Nicholas

Nicholas came into our lives on Christmas Eve, a gift wrapped in the natural wonder of new life. From the very beginning, Maura, with her incredible strength and resilience, refused any pain medication, just as she had done with all the boys before him. My only role was to offer her my arm, which, by the end, bore a few scratch marks as souvenirs of the experience. But how could I complain? We had our Christmas miracle. 

It’s funny how things turn out. The tiny baby who once fit so snugly in our arms is now towering over us at 6’2”, just a shade taller than his brothers. By the time he was eleven, he had already outgrown Maura. 

From the moment he was born, Nicholas was a calm but active baby, a trait that set him apart from the others. He was the most content, perhaps because he was our fourth child, born to parents with some experience under their belts, and three eager brothers ready to shower him with attention.

It's impossible to talk about Nicholas without bringing up Richie. The two were partners in crime from the start, only a year and a half apart in age, and full of energy and curiosity. Their adventures were many and often hilarious. One that stands out is when Nick, at just five years old, got ahold of my Mac laptop and discovered Photobooth. He and Richie spent countless hours making funny faces, distorting their images, and laughing until they couldn't breathe. It was a glimpse of the humor and creativity that would define much of Nicholas’s childhood.

Academics came easily to Nick. He earned several awards and honors along the way, but what was unique about him was his nonchalant attitude towards recognition. While others might have sought the spotlight, Nick preferred to be in the thick of things, doing rather than winning. I started calling him “No Drama Nick” because of the way he handled everything life threw his way. He is a cool dude, taking life as it comes without a fuss.

Like his brothers, Nick developed a passion for baking. He experimented with cakes, pies, cookies, pancakes, and just about anything that piqued his interest. Not everything looked like it belonged on “The Great British Baking Show,” but everything tasted great. His imagination was the driving force in the kitchen, and his creations, no matter how unconventional, were always a hit.

Nick’s love for the outdoors, especially the time we spent in Ensenada, Mexico, became a defining aspect of his childhood. He fell in love with fishing, whether he was reeling in a big Corvina or a small bass, his excitement was the same. As he grew older, his independence flourished, and he often ventured out to fish on his own. By fourteen, he had surpassed me in fishing skills, becoming somewhat of a legend at Estero Beach. One night, around midnight, he woke me up, saying, “Dad, you gotta come out here!” I followed him out to find that he had caught 11 huge Corvina. That night, he taught me how to fish with a lure, and I caught my own Corvina, thanks to Nick’s patient instruction.

Nick was adored by his grandparents. His grandpa, who was the youngest of eight in his family, seemed to have a special connection with him, perhaps seeing a bit of himself in Nicholas, the youngest of our brood.

Nick’s sense of humor has always been one of his most endearing qualities. He’s quick-witted, always ready with a joke, and I can always count on Nick to appreciate my “Dad” jokes—even if they do earn me an eye roll now and then. Nick has a sharp mind noticing the little things in life. I remember once,  a few days after a Sunday school class, we were driving together, Nick rolled down his window and said, "Make it rain!" 

I guess he figured if god could make things happen, maybe he could too.

From a young age, Nick was always fixing or building something. It was a skill he developed on his own, taking things apart to see how they worked and then putting them back together. His patience and curiosity led to impressive creations, like the wooden tree fort he built in our backyard. So it was no surprise when he decided to pursue structural engineering at Cal Poly SLO, a natural extension of the passion he had nurtured since childhood.

As I look to the future, I don’t know exactly what it holds for Nicholas. But I am confident that whatever he does, he will approach it with the same blend of playfulness and dedication that has always been his hallmark. Nicholas will carve his own path, and he’ll do it with his unique flair, making life as joyful and rewarding as he has made ours.