2008. Change.

I am typing this column from my bedroom because the old computer room is no more. It is now the nursery. That gives you a clue to what big change I made this year. First off, the computer room used to be for my brother Matt and myself. We would listen to music each Sunday morning after watching Meet the Press, slurping coffee and asking each other the common question 'What are you going to write about?'

A funny thing happens when you conceive a child. You change.

My brother, who served as my roommate for fifteen years, was honorably discharged. No more Meet the Press, no more Sunday morning music, no more 'What are you going to write about?' There is still coffee. Matt now lives about eight walkable blocks away. Although we had managed to live an easy existence of cheap rent, movies, food, booze & smoke, and simple bachelor living, there was one frontier I was still willing to dare: family.

With every spring comes change.

At the end of March, I helped Maria move in and helped Matt move out. I didn't move at all, so it was only fair to help both. It was only a matter of time before the house began to change as well. Curtains on the windows, curtains in the hallways, it seemed as if only one thing separated the sexes on interior decorating: curtains. No more blank wall space or naked pictures of Madonna. Maria ripped down a treasured Launch Pad rock poster I had had hanging for years. It found a new home at Matt's with only some ripped corners.

What can I say? We must adapt to change.

I missed living with Maria during the first trimester, which means most of the sickness. I did, however, get all the benefits of the glorious second trimester. The glowing mom, the growing but not-too-big belly, the baby classes, and the fun-filled romps in bed. It was our honeymoon period of living together, and I didn't think we should skimp on the pleasures.

Change is not always enjoyable.

Then came the third trimester. We instantly knew. Let's go through this quickly. The aches and pains. The discomfort. The cramps. The end to Maria working. The bills. The contractions. The labor. The massive contractions. The epidural. The dilation. The hair. The head. The baby crying from the moment she was born.

What was the baby saying? Change!

They say everything changes when the baby comes. This is not true. Everything stays the same. I still drive a cab. I still do my little community theatre turns. I still watch sports and movies. I still live and breathe and think too much. All these things are all the same. What they should say is that WE change, not everything else. Donna Rose popped into my world on August 11, and thankfully, Maria has been a wonderful Mom. I have been a good dad, but honestly, I'm still learning. I was the baby in my family and had never been around babies for more than a few hours at a time. Now, Baby Donna Rose is changing that.

Oh yeah, the other change.

In light of my own change, the change in our nation is still second banana. I voted for Obama. I'm very glad he won. I think our half-breed president will benefit our country the next four years immensely over the last eight. My daughter is a half-breed, so I mean that with the utmost respect. I don't expect him to save me from economic doom, but I learned very early in the Bush years that the government cannot save you from much if anything. Nevertheless, yes, we can!

Change on, my wayward son.

To say a thirty-four year old man and his twenty year old girlfriend bringing a baby girl into the world was the Change of the Year would be stretching the importance of any birth, even my daughter's. Again, everything hasn't changed, just me and my family. I will admit I am going through the growing pains: the vain yearning for those easy bachelor days, the exhaustion of a normal day, the common struggles of man, woman & child living together. This change is not easy and not recommended for the weak at heart. But my big change this year has been the addition of family, and I don't intend to let go of it any time soon. Bring on the change!

2009. Change?

Chris Jungle is running low on change.