We had a wonderful family lunch yesterday with our kids and grandkids at a place called The Factory.
We ate ramen noodles, hot chicken, Mexican food, and hot dogs.
After that something very sweet happened that makes my heart feel real good and loved.
As I remember and write about this, my eyes are a little moist. One of my very most favorite things happened with my six year old granddaughter.
She was sitting across the table from me. When she finished her giant New York hot dog she strolled over and asked, “Speedy can I sit on your knee?” I said, “Sure.” She asked me which one would be best. I said, “Probably my right one.” I had a new left one put in a couple years ago. She said, “It might hurt to sit on that one.” That was thoughtful. And I told her that it had healed up so nicely that it probably would not hurt at all. I was pleased about that.
We decided that side saddle on the right side would be the best. However, she was rocking a bit, so we put her legs on top of my left leg while she sat on the right one. Once settled in she began to share some things about what was going on in her cute little mind. She is fascinating in that she almost always has interesting things going on in there. And I super enjoy getting a glimpse into her thoughts. So, she filled me in on several topics.
I can’t recall the content, but I do know how it felt to be trusted with her stories and for her to want to tell me about them. She is quite enthusiastic about these things. She talks with her stunning blue eyes and her whole face lights up with ideas. They dance with delight as she puts words to her stories. She pauses and studies my face to see if I am understanding. Looking into her beautiful eyes is sweet closeness and a glimpse into a pure and un-spoiled 6-year-old heart. She very much enjoys being affirmed and encouraged to keep talking. This back-and-forth thing has been going on for a few years.
I learned when she was about three that, even though I was not always sure what she was saying then, if I nodded positively, looked her right in the eyes, and affirmed her, that she would talk for about 5 minutes about what was going on in her heart at that moment.
She would say something and then I would respond with things like, “Oh really?” “No kidding?” “Wow!” “What else do you want to say about that?” “Hmmm.” When we made eye contact and I encouraged her to keep going, we would have some of the most splendid interactions. Yesterday’s lunch time granddaughter state of the union was another priceless memory in grandpa life.
She updated me for a while, then slipped away to do some more little girl stuff.