You know you're losing your edge when all you want to talk about is your granddaughter, and that's the only destination you really dream about. I'd rather see my granddaughter than go to Paris. How's that for pathetic? And my best friend won't budge to come here, as she's happily close by her granddaughter. Why should she bother to get away when she doesn't want to do anything but look in those big blue eyes? It's love at first sight, and second, and third. They are so fresh and new and curious and affectionate. They think you're funny, when no one else cracks a smile. They think going out to lunch with you is a treat. They assume you want to ride choo choo trains as much as they do, and they're right, if they are snug on your lap. I haven't seen my granddaughter in a couple of months and boy, do I miss her. Just talking on the phone with her gives me such a kick, and also makes me have to force myself not to get a plane ticket to go right there and bother my daughter and her husband. I'd love to be close enough to see her more often, but this way I get to shop for her more and keep the post office in business, and as you know it's tough times economically.
I was ready for grandparenthood a few years ago, and when a young friend died, and then his wife's mother died the next month, I asked his widow if I could help out with their 15 month old daughter. Make up for the lack of grandmothers in her life. And that has been such a blessing for me. I take her one day a week, and also show up for ballet class or gym class occasionally, or last year the Valentine's Day party at her preschool. We lunch giraffe's progress, we hit the parks and a nursery where we look at the plants. Now she's almost 5, so we go to movies (Yes, I have been to Alvin and the Chipmunks and other Oscar contenders) and we have our favorite places to eat (an ice cream-soda fountain, a place with mean burritos, and a diner with grilled cheese just the way she likes it).
She makes sure I keep a stock of jello, cheese sticks, vanilla ice cream and apple juice and lemonade. Let's see what's in the pantry, she says. For my away granddaughter you can find peas and also vanilla ice cream, and the pantry has tapioca, her favorite crackers, noodles, juice boxes, and canned lychees. I have hardly any adult food left, as they are much more enthusiastic about eating than I am. Gusto! Grandchildren are so full of gusto it rubs off on us jaded creatures. They reteach us the little joys that every day brings. I'm grateful.
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