Grandma Days




	WRITE 2 THE HEART Stories that are aimed "Write 2 the Heart" July 10, 2003 Cheryl Speir, Editor, moderator@write2theheart.com ----------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to your latest issue of "Write 2 the Heart" You are receiving this newsletter because you requested a subscription or a friend generously forwarded their copy to you. To subscribe send a blank e-mail to subscribe@write2theheart.com. ------------------------------------------------------------ Time spent with a child is never wasted. Each moment is a precious gift to be tucked away in our memories. Maria is tucking away albums full of them. ------------------------------------------------------------ Grandma Days By Maria Harden ------------------------------------------------------------ I was barely awake when the phone rang precisely at 7:20 a.m. "Hello?" I mumbled groggily, trying to clear the fog from my sleepy brain. "Hi, Grandma!" whispered a little voice. Suddenly I was wide-awake. "Hi, Logan!" I was surprised and delighted with the wake-up call because I know his parents caution him not to call me too early in the morning. "How are you today?" "Grandma," he continued to whisper, "Mom's still sleeping and Daddy went to get a newspaper, so I sneaked on here!" I chuckled at the thought of this boy waiting for an opportune moment to phone his Grandma, and told him that he can call me anytime, day or night. There are no restrictions on our relationship; certainly not with something as mundane as time. "Is today a Grandma Day?" he asked. This is what he calls the days we spend together. I don't call it baby-sitting. I call it bonding. Grandma Days are the highlights of his young life. "Yes, it is. Are you ready to come over?" He assured me he was, and I was there at 8:30 a.m. sharp to pick him up. "What would you like to do today?" I asked this four-year-old as we drove the few blocks to my home. "Let's go to Goose Lake, Grandma!" he answered. He giggled, and said, "That sounds funny! Goose Lake Grandma!" He laughed as though he had made a huge joke and started chanting, "Goose Lake Grandma! Goose Lake Grandma!" I got his tricycle out of the garage and we began the one mile trek to Goose Lake, which is actually a man-made lake in a residential area. Its real name is Foxwarren Lake, but to Logan, it is Goose Lake, because the numerous Canada geese that have made it their home. As he pedaled down the sidewalk, Logan practiced reading street numbers on the houses we passed. Then he counted by twos, fives, and tens, and then backward from one hundred. He has an obsession with numbers. The bigger the number, the more he likes it. Today he was full of observations. I could hardly keep up with his mind as it flitted from one thing to another. "See that tree?" He pointed to an elm tree. "It's going to turn into an apple tree soon. The apples might have little worms in them." I smiled at the idea of an elm tree bearing worm-laden apples. ""Look, Grandma, a zillion dandelions!" We stopped to stare at a field, covered in yellow and white softness. "Dandelions are weeds," he stated. "Yes, they are," I agreed. "But I still like them," he said. "I know you do," I answered. He picked a dandelion that had gone to seed, closed his eyes, and blew the white puffy tendrils away. "I made a wish. Do you want to know what I wished?" "If you tell me, it won't come true," I said. "But I want you to know," he insisted. "Well, if you whisper it in my ear, then it should be okay." I bent down, and he cupped my ear with his hand, and whispered his wish. He stopped to pick up a feather, examined it closely, then put it into his bicycle basket. An unusual stone followed the feather. Treasures from nature. At Goose Lake, we played in the park and watched the geese, who observed us closely, hoping for a handout. "Look at all the ducklings," remarked Logan, watching the fuzzy yellow babies waddle after their very protective parents. "They're called goslings," I corrected. "Baby ducks are ducklings, and baby geese are goslings." "Well then, they should be called gooselings! Look, there's Mother Goose!" Disappointed that we didn't have food to offer them, the geese gave a warning hiss and shuffled off with their little ones in tow. Plunging into the lake, they swam to greener pastures. I guess they couldn't read the sign that stated, "No swimming, no boating, no fishing." On the way back home, Logan recited the house numbers on the other side of the street. He tried to whistle and when a faint sound came out, he announced gleefully, "I have magic lips!" How he enriches my life with his youthful vitality and innocence. "Hold my hand, Grandma," he said. I held his little hand, and walked alongside him while he pedaled his tricycle, steering with the other hand. This image will remain with me always -- my holding his hand for a while, but his heart forever. It just doesn't get any better than this. I know because Logan's dandelion wish was that every day be a Grandma Day, and "a grillion days more." My favourite tee shirt reads: "This Grandma is full of heart," and today I interpret it as meaning my heart is full. I recalled what his mother said to him as we left that morning. "Have a good day with Grandma," she said blowing him a kiss as we prepared to drive off. "I always do," replied Logan. He paused, and then continued, "And I always will!" Maria Harden © 2003 mharden @ escape.ca You are encouraged to write to the authors to let them know what you think of their story, just remember to remove the space before and after the @ symbol. The space is placed in the address to protect our writers from viruses and email harvesting programs. Have a comment on today's story? Send it to: moderator@write2theheart.com ---------------------------------------------------------------- Maria is a stay-at-home grandma who has found that caring for a grandchild is the most rewarding experience ever. She lives in Manitoba, Canada, and recently helped read and rate stories for an upcoming Chicken Soup book. She has had several stories in Write2theHeart, and in other websites as well. -------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------- Letters From Our Readers -------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks for today's timely story. I needed that reminder to turn my difficulties to the Lord. Sometimes they press down on me so hard I feel I am being squeezed. After praying I could feel the lightening up of my soul. The mountain is still there but now I feel I can climb. Peg --------------------------------------------------------------- Military Prayer Reminder --------------------------------------------------------------- As you read over this list of names, please take that moment to pray for these young people and their families: Chris Speir Tim Speir Alan Thaddeaus Howard Todd Holland Graham William Julie Sagel Jessie Marshal Thompson Jason Eric Hernandez Kristin Danielson Ken Prieur Ryan Please continue to pray for our country, our leaders, and our troops at this time. If you have loved ones in the military, or who are being called to go overseas, send their names (first and last or first only) to be included in our prayer reminder. --------------------------------------------------------------- Cheryl's Corner I have had on old iron double headboard and footboard for years. I have wanted to sand it and paint it. David used a grinder to sand it smooth and remove the old paint. Today I hope to begin painting it. While I am attempting that, Logan and Mason will be painting some plaster-of-paris picture frames. Maybe if I give them some paints to dabble in they will keep fingerprints off of my project. I know, you don't have to tell me that I am being overly optimistic. God Bless, Cheryl ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- © 2003 Write 2 the Heart Nothing may be reproduced or published without the written permission of the individual author or copyright owner. All rights belong to the authors.