Driving home today after a two week visit with my daughter and her family in Ottawa, I noticed that my front seat seemed very uncomfortable. Hot actually!
Looking down, I realized that the seat warmer switch was turned to high. I could only smile.
That's what I get for using my car as a babysitter, I thought to myself.
One of my discoveries during my stay was that my car served as a wonderful indoor playground for two year old Adrian. After investigating every knob and switch on the dashboard, discovering the two hidden mirrors in the window visors, emptying the contents of the glove compartment onto the floor and learning how to honk the horn, Adrian would hop from the console between the front seats into the back. From there, he played hide and seek, never tiring of being found on the floor behind the driver's seat after I had given him a ten second countdown. I can still see the look of surprise on his face when I put down part of the back seat to reveal an access to the trunk and more hiding space.
Sometimes, his older sisters would join us and be content to listen to my Katy Perry CD as they sucked on mints, part of their grandmother's stash of car candy.
"Why do you think your gramma always has so many sweets in the car?" I asked six year old Vivi.
"Because eating candy makes you feel young," she answered without missing a beat.
What an insightful answer!
Indeed, feeling younger is what being with grandchildren is all about. Whether I was bike riding or hiking with them, playing ring around the rosie or frolicking in their inflatable pool, my time here with Isla, Vivi and Adrian was all about entering an unspoiled world, a place of innocence and unconditional love.
Hopefully over these past two weeks, I've helped build a few lasting memories for them as they have for me.
I miss them already.
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