Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

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All headlines, bulletins, small talk, chit-chat, gossip and any other news in any way shape or form is put on a back burner because of the really big news! On November 29 I became a grandpa.

Yes, my daughter Nikki had a 7 pound 6 ounce healthy little girl. Her name is Christiana Chanel. She is perfect. I got to hold her on Sunday when my sons (her new uncles) and I drove to Cranston Rhode Island to see her for the very first time.

Of course, we are Del Pontes so nothing is done calmly or without drama. First, it was pouring rain, then the GPS stopped working (we used my son’s iPhone for directions). And if you say I should know where my daughter lives by now, you’re right, but I still get confused.

Then on the ramp to 95 south off 93, a small SUV three cars ahead of us lost control and rolled over landing on its roof. Yes, Christiana, grandpa and your two uncles are coming to visit, but first we have to call 911 and help push a car back right side up and pull the unconscious driver out!

So, this being done we drove on in the blinding rain, wipers at full speed. We were already excited to see Christiana, and now our adrenaline was pumping like crazy.

So we get to the house and we see the most beautiful child ever in her lovely mother’s arms. We all took turns holding her (after my daughter made us wash our hands!) and took pictures. That was the easy part. The hard part is the pressure of trying to be a good grandpa. By the way, I chose to be called grandpa because that’s what I called my grandfather, and my dad was known as that to my kids. It’s tradition.

I already ordered her an engraved music box and I’m keeping my eyes open for more gifts for our new little angel. I’m sure I will find plenty. That’s not what I’m concerned with. First of all, I have to learn how to drive the 70 plus miles without a GPS (by the way, the dumb thing started working again the day after we went).

My sons and I will be visiting as much as possible. So I have to learn some bouncing a little girl on my knee songs (I’ll write some new ones!). I’m sure I will remember how to put her hair in pigtails like I did with her mother. But the other stuff should come easy, like the love.

My dad was an awesome grandpa to Nikki (my daughter). They were two peas in a pod, partners in crime, pals, and cohorts. The photos we have are precious. My own grandpa was a smiling, singing hugging and kissing machine. So I come from a long line of good grandpas.

I can’t describe the joy I had when I was holding Christiana in my arms. I have seen both my sons (almost 18 and 16) smile many times before, but never like they smiled while holding their adorable tiny new niece. And they are the second generation Uncle Joey and Uncle Jimmy, because my brother and I were the first.

Thanks for all the personal phone calls, and the hundreds of Facebook messages of congratulations. I must thank Nikki and her husband Brandon for giving us this unbelievable gift.

I can’t wait to pass on the small-scaled electric guitar that her uncles learned on. I will also give her a keyboard that she can bang. This child just might be the next Taylor Swift!  She already has a name that sounds like a rock star…Christiana Chanel! One thing is for sure, she is the star of our family. I’m sure her great grandmother Gerry and great grandfather Fred are smiling down (or up). And I am positive that Christiana’s grandma Christine will be watching over her precious granddaughter every second of her life. And I will do my best as her grandpa to spoil her, hug her, teach her, and love her.