The countdown is on at the Kolbinger house, as Kelly and I are expecting our first grandchild in October. My youngest daughter, Kia, and her husband, Charlie, are busy preparing their nursery and making preparations to become parents.  Just last week, I received my first “Grandpa” t-shirt and I have to admit it’s really cool to think about that name.  

Last Sunday, Kelly and my daughter, Kaitlin  hosted a baby shower that brought together nearly 60 women, and seeing the photos of the day sparked a wave of memories. Including the baby in Kia’s belly, there were four generations of Kolbingers in the pictures, along with grandmas, great-grandmas, aunts, cousins and special friends.  In fact, the only thing missing from the pictures were the guys - we were on Mille Lacs Lake on a 52 foot pontoon launch trying to catch fish. For proof, just ask my cousin Jeff Haus to see the picture of his 20-plus inch Smallmouth Bass (that’s a fish tale for another column).

There was one picture of the baby shower that really caught my eye and it’s accompanied with this column. Over 20 years ago, I had snapped a photo of my two daughters and their friend Chelsie celebrating life and playing in the one foot deep, plastic pool in our front yard. I had film to use up before I brought it in to get developed for that week’s edition (that’s another column topic right there) so I snapped a few photos of the kids. Little did I know it would end up on the front page of the Citizen Newspaper! The kids were pumped. 

Over twenty years later, they posed for a picture again, but maybe this time it had more meaning.  Three childhood “sisters” laughing, celebrating life and reminiscing about the years of fun they had together. And now, here they are again in the newspaper.

Kelly and I have spent many hours thinking about what life will be like as grandparents, and how we can best support our own children as they raise their own little ones.

I try not to worry about the challenges that my grandchild will inherit, although I find it unconscionable that the government will saddle the little baby with nearly $100,000 of Federal debt the minute he or she is born (yet another column).

But for the most part, the excitement of someday hearing “Hey Grandpa” is enough to bring mist to my eyes. I have all the faith in the world that Charlie and Kia will be great parents, and there’s an entire legion of Kolbingers, Cains and friends that will shower the baby with love.

It’s a great time to celebrate life, to cherish the past and to dream of a prosperous future that my grandchild deserves.

My promise to you, little one, is that I’ll do my very best to support, protect and occasionally spoil you before sending you back home to your parents.  That’s the reward of being called Grandpa.