The Best Part Of Summer

I did not take any good pictures today of my grandkids or the river. I took that picture to send to a friend to show her how clear the water is. It was like gin today. And cold! As always. There were quite a few people there but many of the children were in the miniature kayaks that are being sold these days and thus, weren't stirring up the sand as much as usual. They sort of crowded up the swimming area but I didn't see any accidents so I guess all was well. 

The boys got here about 8:40 which was later than Vergil was going to bring them but when it was time for them to load up in the truck to come out, they discovered that Levon's car seat was teeming with red ants and that had to be dealt with. They'd just eaten breakfast so I didn't feel the need to make pancakes and they watched a little TV while Mr. Moon and I drank coffee and came back to consciousness from our sleep. Pretty soon it was time to get ready to go to the river which involved some preparation. Both boys got their immunizations for school yesterday and Levon seemed to be having a mild reaction. He was very tired and seemed warm to me and so I wanted to stop by the GDGD and get him some children's ibuprofen. After I packed the towels and some cut-up cantaloupe and sun screen and their goggles and filled up all the water bottles and a jug with ice water we went down the street to the DG. Besides the medication, we got potato chips and a container of Nutter Butters. 

Then we went a few blocks farther to the Subway which we never go to but it was convenient and hell, why not? Although Levon had asked for a peanut butter and honey and raisin sandwich instead which of course I made him. August, Boppy, and I all got subs which were so inferior to Publix subs that it's a sin. The "sandwich artists" appeared to be vastly unhappy women which I remarked on when we got back in the car. Mr. Moon remarked on how much the inferior subs cost. August took this information in and an entire discussion ensued on who actually makes the money that you pay for a sandwich. 
"Who makes the most money?" he asked. "The person who owns the whole Subway company," I said. 
"Who makes the least money?" "The people who make the sandwiches." There was more but that was the gist. 

And then we drove to the river and Levon fell asleep and when we got there he kept saying, "Are we already at the river?" We assured him we were. And the cousins all got to see each other for the first time in two months and they hugged. Owen had two of his friends there and they were all about to go kayaking with Jason who was also there. Those friends were so polite that I wondered if they were Eddie Haskelling. If you don't know what that is and are curious, just google Eddie Haskell. If you do know what it is, you are as old as I am. 
Lily assured me that unless she was completely wrong, they were not. That they are just truly nice boys. They're all in the same advanced placement program in school that Owen is. They shook our hands! And Owen did not die of embarrassment when his mother suggested that he introduce his friends to his grandparents although I have no doubt he might have wanted to. 

Soon they all glided off down the river in their kayaks and we had a beautiful afternoon, sitting in the shade and then dunking our bodies in the water, keeping watch over Maggie and Gibson and August and Levon. Because I am the grandmother, and not the mother, I found myself being super hyper-aware of where all of the children were at all times, especially the two we were mainly responsible for. At one point I asked Glen if he could see Levon. 
"He's with Maggie." he said. "He's fine."
"That does not guarantee his safety!" I said. 
The man sighed. 
And mostly Gibson was with all of them and he's a big boy now but still- I felt I had to be vigilant every moment. 
They all seemed to be very interested in hunting for critters in and around the water. Lizards, minnows, crawfish. Etc. And August did some jumping off the dock and so did Gibson. 

It really was a nice day and when we were packed up and leaving I said, "This feels like the last day of summer," and in a way it did. When school starts, the lazy days of going to the Wacissa are basically over because on weekends, there are just too many people for it to be much fun. 

Mr. Moon is probably on his way home from driving the boys back to their house. Poor things- I had let them eat so many cookies at the river that their bye-bye treats were bananas. I was cruel. But not only had I brought the Nutter Butters, Lily had brought Oreos in two different forms and cookies were consumed. They grumbled about such a boring bye-bye treat but they both took the bananas and I'm sure they ate them. 
I confessed my sin to Vergil via text and he wrote back, "Haha. What else are grandparents for?"

So I feel forgiven and also, both of them are still alive. So, as Roseanne Barr always said, "I've done my job."

I think we'll all probably sleep well tonight. Being at the river is a tonic that restores souls and bodies, and ensures restful sleep. My skin feels softer, my joints feel soothed. My heart and soul feel far more at peace. I am grateful. 

Love...Ms. Moon