Just because I haven't written in the past few months, doesn't mean that I haven't been thinking about anything. It just means that I . . . well, maybe I haven't been thinking about too much. At least, not anything that I would want to write about. But this past weekend I had a new experience.
RaeLyn and I drove down to Longview to visit with our son and his family. He and his wife, Jill, have two daughters. Bailey is 5 and Madison is 3. Saturday was a very busy day for Bailey. She was playing her final tee-ball game of the season. She's not all that much "into" the game part of baseball. I think she likes the uniform and I know she likes her batting helmet--it came from her Daddy's high school team. But the game itself, you know, the hitting, fielding and throwing, for her they are not so important. She really likes the airplanes that fly over. Every once in awhile she even just sits down to take a rest! I think her favorite part is the team handshake at the end of the game. "Good game, good game, good game,(ad infinitum)." Then, it's off to the concession stand for the post-game treats. Then she needed to get home to play with Zoey, our daughter's Black Labrador puppy. Bailey adores Zoey and I think Zoey is kind of sweet on Bailey, too.
Later in the evening, Bailey was appearing in her first ballet recital. This was the sweetest and most touching event I have seen Bailey participate in yet. She was dressed in her beautiful pink and rainbow tutu, pink flowers in her hair, which was pulled back in ballerina fashion. When she and her dance-mates came on stage, I immediately teared up. Here was my oldest grandchild, so beautiful and innocent, giving her "all" to dance with her group. She was so intense and so delightful, at the same time. It was a moment I don't think I will ever forget!!
However, there was almost a disaster. What is it that all star ballerinas expect at the end of a long evening on the ballet stage?? Why flowers, of course! Her Daddy was not aware of this and he and I had to race out to Safeway (that paragon of high-class flowerdom)to get a beautiful bouquet of flowers. We arrived in time so that Dad and ballerina-daughter could get their photo taken. It was truly priceless!
It made me see how the generations just keep going. It wasn't all that long ago (at least it doesn't seem like all that long ago)that I was about 30 and going to our son's first baseball game. And believe it or not, just a few years later, we even went to watch Julie play soccer!! And now, it's our granddaughter who is learning and playing and dancing. "Time stops for no man." I don't know who said that, but it is sure true.
Ten minutes ago I was 32 years old, a young choral teacher with two little kids and a beautiful wife. Now I am 60 years old, retired, balding, losing my hearing, a bit overweight (!!) and watching my grandchildren play. But you know what?? I still have that same beautiful wife. I am really blessed!!!
