The cycle of life

Shay & Sasha & baby Francis

With the death of two dear uncles earlier this year, it was a refreshing experience to be in the company of a newborn and his proud parents last night.

We visited my second cousin Shay, her husband Sasha and their baby boy Francis at their home in Southeast Portland. It was a perfect summer night, with a light breeze coming through the living room window and a quiet dinner on the deck overlooking their backyard.

Francis was born June 8, a day before Shay's birthday and two weeks before Sasha's. Throw in Father's Day and it made for a month of celebrations. Not that anyone's complaining, of course.

It's been oh-so-long since I changed a diaper, fetched a bottle or wrestled with a car seat, so it was nice to be a spectator and see the joy that Shay and Sasha exhibit as young parents, nurturing and nuzzling their little guy. Um, make that their not-so little guy. At 21 inches, his height registered in the 93rd percentile of newborns.

Bootleg, master of the house

Francis was snoozing when we arrived just before 6:30 pm. After he woke up, it took him a little while to find his comfort zone -- maybe a diaper change had something to do with it. But by the time we left, just before 9 pm, he had settled into an alert but calm phase, eyes wide open and snuggled in Sasha's arms as we conversed with everyone, including their roommate Aaron.

We brought Otto along and he left having made a new friend in Bootleg.

There's much to appreciate in the cycle of life. As our elders pass away, their places on this planet are taken by shiny, new little people like Francis. One can only hope we leave the Earth in good enough shape that his and future generations can partake of the same opportunities -- educational, economic and environmental -- that we've been privileged to have.