I've always considered myself pretty cool and calm under difficult conditions. Although I'm sure this was reinforced by a long career as a police officer, even as a kid it took a lot to rattle me.

Then my daughter and son-in-law announced they were having a baby.

I don't get it. While Donnelle was pregnant I took everything in stride, and while I had the normal worries any expectant father might have, I'd like to think I was rock solid for the birth of both kids.

I think it might be the distance involved. Danny and Rachel are living in Spokane, so it takes at least a three-hour plane ride to reach them.

This struck home the other day when my cell phone rang while I was at work. I was in my editor's office, when I heard the faint tones of my cell phone. Shoot! I had left it on my desk.

With Rachel's due date imminent, I broke off our conversation in mid-sentence and scrambled to my desk. Picking up my cell phone, I checked the caller ID.

Yep, it was my daughter.

Feeling my heartbeat starting to increase (where is this coming from, I thought to myself), I answered, and heard my daughter's voice.

"Dad, we..."

Reception was terrible, but it sounded like she was in a parking lot.

They must be on their way to the hospital!

I began racking my brain, thinking of what I needed to do to get ready to fly to Washington. Donnelle, of course, had already packed bags and was set to go.

I continued to listen, and could tell my daughter was eager to talk to me. I began to wonder if it was going to be a boy or girl; Danny and Rachel had decided to wait to discover the sex of the baby.

I still couldn't make out her words, and began telling her to speak slowly so I could understand her.