I must confess the fact that these feelings are a rather recent occurrence. I am sure I was there for the rearing of my two children but I look back now and can remember so little about those years. I have a reasonably good excuse. I have for many years been in outside sales and have been away from home literally thousands of nights.
But using my career endeavors as an excuse doesn't explain all of it. There were also many nights that I could have been home with the family but, instead, found myself "out with the boys," debating the general advantages of Kentucky bourbon whiskey over Tennessee sour mash whiskey (if you've never detected a difference, you haven't devoted enough time to research). I should someday thank my wife for being there - always - for the children and for me. Paula is the kindest person I have ever met. And the most devoted mother I've ever known. She did a remarkable job of raising our children without much help, and can look on their adult successes with tremendous pride.
Our daughter has found the perfect husband and, along with beginning the process of raising one of my grandsons, is a Republican activist and local volunteer coordinator for the Bush/Cheney campaign. I think she gets her passion for politics from me. Our son has become a fireman and emergency medical technician, and is, I'm told, well respected in his department. I think he gets his devotion to duty from his mother. He's married to a beautiful woman and they somehow have been able, through much hard work I'll bet, to bring two beautiful children into the world - twins no less.
As it turns out, my three grandchildren are all (virtually) the same age - just over two. And I am blessed to have them living relatively close by.
Jayla has her mother's beauty. And, if it is possible at the age of two, she has a stubborn, sometimes impish, streak that can only come from her mother as well. Her vocabulary is expanding to the point where she calls me by name. It was decided, without a great deal of planning, that I would no longer be referred to as Jerry or Dad. As of two years ago, I became Gramps. Somehow, as we were trying to teach Jayla how to pronounce my new name, Gramps was just not quite possible. So for now, my name is Jeramps. I like that all the more. Because it's Jayla's special name for her grandfather.
We share our joy when we get together. When their car pulls up in our driveway, I can count on there being a huge smile on Jayla's face. And when she is unharnessed from the child safety seat and is turned loose, she comes running up to me and hugs my leg. That's how big she is. She hugs my leg.
When the day comes years from now that she hugs me and we are at eye level, I hope she still feels the same joy as she seems to today.
His personality and Jayla's are very different. Kaid is more cerebral, sometimes more pondering. Even at the age of two, he will sometimes stare at you with this fixed look of contemplation, analysis, evaluation. And he has a laugh that is unforgettable. It can best be described as a sort of rapid-fire giggle. And he uses it freely. In his two years he has found much to be happy about. He loves to feed our horses. And he calls me Jeramps.
We only wish that Kaid and Jayla, or as they refer to each other, Bubba and Sissy, were able to visit Jeramps and Nana more often. Such is life...
Chase is a few months younger but in many ways, is older than the other two. He has a considerable and rapidly expanding vocabulary. With Chase, I can now have a conversation. And if I'm allowed to gloat, his syntax and grammar are pretty darn remarkable too. He gets his intelligence from his mother, I'd say. To Chase, I'm Gramps. He'll say, "Gramps, want to play cars with Chase?" Naturally, Gramps plays cars. And Nana taught him how to use a water pistol the other day. What a treat that is as he takes target practice on his Gramps and reloads and shoots and reloads and ... And he is quick , and loves to run. He gets that from his father.
Of course we spoil him. He particularly likes Dairy Queen ice cream and will shout out that fact no matter where we are or how crowded the area is with strangers. "Dairy Queen ice cream!" And he loves to explore. We have a creek that runs through our property. He enjoys throwing rocks into the creek. Gramps fills up a bucket with rocks. Chase empties the contents into the creek, taking pleasure in splashing water. Once while throwing rocks into the creek, he scared up a black snake. It dropped into the water and proceeded to slither down the stream. Chase was fascinated - and unafraid. It was Nana that freaked.
Both of my children have been told in no uncertain terms that Gramps can be counted on to break all their rules when it comes to nutrition and treats. They are prone to feed Jayla, Kaid, and Chase what amounts to leaves and twigs and the like. Healthy stuff. They read somewhere that children require a special regimen. Gramps focuses on the three basic food groups - Coke, desserts, and candies. A certain amount of displeasure has been directed my way about this but - I'm Gramps.
With joy comes wonder. I wonder how Paula and I have been so blessed. I wonder how these little people will fare in life. I wonder how my father would have loved to have known them. After all he - along with my mother and parents-in-law - had a lot to do with their being here and being who they are.
And there are worries. I worry about public schools. I worry about the many people in the Middle East who intend to harm them. And I worry about all the many bad influences out there, most of them reflected in what's on the television.
I never worried about such things in the past.
Now I'm a grandfather.
