Days in the life of a grandpa
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Publisher: Vision 14 Enterprises Gadget Name: Days in the life of a grandpa About This Gadget:  
We offer stories that will touch your heart and refresh your day with smiles, warm memories, an occasional tear - and a reminder of the power of love He Ended Up In the Next Hospital Bed
An Advanced Life Support Paramedic unit rushed the seriously injured driver of the van to the nearest trauma hospital. A few hours later, one of the two paramedics that had worked to save the man's life was lying in the next bed in the trauma unit - badly injured himself. Off shift and on his way home, the paramedic's car was hit head-on by a driver who suddenly made an illegal left-hand turn into his path. He was rushed to the same hospital by his own paramedic unit. His injuries included a head injury that kept him from being able to return to his job. What then? Suddenly life changed. Gone was the excitement of a challenging career on the front-lines of emergency medical response. Here daily were on-going headaches and dizziness, with some memory loss. He was unable to function in the crowded or noisy environments that he had thrived in before. What would fill the void in his life? Who are we talking about?
In the years after the accident, our three married sons and one married daughter began to expand their families. I decided to deepen my relationship with my growing family of grandchildren. Right now there are 11. I still find it hard sometimes to be around a busy family gathering. Even with the children usually well-behaved, even the noise of multiple conversations can be overwhelming. I can find it hard to focus on the conversation I am trying to have with ONE family member. I try to enjoy these family times when we are all together. But sometimes it's hard. What I HAVE found is that I can enjoy one-on-one time with each grandchild. My aim is to take one grandchild out each week for "a walk with grandpa". We go for a walk to a special park by a river, then go for ice-cream or a snack. The closeness that has grown between me and each grandchild is something special. The times we enjoy together are fun, entertaining, and sometimes hilarious. There is a special bond of love between this grandpa and each of them. My wife and I also enjoy looking after different ones together to give our married kids a break. They appreciate being able to escape for an occasional evening out, knowing their children are safe and happy with Grandpa and Grandma.
The fun times. The activities. The challenges. My thoughts on what it means. I have decided to call these stories "Days in the Life of a Grandpa". I invite you to subscribe to my elert gadget that will send you free samples of these stories direct to your desktop. What is it all about? Believing that a grandpa can make a difference in the life of his grandchildren. That grandchildren can fill a life with meaning and joy. And that together a grandpa and his grandchildren can share adventures and special times that will leave memories of joy and love imprinted in their minds as an anchor for all times. |
| 4 - TAKING IT OUT OF THE WATER TO WASH IT | Published: 16/01/08 |
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PART 4 - Days in the life of a grandpa -
Taking it OUT of the water to wash it? -
The next day Serena dropped by in the afternoon for a few hours
while Mark was sleeping before leaving for his 12-hour night
shift. The boys played outside on the patio and the grass and
the fenced-in sandbox that our son-in-law Don built for their
little son Matthew.
That's our closest family of our four grown-up offspring. Our
daughter Mandy lives next-door in the other side of the
duplex, with her husband Don and their three boys.
On Monday night, Serena invited my wife over to their house.
She finds it a bit lonely sometimes when Mark is working
night-shift. They have recently bought a small fish-tank, and
Beth has been helping them set it up with the pumps and filters
and fish.
Mark remembers the fish tank we had at home during his growing-up
years, and agrees with me that there is something very relaxing
and peaceful about watching the tiny brilliantly-colored fish
swim leisurely around, and watching and hearing the gentle
gurgling of the bubbles from the filter.
They had a problem with the gravel at the bottom of the tank,
and Beth had suggested they take it out and "wash it".
Why would you take anything OUT of the water to wash it? I
leave the expert advice stuff to Beth....
So Serena thought it would be fun to have Mom over and wash the
gravel together once the children were in bed. It was, after all,
her birthday, so Mom agreed. Then it expanded - Serena's twin
sister was coming over too, and "the three girls" would watch a
movie ("Pride and Prejudice", I think) when the work was done.
I stayed home and relaxed - and enjoyed the unusual solitude....
The next day I think we went all day without seeing any of our
grandchildren except for our daughter and family who live
next-door. I can't even remember.
That afternoon I went out for coffee with a friend from my former
job as a paramedic. We sat in my favorite little coffee shop and
I enjoyed the best mocha I have found in town.
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