Friday, April 26, 2013

Just A Splendid Day



Do you see that face? That's how it was today. That purely lovely.

I'm not sure I remember an April ever being this cool and temperate. I have not been tempted to turn on the AC once. Not once. This is unheard of for us in North Florida. And today was the epitome of a splendid day. The sky was a blue like the blue of the bluebird's wing and the new pecan leaves a hue of green which only they own, shining against it. We were having a picnic, me and the boys because it was too beautiful outside not to and I directed Owen to look at that and see. That green against blue.
"Isn't it beautiful?" I asked him.
"Yes, it is," he said.
I wonder frequently if Owen really grasps half of what I say; if he will remember my lessons in botany and gardening and housecleaning and cooking and bedmaking and chicken-raising and rock and roll at all. Or the stories I tell him about my childhood, my grandparents. I mean, he's only three and a half. I wonder but I don't really care because I am certain that the essence of some of it all will remain. If nothing else, the child has adults in his life who carry on conversations with him. Who see him as a repository of wisdom gleaned.

Or some shit like that.

So yes, we had a picnic. I toted a blanket and food and a small boy out to the back yard and I let Owen have almost an entire bottle of ginger ale which was like- oh- THE GREATEST THING EVER IMAGINED IN THE UNIVERSE! and we had toasted cheese sandwiches and Chex Mix and apple slices. I told him that if he drank all that ginger ale he was going to pee like a racehorse, which he thought was funny. Later on in the afternoon, as he was peeing off the steps for about the fourth time in an hour, he said, "I been peeing all day."
I reminded him about the ginger ale. I said, "See? I do know a few things."
He solemnly agreed. I like to make myself seem smart to him and it may seem as if making oneself appear to be smart to a three-year old isn't that big of a challenge but three-year olds can be pretty damn hard to impress.

We ate more snow peas from the garden and for old time's sake, I guess, Owen had a bite of collard leaf. He also picked a baby squash and as soon as he picked it, he looked up and asked if he could. "No," I said. "You can't. Do you want to eat it now?"
He declined but I'll cut the poor fetal thing up and put it in our salad tonight. We fed goats and chickens and then we fed chickens again. It's no wonder those chickens follow us around. Even Gibson likes to feed the chickens, holding out a piece of bread for Elvis. He has no fear of the giant rooster with the big red eyes.

Here's a picture from yesterday. One of Gibson's words is kitty. Of course.


That particular kitty is Luna who has lived with us for at least fourteen years and who is not as domesticated as the chickens.

Some of Gibson's other words are, as I said, more, and also bye-bye and ma-ma and da-da and Mer-Mer (yes he does say that!) and also, what sounds a lot like I love you. And brother. Oh god, he loves his brother. 

Here's a picture of him from today, gnawing on a piece of bamboo. See that curve in the thing? That's because it was growing under the little porch of my office. I have a feeling that if I hadn't discovered it and broken it off, it would have pushed the porch right off its foundation. I am not kidding you about the ferocity and preternatural growth rate of the bamboo.



Speaking of bamboo, Mr. Moon has just arrived home and it is time for a Friday night martini and a round of bamboo-kicking. Don't you tell me we don't know how to live around here.

Splendid. Yes, it has been a splendid day. One of those rare days where moments of the awareness of complete contentment hit me over and over again. I didn't try to do one thing besides take care of and have fun with those boys. I believe this is the secret, which of course is not a secret at all. To just be. Which is not often possible when you're a parent but which is extremely possible if you're a grandparent.

Who knew it could be like this?
Not me. But now I do.

Time to kick bamboo.

Love...Ms. Moon

12 comments:

  1. My grandma taught me how to fold bottom bed sheets into a perfect square. You can't tell the top sheet from the bottom sheet. Every time I fold bed sheets I think of her.

    So yes, your grandchildren will remember the things you say. :-)

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  2. Love the photos, Ms. Moon, and of course hearing about your boys. Hope you had a wonderful evening with Mr. Moon. Take care.

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  3. I have such vivid memories of my grandmother -- little flashes of clarity about her. I even remember her voice. I know those boys of yours (and future babies of your beautiful children) will have a part of their Mer Mer and Bop inside of them -- vivid and true.

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  4. My heart bursts open. Gibson squatting down as only babies can, no fear of knees or not being able to get up again. And amongst the chickens in their chicken world.

    XXX Beth

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  5. This post was the best ever. Just everything about it. Your admittance of being a loving mother is just about all one could hope for. In my opinion. You are a loving, fun grandma too. Sweet Jo

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  6. I still remember my Nanny's laugh and she's been dead since I was ten. They might not remember the conversations, but they'll remember your laugh, and your smile, and your smell...sigh.

    My Grandies will be here in two weeks.

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  7. Birdie- And my grandma taught me how to make a bed. Do you suppose this is in our DNA?

    Mr. Shife- It was a fine evening. Thank-you.

    Elizabeth- Oh. I hope so!

    Beth Coyote- He's a keeper, that one. And so is his brother. Love you, woman.

    Sweet Jo- It's such a HOOT, watching these boys grow, being part of it. It's just fun.

    heartinhand- And may you have splendid days with them!

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  8. This post is bursting with so much happiness and love for your grandbabies, I am filled with it myself! I'm glad you had such a nice day. And they will remember what you teach them. It will be part of who they are.
    My cat's name is Luna too. :)

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  9. Oh those boys are gorgeous inside and out.
    xo

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  10. Kelly- Well, I've spent a lot of time with those boys. And it's been amazing for me.

    Madame King- Aren't they?

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  11. wish my computer would let me see pictures today...grrr.
    i know how cute those boys are though and how fruitless it is to try and do anything but have fun with them. Everything else can wait. What a wonderful lesson!!
    my grandmother lived with us the whole time I was growing up and I have to say she had the biggest influence on me and who I am now.

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  12. Ms. Yo- Oh. One of the pictures of Owen is just glorious. Really. It shows his true happy soul. How lucky we are to be a part of our grandsons' lives on a very real level and not just a social, half-ass level. Doesn't it feel right? And good?
    And tiring?

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