We climbed on giant frogs
and laughed and took photos -- and then saw the sign that said, "Please Don't Climb
on the Frogs!"
The frogs spewed long streams of
water from their mouths. Casey laughed a lot and got very wet.
Yes, we saw many gorgeous
flowers, but pretty flowers are not as exciting as giant spitting frogs.
Back home, we had ham and cheese
sandwiches and grapes for lunch, then headed to the patio to fill her swimming pool. I
filled the 8-foot-diameter plastic pool with a foot of water. Grammy read and swung and
watched Casey play in the pool.
But swimming is not as much fun
alone, and Grammy told Casey I still had an old swimsuit somewhere.
For an hour I sat in a foot of
water hoping no one would drive down the alley and peek across the fence.
From my old hand, the happy face
grinned up at me.
Then inside, we played Barbie
dolls. It's not my best game, but I did okay. I had dressed and undressed the same Barbies
30 years ago with our daughter Carrie.
Back on the patio for a picnic
dinner, a special pasta too messy to eat on the den carpet where Casey first wanted to
picnic.
A Popsicle, a game of Old Maid,
and a walk around the block. Casey walked most of the way on the curb.
For a while, I walked backwards.
"You're walking backwards, Grandad," observed Casey. "No I'm not," I
argued. "Yes you are." "No I'm not."
"Grandad, you're a silly
goose."
"Can't argue with that."
When Casey finally drifted off the
sleep, I still had her happy face stuck to my hand.
What a fun day.
Best part, everything this child
says and does takes me back to when Carrie was four. Back to a time when my hands were
strong and useful.
As the years pass, memories of
your little girl's childhood fade. But a granddaugher's visit brings them back.
I might just keep that happy face
forever.
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