Tam, Mickey and Baby Gage

This blog is for my friends Tamara and Mickey and their soon to be born son Gage Allen Briscoe. Tam and Mickey have a blog set up where you can read updates about the birth of baby Gage and the things they are going through as soon to be new parents. I've known these two women for a long time. We have been through a lot of situations and they have seen me through various changes. I was there when their relationship began and they have watched as my love life has gone up and down and through "dangers toils and snares" Through it all they have watched smiled and sometimes threatened the lives of people they thought were hurting me.They have seen me go through who knows how many jobs over the years and spend who knows how many years trying to finish college. And they were proud once I finally did it. They were the friends who kept me from dating people they thought were not good enough for me. They were the ones who took me home on more than a few drunk nights back in the day. They were the friends who were always checking on me and would't let me go even when I was trying to run away from everything and everyone. And they are still the friends who want to inspect every man as he comes into my life even though they are 2000+ miles away.So now they are going to be parents and as I talk to people about these two amazingly beautiful women inside and out I'm always so surprised that they are going to be mothers. Not because I think they can't do it because I don't know any two women on this planet who are more ready to be amazing parents. They've been trying to mother me for YEARS. I'm surprised because it really means we are all becoming adults. No longer the partying 20 somethings (I'm still a 20 something but whatever) of 2121 Douglas St. Apts 1307, 1305, and 704 Omaha, NE. We are now in a different space and it's surprising to me because I always knew we would get here I just never knew really when it would be. Out of that surprise comes joy and happiness. For Tamara Mickey and baby Gage and their unlimited future together. I'm so happy and proud of you.So I thought since they are going to be parents soon I should document some of the great times from the good ol days for Gage to read when he is old enough so I can tell him all about how his parents really used to act. So let's start with Mickey shall we...Mickey is amazing and beautiful and one of the most special things about her is she can make anything from ANYTHING!! Seriously no joke she can do some mean things with a fitted sheet. Once she had these really cute jeans. I remembered the jeans because they had this really great pocket on them that I always thought was cute. So since Tamara Mickey and I lived in the same apartment building we would have a Sunday dinner at Mickey's apartment weekly. During Sunday dinner we would usually watch the L Word or at least we were supposed to be. That's another blog.So one particular night we arrive and Mickey's apartment and i notice she has some new cute pillows that were leather on one side and i turn them over and see they are denim as well. Then I look closer and I see the same pocket from her jeans I liked so much. So I look up and say "Are these those jeans I liked?!?!?" To which Mickey responds "Yea I needed some new pillows for the couch." She can make anything out of ANYTHING. I'm really thinking about sending her some sheets because I need her to make me a new bed frame. LOLNow on to Madam Tamara....I first met Tamara in a psychology class in 2001. She would laugh at how I would fall asleep in every class then wake up and answer the teacher's questions correctly. "I wasn't sleeping I was just resting my eyes."Tamara and I went on to work together at Sear's at the Crossroads Mall where eventually she became my supervisor. We sold exercise equipment and home improvent stuff together. I think I gave Tamara more than one ulcer because if you know anything about me you know I have punctuality issues. I'm better now than I was then but it is still a struggle.Anyway one day at Sear's Tamara is putting together some type of weight system and she asked me to help her. She asked me to look into the tool box for some specific type of tool. I remember having a confused look on my face because I didn't know anything about tools. In all honesty I couldn't even remember what she said.So I walked over to the tool box figuring they have to be labeled which would make it easy for a novice like myself to find what I need. So I say to Tamara very gayly and confused "Are they marked or labeled?" as I look into the tool box. Tamara falls over laughing her behind off at me. She then runs and tells other people in the department that I don't know anything about tools. She will never as long as I live allow me to forget this. I know plenty about tools now.And now one for both of them.So Tamara lived down the hall from me for a time period and Mickey lived a few floors below us as I said. They turned out to be two of the nosiest neighbors I have ever had. During that time period I was doing a lot of "dating" yes that's what we'll call it. And Tamara had this crazy peep hole that made it possible to see everything happening in the hall way from anywhere in her apartment. The peephole was huge and freaky seriously. So I would always try to sneak guys out of my apartment because back then I didn't like introducing everyone to my friends. Well these two just could not or would not accept that and as soon as my door would open so would theirs (nosy neighbors). They wanted to meet every date, hook-up or whatever I had. Of course they wouldn't like him because they tend to not like any guy I date at first. They are very protective and then they would ask embarassing questions like they were my parents or something. "So did you two just have sex?" "Austin has a huge ___________ doesn't he?"I could go on and on with Tamara and Mickey. The stories are endless. One thing I do know is I am so happy for both of them at this time in their lives.Tamara and Mickey have been through lots of ups and downs (some of the downs would interrupt my "dating life" dammit Mickey I NEED SPACE TOO!! LOL) over the years but from the beginning it was love between them. And that love has now produced a child who will be loved more than many of us can begin to imagine.Little Gage you have two of the greatest moms on Earth. I challenge you to love and cherish them even when they get on your nerves. They simply will want the best from you in all that you do. If you live to be like these two women you are already on the way to being a great man in this world. Can't wait to meet you little buddy.So I leave you with two great pictures of the "Beat 4" as we were called. Through many of these memories Armando was there too. He's the other one in the pictures. Tamara and Mickey are the real girls in the pics.Ladies I love you and I'm really proud of all you both have done. I find myself reading your blog and looking at the sonograms tearing up. Can't wait to see you in a few months and welcome the newest member of the family. The soon the be "Beat 5"Love,A.M.M.AOh and one more thing. Check out Tamara and Mickey's blog about bringing baby Gage into the world:http://tamandmickey.blogspot.com/