Broken Sky

We drove ‘up North’ last night to visit sister Sophie and have a bit of a catch-up. She came down a bit, we moved up a bit, we met in the middle and had a nice meal. We then drove back through what I can only describe as The Mother Of All Storms. At first it was beautiful, then it became biblical. An interesting dance of lights across the crowds became a quiet frightening attack of lightning and a downpour that was so torrential we had to pull the car into a layby until it passed. And it took a LONG time to pass. I guess we knew it had to happen – normally in England we only get a few days of hot weather before a storm breaks; but this year we’ve had weeks and weeks of Mediterranean temperatures without respite, and there had to be payback sometime.

I love extreme weather and I love the clearing effects of a good dose of thunder and lightning, but at times last night it got scary.

Normally I’d have sat in the car watching it happen and taken delight in the danger and uncertainty, but I just kept thinking ‘I have a pregnant wife and an unborn child with me and I have to make sure they are safe.’

So I guess impending fatherhood is changing me. I’m not sure I like it very much, but this strange sense of responsibility seems to be slowly taking over my personality. My main priority seems to be the protection of my spouse and upcoming offspring at the expense of everything else. Is this normal during pregnancy? I honestly think I would have thrown myself in front of a falling tree or taken a hit of lightning to the face if I knew it would ensure my family survived. That is not the usual Rory way of thinking – ask anyone I’ve ever dated before Philippa…..

I know there are a lot of women who change a lot when the hormones surge while they’re carrying a child. Can the same be true of men? Or am I just growing up a bit and becoming less selfish?

It’s all very confusing, and I suspect it will only get worse as we continue on this baffling journey towards ParentLand.

(4 months and counting…….)

RC 28-7-18