Three Teens

Saturday my third little baby turned thirteen, meaning that I now live with three teenagers. I grew up in a large family so this is nothing new, right? But it has been 20 years, the summer of ’89. I think it is harder as the father, but infinitely more rewarding.

Erika is so pretty and so smart. She may not know 100 billion digits of pi (like some kid in her class) but does well enough in math and excels at everything else. And her beauty has been uninterrupted for 13 years. I am a witness to that.

Erika spent her first week in life in intensive care. There was an intercom to gain access and I remember the pride I felt when I first said, “David Hixon. I’m Erika Hixon’s father.” Of all the titles I may have during this life, none is dearer to me than that one: Erika Hixon’s father.