I’m the only About Men Radio member who is unmarried and childless, but I do have four godsons.
The first was born with some complications. I remember being in the waiting room with my brother reassuring him that everything would be OK and praying.
I may have also offered whatever was needed, such as blood or bone marrow, not really knowing then if they were needed.
My nephew and the incredible medical staff got his fever down and a few days later he left the hospital.
I guess that’s why I was chosen to be his godfather — because I would’ve given up anything to save him.
As time passed, I’d always thought of myself in that “protector” role.
Several years later, I was teaching him to ride a bicycle without his training wheels. I made sure that he had a helmet and pads and while he pedaled, I ran alongside to make sure that he would be OK.
My second godson was born on the evening of a nor’easter.
My sister-in-law, whose labor had started, asked me to go to New Jersey to watch the older two children.
It took me a few hours to get out there as roads were flooded. Cars were submerged on the FDR. I safely made it to their exit and to their home and a few hours later my nephew was born.
I had put the other two in their beds and told them a bedtime story until they fell asleep. They were afraid of the thunder and I kept reassuring them that it would be OK.
I conked out on the rug in their room because I was reading with a flashlight and didn’t want to wake them.
I awoke the next morning with a blanket on me. My brother said that the kids insisted that I had a blanket and stuffed toy because I had kept them safe.
A few months later, I was helping my brother paint their home and was behind a bookcase when I thought I heard my nephew say in a gurgle, “Where’s Uncle John?”
I popped out and said, “Here I am” and he began to laugh.
My sister-in-law looked puzzled and asked me if I knew what he said. I said didn’t he just ask, “Where’s Uncle John?”
Years later the kids wanted to go trick-or-treating and my godson dressed as Darth Maul.
My other nephew was Luke Skywalker, and my niece was Queen Amidala. I donned my Darth Vader costume and chaperoned them through the neighborhood.
My third godson was born to my ex-wife’s sister. I only had about a year’s contact with him because my wife and I divorced.
My fourth godson is the youngest and he’s the son of one of my fellow AMR posse members.
I haven’t had a great deal of contact with him apart from seeing him at family gatherings and on Christmas Eve. I hope this summer there may be some more opportunities to see him.
Although I don’t have the same day-to-day stories as my fellow AMR members, I have a few that I have shared with you on this Father’s Day.
