Very young children have some fanciful ideas, and who knows where they come from?
When I was a very young child, a pre-schooler, I wanted to be a zebra when I grew up. How that ever came into my head, I don’t know. I think I was already in kindergarten when I finally realized this was impossible. But I never did outgrow my fondness for zebras. A lot of children are crazy about horses, and a striped horse living wild in Africa–well, how could you beat that?
Many years later, when I was married, and working as a newspaper editor, my Grammy phoned and asked me to come and see her, she had something for me. She wouldn’t tell me what it was, so I had to hustle over there to find out.
It was, of all things, a stuffed zebra. And I am looking at it right now, almost forty years later, as it sits proudly on my coffee table–looking at it and remembering her, and how very much she loved me, and I her. I was her first grandchild, the first of many; and she never forgot how fond I was of zebras.
Love your family while you’ve got ’em, folks! Of all the wonderful and precious gifts God gives you, your grandmas and grandpas are very high on the list.
Brought a tear to my eye, Lee. A few years ago, I found a Little Golden Book, which had been my favorite when I was quite small. I read through it and was suddenly struck by this strange sensation; I felt like I was traveling through time from the mid ’50s to the present. It was very strange.
The only explanation which comes to mind would be that I had reactivated memories which had lain dormant for many years and it, essentially reindexed (computer database terminology) my memories. Like I said; it was strange . . . to the point of physical reaction.
Too bad you never got to be a zebra. I wanted to be Chet Atkins when I grew up, but I ended up 2″ too short. 🙂
Yes.. outside of having a pet, grandparents always have unconditional love. But grandma made cookies and grandpa always cautioned me about not taking any wooden nickels. Not too many pets can provide that sustenance. 🙂
Amazing, the memories we have of our dear grandparents. As a grandmother myself, I had the most fun and pure enjoyment ever with my grandson. I loved taking him toy shopping, then going home and playing on the floor with him and toys. Buying him beautiful suits and ties, taking him to church, all those good times will be with both of us as long as we live.
I have to admit I was never all that thrilled with suits and ties; but when Grandma took me on her lap and taught me how to make a sock puppet, that was bliss!
. . . and those things mean so much. Children thrive on acceptance and love, two things which grandparents provide in abundance.
Perhaps 20 years ago, when I was at a juncture in my life, my grandmother wrote a letter to me giving her blessing to the direction I had taken. I’ll never forget that.