Traverse City Record-Eagle

Life

December 24, 2012

Northern Notes: Good memories provided by the grandchildren

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Like cherished ornaments lovingly placed on the Christmas tree, memories of the past warm the heart. They can be bright and shining like new. Sometimes they become faded or are lost completely. Wonderful things our children said as tots are like that. Although we're sure we will always remember them even if we don't write them down, they sometimes get lost in the busyness of day-to-day life and gradually fade from memory.

Sadly, I didn't write down the wonderful phrases my children came up with when young, so I make sure to write down memorable things my grandchildren say. Much like the title of the TV show from the 1950s and '60s that featured Art Linkletter talking to children, kids really do say the darndest things, and I'm going to indulge myself and share some of my grandchildren's comments here.

One is from several years ago, the older grandson was rubbing his cheek and had a thoughtful look on his face. I asked what he was thinking about and he said, "I'm thinking I will probably have hair on my face in about a year, just like my dad." He was 4 at the time.

Another grandchild as a kindergartner suddenly blurted out the Pledge of Allegiance after seeing an American flag and then commented "I bet I just knocked your socks off, right Grandma." He did. I was duly impressed and applauded his patriotism.

Another time, the same grandchild said, "I like worms. Worms poop dirt and we need dirt." I think the class must have been studying ecology that week.

Telling me about a convoy of Army trucks a grandson had seen, I asked if he knew where they were going and he replied, "back to the Army orchard." I chuckled as I envisioned rows of trees sprouting tanks and trucks and battleships and the Department of Defense harvesting a fleet of whatever they needed.

Although generally not allowed soda pop with caffeine, I relented one time and later, the grandchild I indulged asked if I remembered the time he had pop with caffeine. I said yes and he replied, "My tongue could smell it because my tongue has buds." Sometimes my thought processes aren't as quick as their's and it took me just a few seconds to realizes he meant his taste buds.

One of my insect-loving grandchildren had a brief love affair with roly-polies, building little towns for them to live in after being caught. After picking one up, she excitedly commented as it crept up her arm, "Look he loves me!" and insisted that the probably terrified bug was giving her a hug.

I hope my memories prompt some of your own to share during this special time of year. Merry Christmas.

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