ten years have passed
since the moment
when my entire 6-pack of grandies
at last
all on the same continent
met for the very first time
in a large box on my front lawn
as long as i live
i will never forget that moment.
‘cousins are the barometers of how fun a family get-together will be.’
– jm gaffigan
not my actual grandson or car, but similar, especially if you didn’t have your glasses on
—
my eldest grandchild
got his
*Level 1 Learner’s Driver’s License
this week
how is this even possible?
—
* teens with a Level 1 License may only drive with
a licensed parent, guardian or designated licensed adult age 21 or older.
(soon to be a fully licensed independent driver within a year or so)
—
“it’s kind of major, learning to drive. i feel like it kicked up other stuff in my life.”
-noah baumbach
a few years back
one of the grandies fixed his car
he’s still fixing and he’s still standing.
—
“even things that aren’t broken can be fixed.”
-lauren destefano
grandma watches over her grandies
on a warm july evening by the huron river
in argo park, ann arbor
—
“having a grandmother is like having an army. this is a grandchild’s ultimate privilege.
a grandmother is both a sword and a shield.”
-*fredrick backman
(*swedish author and one of my very favorites)
after yet another unique and powerful winter storm
with lots and lots and lots of
heavy, wet, beautiful, pure white snow
i woke up early to a power outage
spending my morning in the library
with coffee, power bars, and locals
powering up, reading, talking, and writing
watching as a lovely grandmother
kneels down to her young grandson’s level
as she very patiently and quietly
teaches him and then lets him
check out each of his very own books
one by one
gently guiding him as he goes
only when he needs it
when he proudly finishes his work
he loads each into his own little backpack
she helps him
put on each woolen mitten and zips up his coat
he holds onto her leg as she slowly stands
they very naturally cradle their hands together
as they make their way out of the library
back out into the world with beautiful white snow
what a simple yet powerful act of love
that warms me
more than this comfortable and welcoming building ever will
it’s always the people within who do that.
—
“if a family has an old person in it, it possesses a jewel.”
-chinese proverb
the six-pack is back
hard to get
the grandies all in place at one time
bigger and better than ever
along with sweet dog, nia
now one of the pack.
“one who doesn’t roll the dice can never expect to score a six.”
naviot singh sidhu
two of the six-pack of grandies finding their balance.
—
“we’ve just learned how to balance ourselves a little better
so that we’re happier way more of the time than not,
and,
you know,
being happy is a radical and desirable act if you ask me.”
-anthony kiedis, red hot chili peppers
love seeing my granddaughters
riding while filled with a gentle spirit and mutual trust
love all the other grandies coming out
to see what they have been working on
love that they each have different things they love to do
karate, basketball, writing, swimming, cooking, reading, fantasy games,
swimming, horseback riding, drawing, helping people, flying, exploring,
floating, small business building, playing, celebrating
yet they all have the same tender spot for animals
while living life and learning.
—
“from horses we may learn not only about the horse itself
but also about animals in general,
indeed about ourselves and about life as a whole.”
-g
the six-pack of giant grandies don costumes that tell a halloween story
who is who and what’s their story?
—
“clothes make a statement, costumes tell a story.”
-mason cooley
the six-pack is back — bouncing grandies.
—
“joy acts like a trampoline, everything that touches it bouncing right back off of it.”
-mariella frostrup
I didn't have my glasses on.... 