Saturday, January 1, 2011

Afternoon With A Granddaughter

Middle of the afternoon ... sitting in the local Braum's on a rainy day in Kansas, writing. With nine-year-old granddaughter, Juliette.  She is coloring a sheet of various angels I have drawn and made copies of. 

We came for lunch; girls' day out.  Used my Braum's gift-card Christmas gift for the first time.  Juliette's two brothers went back to Kansas City for the week with their Mom.  We'll meet halfway in a couple of days to return Juliette.  I'll miss her.  She's my little co-artist.  We've been "doing art" since she's been here.  And staying up late, in front of the t.v. and the wood-burning stove (while "doing" the art).

Grandpa leaves it to us.  He's not a stay-up-late-in-front-of-the-t.v.-and-stove person.  He's more the get-up-early-and-let-us-sleep-late kind of person.  And doesn't complain about it. Granddaughter and wife are grateful.

Juliette lives in Kansas City, Missouri - about three and a half hours from us, so we don't get together all that often.  My husband is a pastor and must be here on week-ends; but week-ends are when she and her family are free.  However, she and her brothers are the grandkids (we have eight of them) we see most often.  The others are spread around:  one granddaughter lives in California, two granddaughters and two grandsons (all siblings) are near Chicago.  Bummer!  Our four children are in California, Colorado, Missouri and Illinois.  How great would it be to live close to your kids and grandkids?!  Guess it depends on whether you like 'em or not (we like ours)! ha

Getting noisy in here.  When we first came in there were only two others, but now it's a little after four and more and more are drifting in.  A couple of tables are filled with afternoon "coffee-and-conversation" people.

Probably should be leaving.  Need to get to the grocery store.  We are in desperate need of some GREEN "stuff" ... lettuce, greens, green beans, etc.  Too many Christmas goodies and not enough of the "green stuff".  After the grocery store we'll swing by the library.  Juliette wanted to make sure she still has a "working" library card here in Nonny and Papou's little town  (she does).

Then, home.

It's been a pleasant little afternoon with Juliette. Wish we could do it more often.  Well, SOMEtimes is better than NO times.  Right?