Andy Stanley

It has been nice taking in the scenery of Bakersfield’s surroundings for the last day or so.  As this modest hamlet is snuggled in the southern end of the San Joaquin valley we are surrounded by beautiful mountains on three sides which are obscured more than 300 days a year by smog, dust, flying geese, hot air balloons, etc.  Well the geese, balloons and etc. to a lesser degree than the smog and dust, but you get the picture.

Less geese-y

The point is that it has been clear enough to see these beauties in semi-HD and to up the ante, they are covered in snow.  Yet amidst all of this beauty I get the sense a lot of people weren’t enjoying it.  Popular comments on a twitter search of Bakersfield:

@mshubacca: Stuck in Bakersfield- all routes under snow… cramping my vacation style!

@davejohnston: Got a call last night, relatives stuck in Bakersfield, CA because of snow road closings. Good times right now…winter begins Dec 21

@cfletcher83: Stuck in bakersfield til the grapevine opens. Hurry up and thaw!

Mother nature has bestowed upon us this wonderful moment, the Chamber of Commerce is beaming and Twitternation is lamenting being “stuck in Bakersfield.”  And despite my faux outrage, I can wholeheartedly sympathize with these poor souls.  Sitting in your car, unable to accomplish your explicit task of getting somewhere, be it traffic, broken car or snow, blinds you to the outside world and truly befouls otherwise pleasant people. 

Luckily I have no intention of leaving the general vicinity for quite a while, so traffic related aggravation will be at a minimum.  In fact I believe there is some requirement that new dads not leave the county for two years.  That may only apply to new dads who are also on parole but why risk it?

I am just thankful that things look a little nicer than usual and hopeful that possibly a few passing through, stuck or unstuck, enjoy the beauty of the southern Sierras. 

Bakersfield

No, I am not referring to the 1985 movie Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend starring William Katt of “The Greatest American Hero” fame.  But since I have given myself the chance I did see this movie when I was nine and despite the touching man meets brontosaurus storyline I still have to agree with the 4.6 out of 10 rating on IMDB.

(The LA Daily News says it is “A Cross Between Raiders of the Lost Ark and E.T.!” which are 7.9 and 8.7 out of 10 respecfully on IMDB)

Back to the point, of course I am talking about the baby soon to be for Korrine and me. 

As of late my wife Korrine has been unmistakably pregnant.  I know this because while traveling the recent Christmas party circuit, people immediately engage in the the usual pregnancy rundown as opposed to the previous guarded cautiousness.  Guarded cautiousness is indicated by the prospective baby enquirer starting some casual small talk while fishing for info that will eliminate the possible mistake of getting details on a baby that is in fact just belly fat. 

So now that we have entered the comfort zone of inspiring the “Holy Trinity of baby questions” or HTBQ; 1) When is the baby due, 2) Do you know what you are having and 3) Do you have a name, we have enjoyed basking in the glow of being acknowledged parents to be.  But of course right around the corner there will be no time for basking or glowing there will just be the demands of parenting, and while still hypothetical, demands I am greatly looking forward to.

Next week this time I will be knee deep in demands and will be sure to update my current outlook at the time.  But regardless of the level of distress I may be in, I will be happy to have baby and wife back at home, settling in for a couple decades of standard domestic fare.  Good times indeed.

And for those who do not know the answers to our HTBQ, 1) This Friday, December 19, 2) a girl and 3) Claire Noelle Stanley.

Family Baby, Korrine, Parenting