1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
Go:
I’m sitting in a hotel room the day after my birthday listening to lots of little people snoring. I love that sound vs. the squabble to come. We have been on the road 720 miles in 2 days makes kids go crazy. I try to keep a schedule but . . . I digress.
I came here to see Pop Pop. My Mom’s last husband. (I can’t go there–I only have 5 minutes!) But Pop Pop has been a constant in my life for 28 years now! He is the Grandpa my kids have spent each Wednesday night with for dinner and every Sunday morning for church followed by tea and a sweet. When we moved it broke our hearts to stop this tradition.
So yesterday–the best part of my birthday was seeing Pop Pop. The best part of the kids trip was seeing Pop Pop. We realized what a strong connection we had with him. He listened to my son play the guitar, heard the girls stories and let the smallest and shyest sit on his lap again. I cried.
My past and my future were all sitting on one chair. We may have moved, still bittersweet, but the that bond will not be broken.
When Pop Pop left they all silently cried as he walked down the hotel room hallway–I couldn’t watch him go . . . I was in my usual spot of crying in the bathroom!
Stop:
What a blessing to have such a great relationship! I’m grateful my children will have that opportunity as well growing up fairly close to their grandparents.
I didn’t have grandparents growing up so I really had high expectations from my kids grandparents–sort of unfair of me but . . . kids love a mentor that is not their parents. My brother Joe does his best–I’m very blessed to have him.
What a loving memories you and your kids have of Pop Pop…he sounds like a kind and loving man. Blessings to you :)
Sweet memories.
Oh what sweet connections. Pop Pop sounds wonderful. So glad you got to see him. Leaving family is hard. May God provide substitutes near where you live.
We so miss our Pop Pop. We were able to see him again the next day in his home and he sang “bushel and a peck” to the kids–oh how I cried!!