"What are you guys up to today?" Translation: Can I see my grandkids?
"Nothing much, Mom. Why?"
"I'm headed down to see Mom-Mom. Do you want to go?"
So, since there are no plans for the day, Sean, Josh & I pile into the minivan with Mom, my sister-in-law, Lauren, and niece, Ella. Several temper tantrums, red lollipops and 1 1/2 hours later, we pile out in drizzling, grey Dundalk and walk up the familiar narrow sidewalk to the butter-yellow bungalow.
Hours later, my head and heart are happy we went, and heavy that we don't get down there more often. My only grandmother is getting older. My grandfather isn't well, but he won't tell you so himself. We watched the kids play, passed around the baby, ordered pizza, ate Tastycakes and enjoyed a few hours in the informal bliss of family. We don't go down there often enough.
Making the most of the southern visit, we pop in to my Aunt Norma and Uncle John's house, about 5 minutes down the street. In their 80's, my grandmother's sister and husband live next door to where my grandparents lived, where my father grew up. Their house has been sold and remodeled. A fence now divides the two yards, which I always remember being joined in a giant play area. I explained to Sean the genealogy of these relatives visited so infrequently. "These are Poppie's aunt and uncle. Poppie grew up next door. They have three boys who are grown up like Poppie - his cousins." Age is a concept out of his grasp; a five-year old's ignorance. Uncle John, sickly for as long as I can remember him, tickles Josh's feet and smiles at the goos and drool. We made his day. They don't drive themselves, or tolerate long trips well, so it's up to us.
We should do it more often - I feel like I accomplished something meaningful today.
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