I’m excited about my first grandson and all that.  So proud of my daughter. However, I spent an absurd amount of time thinking about something else. I was planning on hugging my son-in-law.

To date, I have not done so. However, his family and he too hug each other when they see each other.  He hugs Linda and other people. So it gets a little awkward in that I think I should hug him.

It’s not that I don’t want to. It’s that I don’t think there is anything wrong with a handshake. My wife’s family shakes hands. The guys do it a lot. Its an affectionate show, but my father-in-law shakes hands like it a sign of peace at a very progressive Catholic church.  Greet each other good morning. Give each other a sign of peace. Go in peace!

As we have all gotten older in my family, we hug more.  The parents get an embrace when we arrive and a longer one when we leave. The rest get one dispensed (lovingly) at the end where we go off on our separate ways before we are tempted to hug again.

So In a way, I want to finally hug my son-in-law.  Sort of you’ve done enough to earn it. But not really.  I already love that guy. But the first hug, after its gone so long has to be impromptu.  For me, that means well planned out. Tell him, I’m more comfortable with a half a wave and a see you round, but I am fully onboard with a hug.

So I thought about it.  Sort of planned how it would go down.  I imagined the scenario and thought out the repercussions of it.

Then the baby arrived.  We came into the room and he was holding the baby.  So I went in to the bathroom and washed my hands.

Engagement averted.

Then it was time to leave.  He was holding the baby again.  Damn it. I want to get it over with. I hug my daughter as she laid in bed and gave her a big hug.  May have told her that I love her face to face for the first time.

As for the son in law, I clamped him on the shoulder.  He had his hand out to shake. I awkwardly moved in to shake it as well.

The planning starts over.  At the baptism?