Right there in the comfort of our own home.

Yesterday we took the boys on their first airplane ride. The same plane that I fly, of course, this time I was in the back. They apparently loved it with all the passion in their hearts, which they showed by sleeping from terminal to terminal. They unfortunately missed the captain’s announcement welcoming Jeremy and Ian aboard for their first flight and recognizing them as the world’s cutest twins, and the flight attendant saving a row in the front for them. Every profession has its perks.

Grandma Janet’s new apartment in the heart of San Francisco has proven a great retreat. Over the fields and through the woods to Grandmother’s Victorian flat in Pacific Heights we go. Today’s other firsts included first MUNI bus ride, first boat ride, and first bottle feeding in a former federal penitentiary.

My month of family leave will end with the end of the month. I will shave my beard and go back to early wake up calls. Megan will go back to a far lonelier night and early morning shift. Lord help us. We have found the twinfants quite manageable with two of us not working.

We were very surprised early this month to learn that I will be moving to the next aircraft in the SkyWest fleet. In the airline world all upgrades and moves are based on seniority. We expected my seniority to allow this move a couple years from now, not now. I will (amazingly) be able to do this and remain based in Santa Barbara. The plane is called a Canadair Regional Jet. (CRJ) It is a 50 seat jet, that is about twice the size of my current plane, quite a bit more modern, a lot faster, and prettier… Because that is what matters. Another very unexpected blessing. The only downside of this is that I will have to go to about 6 weeks of CRJ specific training in Salt Lake City. This could spell a disaster on the home front. However, we are working on several creative solutions that will hopefully keep the wife out of the psyche ward, the boys alive, the husband un-distracted, and the marriage in-tact. In other words: Pray for us.

Thanks


First Flight