Catching Up

Wow! I can't believe almost two months have passed since I last posted. I returned home to New Jersey on November 5 after 'visiting' my daughter in Norfolk, VA for almost three months. When I went to VA on August 11 to babysit my grandson Gabriel for two weeks before he began kindergarten, I never dreamed that my two week 'visit' would turn into an almost three month stay.

My daughter is a Marine so I'm accustomed to her needing me to stay with Gabe from time to time. Since he'd be starting kindergarten at the end of August, she'd enrolled him in the school's before and after school care program, but for the last two weeks of August the program closes. Since kindergarten is a monumental event, he wanted me to be there for his first day and I would have it no other way. I decided instead of returning home I'd stay a couple of more weeks and celebrate his fifth birthday in September and then go home. But that didn't happen.

My daughter had to attend a Corporal's course for two weeks so I stayed on. When I finally was getting ready to leave, she was notified that because she'd gotten a raise, she had to move since she was over the income level for her apartment complex. She had thirty days to find a new apartment. We found a beautiful one in a week. This apartment is not income controlled and is close to the ocean in Virginia Beach. I helped her move and get settled in while battling a nasty flu bug that lasted almost six weeks.

While in Virginia my laptop died, my daughter's computer had to be reformatted, and my index page on my website was hacked and had to be redone. I did manage to write one story and received a contract for it. I also wrote some poetry and began a couple of other stories. My grandson wants me to write a story about him so this winter I'll be writing a book especially for and about Gabe. He tells me that when he grows up he wants to be a writer like 'Amma'. He all ready has a love for books and reading.

All in all, I wouldn't trade a minute of the time I got to spend with Gabe. Being with him always helps me to remember how short life really is and to slow down and enjoy the simple pleasures. I was there to cheer him on as he played soccer on his school's team for the first time, had a blast going trick or treating, to Zoo Boo and to Kings Dominion. But the best times were just being with him knowing that I was the center of his world. Time moves too fast and the day will come too soon when his friends and activities will replace 'Amma's' prominent position in his life. I'm going to enjoy and treasure every minute of these 'visits' for as long as I can. There's nothing better than being a grandmother.