Outgrowing Gubba

Here I am visiting my grandkids in New York. A year has grown my grandson three inches and handsomer than ever. At ten and headed for fifth grade, he has little time for his doting grandmother. There are Play Station and XBox games, hockey and baseball drawing him away... He is a loving brother to his 20 month old little sister, a loving son, and responsible young man at home and school. Each year will take him further from his Gubba's loving arms. That is as it shoulg be. I just sit back and watch, loving each new and wonderful phase of his growing.

Memories

When we were planning my trip to New York this Summer, I asked my grandson, "What should we do together while I'm visiting?" He began to list: "Go for walks, bake cookies...", all the things we did together when he still lived here in Arizona. Recently when his mom asked him what he wanted to do when Gubba comes, he said, "She can bake peanutbutter cookies." Why peanutbutter cookies? I thought. What memory does that hold? He always enjoyed baking cookies with me. Why this particular kind? Is he just hungry for them? Or is there a memory connection? When we baked peanutbutter cookies it was his job to make the crisscross marks in the tops of the cookies with a fork. I wonder if he is remembering that. When I get there we will be making more cookies. And more memories.

Getting Ready

A little wooden rocking chair sits in front of the fireplace, overflowing with gifts, awaiting my grandkids visit. A rag doll with blanket, books (of course), music CD of lullabies, hockey, hockey, and more hockey stuff. A new car seat, a second-hand playpen, a doll highchair, teddybears everywhere waiting to play. We'll need new chains on the swings out back, clean off the porch. Ready the bedrooms, clean out the tub. We'll celebrate all their birthdays at once while they are here. Cook a Thanksgiving turkey, holding thankfulness in our hearts. The arms of the rocking chair, openly inviting. Gubba's arms and heart, waiting, wide-open.