Dear Jim: The Grandkids leave!

Hallelujah!  Many people think this word was derived in biblical times as part of some religious ceremony. Not true. It was originally coined long ago when two Grandparents waved goodbye to their daughter and Grandchildren after a 15-day, home visit.  As they turned to each other they spontaneously shouted, Hallelujah!

Religions everywhere adopted this proclamation as an expression of uncontrollable joy.

(You should know that there is no Male who is brave enough to acknowledge this out loud but I thought you should know this fun fact anyway. Be careful if you use it as women can be very hostile when the Grandchildren are concerned.)

The 9-year-old girl is a circus performer.  True. This means she has to do a handstand, back somersault and the splits over the family room furniture every 7 minutes or so to keep her flexibility. This can be unnerving if you are holding a hot tea in your hand or looking the other way when an unannounced performance begins.

She is also smarter than me and proved it over and over again.  This is a problem since I have long assumed that my experience would compensate for young and smart. Apparently, not so much.

She also remembers things that I didn’t even know needed remembering and filled in the blanks whenever I told a story about something that happened more than two years ago.

A clear and constant demonstration of the fact that we old types are doomed.

The 6 year old is a world-class negotiator. I didn’t win a single argument in 15 days. I’m thinking of taking him with me when I do my next deal. Relentless, and if the logic doesn’t get you the persistence will grind you to dust.

Getting the swimming pool up to 90 degrees allowed for a lot of fun. For the first time since 1986 I dove in to the pool head first with my long forgotten Dolphin technique. As I broke the surface I shook my head to flick the water out of my eyes. The resulting crack in my neck was so loud the birds all lifted out of the trees. I also discovered that you can swallow an awful lot of water before actually drowning.

As the visit progressed my need to be at the office increased dramatically. By the end, I was at the office by 6.45am and couldn’t make it home before 7pm. What is really amazing is that I have no work that anyone expects, wants or asks for but I was so busy I could hardly think straight.

We had a wonderful time although it did take Granny out of her comfort zone.  For the sake of saving a lot of words lets just say she looks like she just put her finger in a light socket. Total collapse may be avoided if I keep up the hot and cold compresses and don’t open the curtains for several days.

Next year they want to come for a month. I don’t know if that will fly however as at this moment Sally is trying to book a 3-week hike to Mount Everest base camp for the two of us next summer.

I have had the car power washed inside and out and it is now in for detailing. Our handyman will do most of our restoration and the furniture rebuilding can be handled locally. So all in all a very successful visit.

It is now on to golf again and one final attempt to get some pleasure from this stupid sport before winter sets in and I can start hitting balls indoors at the Dome.

I will keep you posted.

Bill Meder

P.S.  I miss the little guys already!