It seemed like yesterday, but it was 17 years ago when my nephew, Don, became a first-time dad.

He and his wife, Miyoko, were living in Japan at the time when Rikka Marie was born. I remember Don writing home to the family that he could spend hours just watching his infant daughter as she slept, marveling at the smoothness of her skin and the silkiness of her hair. And then his thoughts would turn toward the life she would have before her — the good times and the hard times. He talked about his role in Rikka Marie’s life and how he wanted to be the best dad possible for her.

I hadn’t thought about Don’s comments for a long time, probably years. But I thought about them two weeks ago when I was in West Virginia.