I didn’t mean to, but I did. It’s amazing really, stunning at first, shocking, bewildering, but the more I think about it, it’s one of the best things I could have done.

I couldn’t have done it alone, oh no, it takes two to tango, but the chemistry was just right.

In case you haven’t heard, Sarah, God and I cooked up something to shake things up a bit, a force the world has never seen, a little companion?why yes, we’re having a child.

Expecting unexpectedly, we say, not a mistake, more like a surprise miracle . . . oh, it may never have happened if we had waited to plan it ourselves, we tend to put things off sometimes.

And it’s a boy, the next installment in the “Bracken” series.

The first time I saw him, on the ultrasound machine, he waved at us. Really.

He’s already been introduced to music, responds to sounds, and can kick any of his mother’s major organs upon command (maybe that’s my imagination getting carried away).

Sarah thinks his head is already shaped like mine; glad she sees the resemblance.

It will be fun. It will be hard. More fun than hard though, I’m hoping.

I’m thinking he’ll be a saxophonist and/or drummer; he needs to pick up something I know nothing about so we can start a band: The Brackens, maybe.

I won’t force him though. There will be no living out my unfulfilled dreams through him. He doesn’t have to play music, or football, or write. He has to do something though. Juggling, cooking, painting, whatever, just do something. I’ll help him make it happen. Oh, I hope he doesn’t want to be a snowmobile trickster. We’d have to move for one thing; seeing him do backflips in the snow with a 150-horsepower machine between his legs would totally freak his parents out for another.

Don’t be surprised if he’s accompanying me to sales meetings, delivery stops and concerts. He may be tagging along with Big Daddy for a while. He’ll like that.

Well, I need to start saving for his car, and Christmas, and college . . .

Peace,

Bracken Mayo, Editor in Chief