Grandchildren, day two

I am up early while there is still silence and I am able, at peace, to have my first cup of coffee and to luxuriate with a good book knowing that, soon enough, one by one, my grandchildren will appear, anxious for another round of snow play and so it is. They do not even settle down for breakfast first but run outdoors falling upon the hill of snow, before even the squirrels have come out of their shelters to beg seeds and nuts.

The children are supercharged and the adults keep watch from the upstairs deck, coffee in hand. Soon they are joined by my son intent on finishing the igloo they started the day before, as well as a renewed interest in sledding.

It takes almost three hours and a snack of Pop Tarts to convince one and all to stop, get ready for town to have a real meal, visit the local stores, have an old-fashioned snowball fight, get sweets at the candy shop, and marvel at the great outdoors, then back home for more play time as if they will never see snow again and they feel a sense of deprivation already. They come in only long enough for bathroom breaks and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for more fuel. They have to be dragged in for dinner even though they are exhausted, where they a enjoy a warm fire and command of the television.

The day is charged with energy, a commodity almost all children have in excess. They want to stay another day but, as all parents know, there are things that need to be done at home and so it is time to pack up, find anything that might be missing, as there always is, get and give lots of hugs, settle everyone into the car and promise another visit soon.

The quiet, after two days filled with activity, seems unnatural but also welcome. The cats, who have been mostly in hiding, come out one by one and settle around me for some love and attention. The sky is cloudy and rain is falling, it is uncertain whether snow will come during the night. The fire slowly dwindles and the lighting is reduced to a minimum as we all drift off on the couch while the television plays to itself.

I am awakened to a call that all are home safe and sound. Then it is finally time to head off to bed and a deep sleep. I thank God for the blessing of my family, and the priceless treasure of being able to spend time with them.

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