Ho Ho Ho Pulling out the Tree For the Grandson

It's been about seven years since we've bothered to decorate for Christmas. Since we are childless by choice and both of us had been working good paying jobs until I got the crazy idea to write, we always just bought what we wanted and didn't even bother with gifts for each other, except for maybe three times in several decades. Most of those gifts ended up being returned or put on the rummage sale pile.

But now things are different. As I've mentioned in past blogs. we have a grandson by love. He is now three, and for the first time will be in town for Christmas. Oh, believe me, Christmas is a BIG DEAL to this guy. And it should be. I have happy memories of many a grand Christmas growing up. Perhaps that's why I don't feel the need to do it up as an adult. There is no way I could mimic the perfection of the Christmas's my parents gave me. Think epic Christmas movie in all it's splendor and you wouldn't even come close.

But now that Gideon knows what Christmas is, and will be in town, we dug out the tree, fibromyalgia be damned. I got it decorated, and it looks lovely even if I say it myself. What few other decorations we didn't ditch at a garage sale several years ago are also displayed. It makes an acceptable Christmas scene. Thank God. As a child I remember going to "old people's" homes where they didn't decorate. It made me sure they were mean and crabby.

Well, color me Santa, I don't want to be seen as a Grinch. So, the lights on the tree are lit, decor is out and even played with at times under close supervision. Gifts will be under the tree. He always did get plenty of gifts from us, but this time they will be sitting under evergreen branches like they should be.

Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas, or happy whatever holiday you prefer to celebrate, to you. We are really looking forward to seeing Christmas magic again through the eyes of a three-year-old boy.

Now where did I put the Bailey's Irish Creme? A few slugs of that will make the holidays even merrier, I'm sure.

Caddy Rowland is a novelist and painter. Her social media links follow.

To find out about her novels visit http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005FW8BZE

Sign up for New Release Newsletter by Email: http://eepurl.com/rfjaX

Author Fanpage: www.facebok.com/authorcaddyrowland

Author Blog: www.caddyrowlandblog.blogspot.com

Author Email: caddyauthor@gmail.com

Twitter: @caddyorpims         

A Day To Dream About (One in a Million Happens)

You know that rare, perfect day when everything in the cosmos just clicks and perfection happens? Doesn't happen often, but when it does, what magic. Our 4th of July was one of those perfect, halcyon days that I will remember forever.

We were supposed to go to the lake to be with Dave's relatives, but a variety of things kept us from going. Instead, we ended up here at home, and I'm so very, very thankful that we did. As most of you know by now, we are grandparents by love to the little next door neighbor boy named Gideon (yes, he is a little boy now, no longer a baby) and he sees us as such. Several times a week we are with him, and we are much richer for it.

Anyway, Jen and Shon (his parents), Dave, and I spent the 4th together. It was a hot day, so we ended up in the pool. How Gideon loves to splash! His happy, rich belly laugh filled the backyard and all of us were held under his spell of toddler magic as he kicked and laughed and splashed and played. That boy is a child of the water. Grandma is so glad!

Then we parted ways to eat and get ready for the evening. We were going to see if Gideon would stay up long enough to watch a fireworks show. We got to the Oakdale MN event at about 9pm and The Rockin' Hollywoods were playing 60's music and other hits. It drew a good crowd, but it was a far different crowd than one finds at the larger get-togethers.

This crowd was about family, about having a good, peaceful time, and about respecting others. No one was drunk. No one was looking for a fight. No one was posturing or trying to pick up a one night stand. Most people had children and everyone smiled at each other. It didn't matter your age, race, or gender. It was a truly a beautiful thing. We also noticed that the food was reasonably priced, so that families could actually afford to eat there. Burgers? $3. Hot dog? $2 Beer? $3 There was a wide variety of foods and none would break the budget.

Gideon ran, played, got a star wand that lit up and thrilled him, danced with Grandma. At 10 o'clock we settled on the blanket to watch the fireworks. Gideon looked over at Grandpa and declared that he wanted to sit by him. At not quite 23 months, this kid can TALK. He uses all kinds of words most two-year-olds don't pronounce yet and some sentences. So, over to Grandpa he went, where he sat without moving for about a half hour. He leaned back against Dave's chest and crossed his little arms behind his head and grooved on the first fireworks show of his young life.

He wasn't scared. In fact, he clapped at times, named colors, and after each one would exclaim "Uhm, Uhm. He sounded like an old southern nanny! I told him the Grand Finale was coming up and he started yelling "Finale!" When it happened he was starstruck. Afterward, he yelled out, "Again!"

Here's the deal: Before the fireworks had even started, Jen looked at me and said it was the best 4th of July in her life. Funny thing was, I had just been gazing at the four of them and thinking that it was one of those moments in time that I would look back on as perfect, a snapshot I would treasure always. When I die, I hope that day is something I get to remember before I go.

