Faye Wundrow Peterson entered into our world this morning weighing in at 7 pounds 9 ounces and measuring 20 and 1/4 inches. Her parents, Kathryn and Eli have just made me a new and very proud grandparent.

Let’s explore some obvious truths. It is a given that Faye will call me Opa and that she will melt my heart a thousand times over in her life time. She will manipulate me, enthrall me, and generally keep me on my toes. Faye will con me into trips to Culvers and McDonalds. She will convince me to buy her milkshakes, slushies and cndy even when I know her mother would say no. She will take me on adventures and all the while keep me young at heart while she does. In short, she will rock my world and I am ready to be rocked.

When I look at this picture of her, swaddled in her hospital bassinet, I can’t help but speculate on what her future holds. Will she ever actually drive a car, or will she simply ride in self driving vehicles? Will she ever keyboard as I am doing right now, or will she simply think and the computer will record her thoughts? What will her career look like and would I ever have seen that coming? For that matter, will she be rich by today’s standards, or will she live in an entirely different world where success is measured by her worth and not her wealth? Will she grow up in a society that values all of its members, no matter their race, creed, or gender? Please let at least that one be true for her.

As I look at Faye in her innocence, I am filled with hope that her life will be all that it can be. That she will feel love and happiness in the world she grows up in. That she will find success and recognize it when she achieves it. That she will seize the opportunities every time one presents itself. That she won’t lose that innocence before she replaces it with the experience to make her best decisions.

If years from now you are reading this Faye, know this about your Opa. No grandfather could ever love his grandchild any more than I love you right this very moment, nor could they ever compete with how much I will love you for all of the life I get to share with you. Know this Faye, you are loved, now and forever, no matter what.

Welcome to the world Faye. How would you feel about sharing some of your journey with me? All you need do, is hold my hand.

Opa