Grandkids Can Be Fascinating

We have three grandsons and two granddaughters.  Two of the boys are brothers and they live near us in BC.  They are thirteen and eleven years old.  Their sister is nine.  One of the boys, who is seven, lives in CT along with his sister who is only five.  

The two brothers are avid fishermen and though they love school, they’d rather fish than do anything else, except for running races across-country.  One afternoon, when we were at their house, they were sorting their fishing tackle.  Before long, the two of them, along with their friend, had their rods, reels and tackle ready, along with their rubber boots, which they were already wearing, and soon were off on their bikes to Campbell River, a favorite fishing spot for them and others.

They love the thrill of having a fish on the line, but usually, the boys throw their catch back.  This afternoon, the older lad had one well hooked and it proved to be a big one, a salmon, and it required a lot of playing on the line, to tire it out.  Apparently, from the story they told us afterwards, the older boy called over his shoulder to his brother, that he needed help, and the younger fellow responded by wading deep into the water, where he caught the salmon in his arms and carried it to shore.  

Suddenly, the salmon, with all its reserve energy, gave a flip that unhooked it and sent it back into the river.  The lad realized he was soaked to the skin, and that he had entirely over-looked being dressed in his school clothes.  He and his brother decided right then, that they had to have hip waders.  Rubber boots were by no means adequate for deep river fishing.  They would be saving their grass-cutting money for the big investment needed to catch such combative game.

Their nine-year old sister, who I mentioned, is just as avid about picture puzzles as her brothers are about fishing.  Numerous times, she and I have assembled puzzles together on our dining room table.  She is an expert and doesn’t wait until the pieces have all been turned up or to start with the border.  If the colors, shapes and clues match, it is to her advantage to assemble those pieces immediately, regardless of where they belong in the whole picture.  

So, the other day, she arrived at our place with an armload consisting of two big puzzle boxes, and excitedly exclaimed, “Grandpa Keith, look what I have for us to work on!”  Her friend and she had made an exchange.  What a good idea!  The two of us set to work immediately.  We couldn’t finish the first puzzle in the short time we had available before dinner and the time afterwards when she had to be taken to Girl Guides, so I was admonished to lay a tablecloth over what we had done and wait until next Thursday or Friday to continue.  In the meantime, I was not to touch another piece!  All I can say is that I’m thankful the puzzle was covered, because without the cover, I would have been awfully tempted.  I can truthfully say, I was able to walk past the covered puzzle for days.  I would have loved to work on it, but I didn’t have that privilege.  Our grandaughter was anxious to continue, and when she arrived on Friday, a week later, to stay overnight, the puzzle was completed before supper, and we were ready to tackle the harder one, but after a game of Dominoes with freshly popped pop-corn.  

Meanwhile, in CT, our seven-year old grandson rides his bike in the area where bigger boys are doing loops with theirs.  He enjoys being where they’re practicing such daring maneuvers, and is always cautious not to ride as dangerously as they.  Let’s hope he continues to be careful.  In his quiet time, he industriously invents and constructs new car models with his Lego.  He printed a letter to the Lego Company to tell them of his new design and was thrilled to receive their reply saying they would one day be interested, as they are always looking to introduce a new model.  His grandmother and I enjoy so much, watching the occasional video of our dear grandson in CT playing a piano duet with his dad, who accompanies him on the piano’s bass notes.  We love the expression on his face when he completes a tune to his satisfaction.  

Our grandson’s five-year-old sister dresses and undresses her dolls, and has even adorned her most beautiful one with spectacles using a permanent-marking pen.  She loves that doll just the same.  What she likes best, is to look beautiful in her own very pretty dresses.  Being so nicely attired, is not her concern even though she and her brother will be going to the Bicycle Park.  She is sure the dress will wash, or believes it won’t get dirty; but it does.  Still, she’s happy to be doing what her brother loves to do, and she still looks pretty while she runs up and down over the rough and dirty bumps.  She prefers to run because her bicycle still has training wheels.

I find our grandchildren fascinating, and wish we could spend more time having fun with them.  Most likely, I’ll want to write more about the things that occupy their developing minds.