Five regular people, 3 different generations, all feeling healthy, happy, and nothing happened to irritate any of us or take the shine off the day. It was like a blanket of fairy dust and had been sprinkled on us and the universe had said: "This. This is why you come here."

I couldn't agree more. And If I never have another day this perfect again, I will be forever grateful that I had this one. This one, my friends, was one in a billion. This one I wouldn't trade for all the money or fame in the world. This one was just for us five.

Caddy Rowland is a novelist and painter. Her social media links follow.

To find out about her novels (including The Gastien Series, a story that begins with a bohemian artist in France) visit http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005FW8BZE

Sign up for New Release Newsletter by Email: http://eepurl.com/rfjaX

Gastien Fanpage: www.facebook.com/Gastien.Beauchamp

Author Blog: www.caddyrowlandblog.blogspot.com

Author Email: caddyauthor@yahoo.com

Twitter: @caddyorpims

And Gideon Grows



Our grandchild by love, Gideon, recently turned 18 months old. What changes I have seen over the last six months! Walking, running, spinning. Teeth, loss of baby fat, talking!

I will forever remember the day he walked down the hall, at about fourteen months until he got to the end, by the closed bathroom door. I was watching from "afar" and he was "all by himself". I watched from the back as he stopped and stood facing that door, planning. What was he going to do? All of a sudden, he started walking backwards. It was the first time. He didn't get very far before he stumbled and fell.

Getting back up, one would think he would continue from where he was. Not so. He calmly walked back to the beginning, gathered his dignity and tried it again. Over and over about a half dozen times, each time getting further down the hall backwards. Each time going back to the beginning. It wasn't long after that before he was not only walking backwards but spinning " 'round and 'round" as he calls it, making himself dizzy. He is so FAST now when he takes off running!

And the words! More and more come each day. He surprised me the other day. We watched a new video he had never seen. He named most of the items in it right away. How cool. He also says the last word to each phrase in "Twinkle Twinkle" and "Camptown Races" when I sing it. The other day, for some reason, he decided the "bay" had ran enough horse races. When I sang "Somebody bet on the - " he gave me a big smile and substituted doctor. Then he laughed and laughed.

Every week he learns so many new things! No wonder they sleep 15 hours. All of the physical and mental growth must be exhausting. For the first time ever, he noticed art on the wall. It was my latest painting. (She Burns For Him.) He looked up and his whole face lit up. He raised both hands in the air, like he was worshipping and went on and on in baby talk, saying who knows what about it. Whatever it was, it was complimentary because he looked dazzled.  I'm glad he likes the painting. The next day, he walked by an abstract of my African Grey parrot that has always hung there, done by me. Called "Beautiful Girl" many adults don't know it's a bird. Gideon calmly looked up and said, "Bird", smiled, and kept walking.

We like to take turns making funny faces at each other. His belly laugh is one of the sweetest sounds I have ever heard. The sweetest sound, beside my husband's voice? Well, it's Gideon, saying, "Love you.  Love you." He knows what it means, too, which makes it all the sweeter. I was supposed to by Gamma. Maternal gramdma was to be Grandma, Paternal would be Nana. He started trying to say Gamma, but pretty soon called me Caddy. Now he says "Mamma" (Not Mama, Mamma) or "Gramamma" for Gamma. That just fine. Especially when it's preceded with "Love you"!



Really??? Superheroes?

This indie author does not write fantasy novels or novels where people have special super powers, nor do I care for movies about such "people".  They just seem too redundant.  Same ol' same ol'.  Buildings blow up.  People get lasered. Yada yada yada.

I just don't get the excitement regarding a man climbing up the sides of tall buildings or flying through the air.  I could understand one movie, but not one million. I do believe, though, that my time is coming in regard to the world of superheroes.

I had commented on how those movies are  "yawn" at art class a couple of weeks ago and noticed a friend smiling to herself.  All of a sudden it dawned on me.  Oh my God.  My grandson, Gideon, will want to go to movies...and someday before I know it he will have outgrown Disney and want to pick a different kind.  What kind?  Well, I am betting it won't be independent art films!

I started to laugh when I realized that-if I am lucky enough that he is still around me-we will probably be going to several lasering, building jumping, car crashing movies in the future.  And you know what?  I won't tell him I don't like them.  Why spoil it for him?  Hey, if it makes him thrilled I don't want to say anything to take the happiness away.  So, someday I will be discussing the merits of using a laser over a magic rope, or the advantage of being invisible over crawling up sides of buildings.  Oh my.  Not to mention he will constantly want to kick my butt on video games.

You know, I can put up with the movies if it is for Gideon.  Making him smile is worth anything.  Well, almost.  I find it rubs me the wrong way to get my butt kicked by an eight-year-old kid on a video game.  Looks like I am gonna have to start playing some of those games and learning how to rack up the deaths. 

Look out, Sonny.  You ain't seen nothin' yet.