Anyone who has spent time with young children will agree. They are energetic, exhausting, non-stop movement, and most of all entertaining. They will fill your world with knowledge you didn’t know was out there and if nothing else will bring a smile to your face. In my case this week it was two of my grandchildren that filled the bill.
Tuesday morning I watched my 17 month old granddaughter and five year old grandson for a few hours while their parents went to an appointment. Corbin, at five, is full of information and never fails to provide some tidbit that has its own unique quality. Alexandria is a typical toddler who is full of energy, constantly moving, and plays with everything except her toys.
After they were dropped off Corbin immediately informed me that he brought Sissy with him so he would have someone to play with. I guess “play with” is objectionable as he seemed to spend an equal amount of time complaining about her, and i don’t think he ever played with her. Alexandria did tear apart the train track, steal the train signs, steel hot wheels cars, drink all of Corbin’s water, and more.
For the most part Corbin takes it all in stride. After all, he knows how she came to be in his life. You see Alexandria was growing in mommy’s tummy and a doctor had to cut her out because it wasn’t good. When mommy ate Sissy took all the food. Now I must say that is pretty good logic coming from the mind of a five year old. Besides, I’m sure there are a lot of pregnant women out there who feel like the baby is taking all their food when they eat.
As I mentioned, Alexandria tore apart the railroad track and Corbin wasn’t able to get it back together. That was never my area of expertise, my husband Ron always handled it, but since he passed in December it is one of those duties that now falls to me. I worked my way behind the table to the spot where three pieces of track were separated. As I was working I kept hearing a dinging noise, until Corbin said “you’re pushing on the RR Crossing sign.” I wondered where the sound was coming from!
I worked and got the three pieces of track put back together. I did feel a certain amount of accomplishment since getting them lined up and connected without accidentally tearing it apart elsewhere was a bit tricky. When I finally got it done Corbin said “Good job! I knew you could do it.” Five year old grandsons are great for the ego!
And so our morning went, flying by quickly as it goes. I did take a look at Corbin’s hands and told him he needed to go wash them. Corbin’s response “No, maybe on Thursday.” When I told him they needed to be clean for school Corbin responded that he isn’t going to school, he has to stay with me for forty-five days. Yep, that was his plan and he never even told me. Isn’t it nice to know there is a plan in place should the need arrive?
Holly didn’t question my thought process so much as ask me questions that steered me into making a better decision. She asked me, in my opinion, on a scale of 1-10 how much I thought Ron’s condition had worsened since I had checked him in 24 hours earlier. I said about a 6. Holly then looked at me and asked if I was sure I wanted to go home that night, and was I sure I wanted to be at work, because two minutes could make the difference in being there or not being there when he passed. I made the decision to stay and my sister-in-law, Cathy, said she would stay with me.
It was only minutes. I told Ron that it was okay, I would be okay. Ron took two more breaths with a wide space between and was gone. When I realized he was not going to take any more breaths I hit the nurses call button. When they heard me crying over the intercom one of them came in and rubbed my back as I lay there crying. It was so close they tried to catch Caroline in the parking lot but couldn’t.
So now we turn the page. It has been only two days since Ron passed. I am learning how to come home to an empty house. To move through my days without him here. I am adjusting, slowly.
As a child we would travel “up north,” which meant to grandma and grandpa’s house in Traverse City. The men (my dad, uncles, adult cousins) would go deer hunting and then come in from hunting for the meal. The women did the preparations which included turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and of course pumpkin pie. I remember my grandmother also having mincemeat pie. I tried it as a child, hated it and have never been able to bring myself to try it again. I don’t even know what is in it, I don’t like the appearance and I remember hating the taste.
My Thanksgiving meal differs from that of my childhood or those prepared by my mother-in-law. I don’t have a regimented menu. I mix it up a bit from year to year. I don’t do everything from scratch. My pies are generally purchased pre-made, my rolls are sometimes from a mix, sometimes brown and serve. This year my three main side dishes are being prepared in a triple crock pot to keep it simple.
The estate sale was Wednesday and Thursday this week. It was rainy, windy, and cold, but the street was a busy flow of cars and people were making purchases. Everything was under control when I arrived to see how things were going.
I did go back to the house later and again the next day and did not re-experience that initial emotional hit. The sale is now over. We sold a ton but have lots of things left. Now we have to figure out how to get rid of as much as possible. Life is never dull….Life is a Melting Pot!
--- LIFE IS A MELTING POT --- Grace Grogan...Writer, Photographer 