Copyright © 2022
By Ralph F. Couey
We've lived in Honolulu now for about three-and-a-half years, both of us working at jobs that at times test the stamina of that proverbial last nerve. While we've taken time off now and then, we really haven't taken what one could term a vacation. A fellow named Earl Wilson called it "what you take when you can no longer take what you've been taking." Well, that was us. We were both stressed, and also depressed and sad. What sparked the idea for this trip was a video that popped up on a social media feed of our oldest granddaughter at age three singing "Away in a Manger" at church. It was so cute, no shyness, just belting out the carol.
That girl starts driving soon.
Time was getting away from us. So, we booked the trip in late February, scoring an incredible deal on first class tickets, something we'd never done before. The date of departure was May 21st, and it seemed like the days crawled past waiting to leave. But finally we found ourselves at Honolulu International waiting to get on the red-eye.
The trip east was broken into three legs, first one to Phoenix, the second one to Charlotte, the third into Dulles International in the Virginia 'burbs of DC. We got down to baggage claim, and lo and behold, our bags were the first ones off. Our grandchildren came running into the terminal and right into our arms., hugs for which we'd ached so much It was a joyous reunion.
Of course, they had all grown since we saw them last summer. That's the thing with children. They're always changing. and if you turn your back for a seeming instant, all of a sudden they're all grown up.
The relationship between grandparents and grandkids is, in it's own way, transcendent. In the autumn of our years they become as radiant as the sun, and more precious than gold. They are so completely full of life and love. Since even a visit of 16 days flies by too fast, we had to crowd a whole lot of living into that time. We still found time to spend with each one, coming face-to-face with how much they've grown.
Diana, the erstwhile carol singer, is now 15. She is quiet and soft spoken, but her thoughts emerge with so much wisdom for one so young. Her award-winning violin playing is masterful, but as she told me, she wants to do everything. This is stated quietly, but in her voice can be heard the steel of ambition. She is courageous enough to try every dream she might have, and knows that dreams take work for which she seems to have an unending capacity. She also plays a great piano, does artistic sketches so real they seem to leap off the paper. She is involved in competitive swimming, and is good at it. Oh, and she's also a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, bad news for any potential suitors. If she would ever have time for them. Yeah, she's busy.
