Deja Vu All Over Again
‘Grandma, do you need some peace and quiet?” This has been asked frequently the past few years.
It started in October 1990 with a phone call full of tears and the D word - “divorce.” My husband Ray and I made a quick trip to Las Vegas to pick up one devastated daughter and two grandsons, ages 2 years and 2 weeks. By the time we returned, our house, which had been on the market all summer without a nibble, had sold - and the buyers wanted to move in right away.
In one month, our household had increased by three, we had sold and bought a home, moved, I had started two night college classes (to fill my leisure time), and had invited a house full of guests for Thanksgiving.
“No problem,” said my husband. “We can do it,” as he left to go to the Apple Cup. His life had not changed as mine had. The Spokesman-Review’s Trap Shooting Tournament would be starting in January, right after Christmas. Until then, there was skiing and he was taking life in stride. It was a “guy thing.”
By spring, our daughter Lynda was driving my car to her college classes. I was staying home with two babies, lots of diapers, “Barney” and “Sesame Street.” Why me?
Our master bedroom has since been transformed into the main floor family room/entertainment center featuring “Pinnochio,” “Aladdin” and lots of good books. The five of us snuggle in the waterbed munching popcorn - something totally forbidden my first time around. I have completely lost control!
Recently, we took the boys to hear Capt. Scott O’Grady, a man who would speak boldly about his love of God, family and country. He stressed, “I’m not a hero. The young men who risked their lives to rescue me are the heroes.”
Then he emphasized: “True heroes are parents and grandparents who sacrifice, support and build character into children’s lives.”
Has it been worth it? Yes!
I cried at Lynda’s graduation with honors - tears of joy for her and a sense of loss for me. That had been my dream! Cory’s “super-duper” on his spelling tests have helped promote him to third grade. Brandon is starting kindergarten this fall. He jumps off the high dive at Whitworth pool. Heaven help his teacher!
With school, vacation Bible school, sports, swimming lessons, chicken pox and earaches, I agree with that great sage and commencement speaker Yogi Berra: “It’s deja vu all over again.”
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