Becoming an Aunt: Parker Austin September 26, 2010

The Self-Absorbed Backpacker

With South America whisked away, I made my first true trip home after 15 months (this excludes the tumultuous 23 hour Atlanta lay-over the previous September).  As days turn into months, living a perpetual summer, without note of public holidays or work weeks, it’s surprisingly easy to forget that life moves on at home and in other corners of the world.  The updates and the excited news via email or skype are somehow intangible.  Not that you shrug it off, but it’s surreal – it’s difficult to process.

My sister’s pregnancy began not long after her visit to Ecuador.  I didn’t really “get it” until I opened an email 6 months later with a 20-week ultrasound, and a side-profile of a chick with boobs who strikingly resembled my sister.  (My sister never had boobs!)

Though Amanda would never pressure or make me feel guilty for my absence, I had missed one of the biggest and most exciting times of her life.  And all those months away suddenly seemed like a long time.

So I planned an immediate re-route…to Midlothian, Virginia – 8 days post due-date.

Meeting Parker

It was a wonderful experience.  To see the transformation as my sister became a mother, and a couple become a family.  At the risk of sounding horrible, I didn’t know how I was going to feel about having a stranger in the house.  But yes, I did immediately fall in love and it was actually impossible to look at him and even consider selfishness.  My stories seemed less important, even though Amanda would have given her last ounce of energy trying to listen.  Parker is a sweet, content boy, has a smile that lights the room and a cry rarely heard.  And my sister is an outstanding mother, she trouble shoots with humor, is light hearted and graceful.

My post-Patagonia Parker stop was a humbling visit, and in many ways took me away from myself.  I used this homecoming as an opportunity to be the audience.  And the rewards were amazing.

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