I came across a video this week.

It’s a Jerry Seinfeld interview where he recounts a line Warren Beatty told him about having kids:

“One of the nice things God does - is that he doesn’t let people who don’t have kids, know what they’re missing.”

(I encourage you to watch the whole clip):

In 2015, I spent two months with a great man.

He was the 8th generation owner of a Grappa distillery in Bassano Del Grappa.

A beautiful town at the base of the Alps, about an hour from Venice and (like all of Italy/Europe)….loaded with history.

Napoleon had conquered the town. Hemingway was stationed there during WWI, and the bullet holes from those battles still remained in the walls of his Grapperia on the Ponte Vecchio.

He was charming, charismatic, gregarious, and goofy - but still effortlessly demanded respect.

Every time we got off the train in Venice - his boat was waiting for him, and he made everyone laugh all the way to - and from - Hotel Danieli for aperitivo.

He was a bachelor.

Never married.

Without kids.

That said, he was the best uncle imaginable to his brothers’ two daughters - who were roughly my age.

It was so obvious to me that his relationship with them transcended more than a typical “uncle/niece” relationship.

He spent so much time with them. He counseled them, supported them, bantered, and enjoyed life with them. It was beautiful to watch.

But he was - in truth, a bit of a bachelor/playboy/legend.

He had friends of all kinds over for dinner weekly. He called his ailing father for 30 min every night. He partied hard…and worked harder.

I loved him. He took me in early on my journey abroad and I’ll never forget it.

One night after dinner, we smoked cigarettes and watched “Arthur” with Dudley Moore (his favorite movie). Epic.

Then, we moved to his salon to drink more grappa and listen to “Losing My Religion” by REM (his favorite song). Banger.

At some point during that night, he looked at me and asked"; “Do you think I should’ve had kids?”

I was 24. I knew I wanted a family…but how could I honestly answer that? Maybe there is a right answer, but probably not.

To each their own. I mean that. But I felt the weight of his question. He had a taste of fatherhood through his nieces, but he longed for more - despite it all.

What I do know now - is that there are really only 2 valid perspectives to that question. Those from people who don’t have children, and those who do.

And you don’t really realize that until you join the latter cohort.

Two weeks ago, my wife and I welcomed our first daughter into the world.

And I can honestly say: my life before becoming a father seems something of a distant, nostalgic memory. A time and a place - but nowhere near as consequential or meaningful as this new life I’ve been thrust into.

Having a kid is indescribable.

It’s a new “high” unlocked by God himself.

As Jerry says, you relish the “garbage time.” Those moments together where nothing happens.

It’s nothing…but it’s everything.

In this life, you gotta feel like you took a chance.

And children are that chance…for more.

RP WEEKLY!!!!!!