Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Writer describes grandson's first journey

As many of you probably read in last weeks newspaper, I became a grandfather on Friday, July 7, 2006.

My grandsons name is Joshua Matthew Hagelstein and he was born in Little Rock, weighing 6 pounds and 11 ounces and measuring 19 inches long.

That gives me a great reason to be thankful for one more positive thing that has happened to me since I arrived two years ago in Gurdon.

Those of you who read the earlier Johns Journeys know that things have changed quite a bit for me in two years.

My oldest daughter Erin, from Indiana, made it through college.

My family and I got back together last year and now we even have one more member.

And he, Joshua Matthew, is what I would like to write to you about today.

The announcement reached me about 4 p.m. Thursday, July 6, that they were taking Kelley Marie, my daughter, to the University of Arkansas Medical Science hospital on Markham Street in Little Rock.

I was finishing up some work for the Gurdon Times and my wife, Michelle, was trying to get through with some grocery shopping over in Arkadelphia.

We both hurried and met at the house in 20 minutes. It sounded like little Josh was going to wait on us to be born but one never knows about these things.

The last time I had ran to the hospital for a baby was when Kelley was born in 1984.

Still, I had not forgotten the sense of urgency involved.

It seemed like it took forever to get the groceries put away that Thursday night and to get on the road to UAMS, but it was really only a few minutes.

We got to the hospital and found Kelleys room. She would be in labor for 14 hours.

That night, Michelle and I slept in a hospital waiting room right next to the sign that said "no sleeping in here."

Well forgive me, as I probably got two hours of sleep. But nobody came to give me any trouble. They were much too busy anticipating the birth of babies.

The next morning was a series of going in to check on Kelley and having doctors and nurses throw me and my wife out. We played that game until nearly noon.

At 11:44 a.m., we were standing outside of the birthing room door and we heard the first scream of Joshua Matthew Hagelstein. He has a great set of lungs.

Hopefully, he will listen to popular anti-smoking propaganda and that way he will keep that healthy set of lungs.

The baby and mother came through the birthing process with flying colors. Grandpa was allowed to hold little Josh and look into his eyes. The kid and old man both smiled.

This may very well be the most important Johns Journey I have ever written.

My journey has now led me to see the start of a new generation, and to face the awesome responsibility of now being considered a grandfather. All I can say is Solomon is not the only person to ever pray for wisdom.

I care about the effects on others of my words and actions more than I have at any other point in my life. I believe it has a lot to do with the fact that I now have a little buddy who will soon be watching and learning.

Until next time, this is John, still on his Journey.