Summer weekends spent with my grandparents were full and wonderful. My sister and brother were so much older than I was, it was if I was an only child. My Nana and Pop ate it up. They would allow me to tag along on their real estate business and hand out keys to the summer rental folks that stopped by their office, which was attached to their home, on the beach in Cape Cod. Evenings, I was allowed to sleep in the outdoor screened porch and most of my days were spent swimming and digging for clams for dinner. Nana was always afraid I would be bored coming to visit because they were never “off duty”, but these were the days when she sent me packing with a towel under one arm and a sack lunch in the other. The only rule I had was that I be home and ready for dinner at 5. This required taking a stone cold shower in their outside stall attached to the garage, to make sure I wasn’t carrying my weight in sand in my bathing suit. On rainy afternoons I got to help snap green beans with Nana for supper or play cards with Pop. As far as I was concerned the Cape was heaven!
Now that I am Nana, I received this blessing back, three fold, on a recent weekend. My oldest daughter and my son (in-law) finally got the chance to get away together – first time without kid’s I think. Sitting at my desk at work I watched as this band of three wonderful grandchildren approached my office (ironically at the Real Estate office that I work) after school, on a mission. Running in with tons of energy, each asked a million questions and said they were dying of hunger and thirst – all at the same time. I do not have the Atlantic Ocean to offer up as entertainment, but we had a great time just the same. Pizza, playing at the park, watching movies, quiet talks and hanging out with their Aunt, who also came to spend the weekend, filled our couple of days. They even got a chance to go to the gym and make ice cream treats in Wichita.
I understand the concern my Nana had about being a bore, but now truly appreciate the luxury of the time we shared together. We are never able to get these moments back. I am looking forward to any chance I have to be a part of a new generation’s memories in the making.
