We won some money in the lottery yesterday. Afterward, we were out shopping, or my wife was, I was sitting on a bench enjoying the nice weather, and I started watching these young boys, cub scouts, ringing the bell near a Salvation Army collection kettle. They were really enthusiastic about it, showing each other the different ways they could ring the bells. It was fun watching them. When my wife returned, and we headed to another store, I told her I was so impressed with the young men's abilities I was going to place all our winnings in the kettle. She thought that was a good idea. So, as we walked towards the boys, I removed my wallet, and thoroughly enjoyed removing our winnings, rolling them up, and pushing the two dollars into the kettle! Hey! No comments! It was not much, but it was something.
We bought a Christmas tree yesterday. It's still on the porch. I guess at some point, preferably before Christmas, I'll have to put it up. I get to set it into the stand, and then drag it in through the door while it retaliates by dropping needles all over the place. After that, I get to put the electric lights on it and hope they all work. Then, my wife and anyone who has the urge, hangs all the coloured balls. Once that is completed, we all live happily ever after - until the day after Christmas when we reverse the process and the tree drops even more needles on the floor as I drag it out of the house.
Many times when I am doing something that requires little or no thinking, which is often, I remember things from the past. This morning, I was thinking of things that happened while we were in the company of our grandchildren.
The most recent was when our handsome grandson, Peyton Michael, was sitting on my lap. He stood up and looked at me and asked, "Grandpa, where's your hair?" To which I replied, "Unfortunately, it's all over the place."
One of our granddaughters, Devin Rose, has become a ten year old grammar teacher. We were in a restaurant recently waiting for a table. After several people ahead of us were seated, she looked at me and asked -
"When are we going to be seated?"
"Very shortly," I replied. "There's still a few people ahead of us."
She looked at me and said, "Grandpa, you use bad grammar."
"What do you mean?" I asked, faking indignation.
"You should have said 'There are several people ahead of us'".
To which I replied, "Well, what if there were only one?"
"Then you should have said 'There is still a person ahead of us'."
I knew then this was the kid I wanted to edit my writing!
At least I wasn't the only one she corrects. She and her father were having a discussion, and Devin said something, to which her father, Patrick, said "Are you implying....". Devin replied, "Don't you mean 'infer'?"
Then there was the time several years back, when we took our granddaughters swimming. I was, well, I weighed a tad bit more than I do now, oh all right!, I weighed much more than I do now, but anyway, they were in the water yelling for me to get in. So, I stripped off my shirt and jumped in. When I came up from under water, Shannon, who was around eight at the time took one look at me and said, "Grandpa! That's gross! Put your shirt back on!" It's so nice to loved...
And then there's Hannah. She is twelve now, going on 35, but in a very nice, interesting way. We were spending some time with her after we had dropped off Devin at her dance class. I asked Hannah what she wanted to do. She said she didn't know, and asked what we wanted to do. I told her, "I want to go to Paris." She piped right up from the back seat with, "That works!"
The beauty of grandchildren is that most of us do not have to spend the time making sure they are fed, clothed, and have a roof over their heads. Grandparents then have the pleasure, and luxury, of really listening to them, and watching them. Their expressions say so much. For me, grandchildren are the reward for raising our children.
Another great thing about them is the fact that they are honest about what they say to you. I have yet to encounter a comment from one of them that was spoken in anger, or maliciously, at least to me. It's almost too bad they have to grow up, become adults and see how shallow and false many adults are.
