I cut the umbilical cord of Justin Thorp of Clearspring Technologies, exactly twenty-four years ago today
June 10, 2008
I remember being in the delivery room at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, MI when my wife delivered our son, Justin Zachary Thorp at about 2 a.m. on June 10, 1984. The doctor handed me the forceps and said, "Here, cut his umbilical cord."
Hesitating just a little, 
I cut his in utero connection to my wife. His birth completed our family with one child of each gender.
Today's his birthday and we have to help him celebrate in abstentia from our home in mid-Michigan to his in Washington, D.C.
I'm proud of both of our kids, but I feel a special father-son relationship with Justin. It would be hard to make a list of all the things we've done together, the places we have traveled to, the conversations we've had, the advice we've given back and forth, the political events we've been to and the political work we've done together.
We applied for the Amazing Race to be their first father-son team. There was the fun of watching the show each week, the fun of filling out the lengthy application, doing the video audition and sending it in. We didn't get pick, but it was fun doing it together. I still think we'd make an awesome AR team.
He's become a man of integrity who has carved out his own part of the world and where he has left his mark even at his young age. His values and his goals are taking him to new challenges.
If you have the chance, go to his blog, "Drinking Oatmeal Stout", and leave him a birthday greeting. Also, check out his work blog at Clearspring Technologies in the Washington, D.C. area.