Musings of a Senior Scribe
Grandpa's Hand
By Mona Lease 

Hi, all!! As I write this, we're due for an ice storm - just to show that you can never take anything for granted. Time to get the ice melt out - for maybe 12 hours.  Friday afternoon it's supposed to turn to rain. It'll be enough to keep us "just off balance." 

Kinda in the same vein, I received a phone call Monday evening. A young man I've watched grow into a fine gentleman told me that his girlfriend's family decided to pull the plug on her Grandpa. Some six weeks back, Grandpa had three heart attacks in one day. He'd been sedated when the girlfriend visited him. In response to the girlfriend, Grandpa squeezed her hand.  

Now, he's gone. She has the memories to guide her. The timing could not be worse - Valentine's Day, the young couple's anniversary, and her birthday the first week of March.  

Of course, my sappy brain started whirling - my own Grandpa, who taught me to pitch horseshoes (I probably can't do that now), call a befriended, wild crow to the ground (sharp-tongued JoJo), plant potatoes, popcorn in an old metal pan tastes the best when shared, and probably the most important - a weathered, calloused hand around yours will keep you safe.  

Among the uncertainties of life - I won't list them - you know them as well as I - was the hand a "stabilizer" - a "haven" if you will? I think we all had them - A Grandpa/Grandma - or an Uncle/Aunt. They were where you could turn when life got crazy. They had the "knack" of listening and making you feel you were still ok - you just got off the track. They helped you sort it all out - they had all the time in the world to listen to you. And somehow, in the safe environment - you could even admit the truth... that some of the problem was your fault. Over a cup of tea, across from the kindly face with the non-judgmental smile - it was easy and right to admit where you "muffed it" and figure a way to right it. Is that the "Wisdom with Age" stuff? 

You guys will have to fill in the blanks here. Looking that far backward - life was different. There was "woman talk", just for women to discuss among themselves and "man talk." There was appropriate "dinner table talk" and "receiving company talk."  Obviously - I was not around for the "no kiddies around talk." And there was "out in public talk." 

Seemingly, this paragraph does not "fit." But, with all of our "time-saving devices", that frees us for other tasks - (cell phones, dishwashers, fax machines, the internet, GPS gizmos, etc). - and freed us from what was perceived as unneeded work - Did we free ourselves from Grandpa's hand -  from the safety that the work actually brought? Did we free ourselves from the ability to "fall into rhythm" with someone to get the work done? I still remember Grandpa's hand and the feel of it around my small one. And I still remember we were going to plant potatoes.  

Remember the kiddies and our service people. Be good to the furry and feathered ones out there. Be safe and healthy. See ya next time!! Ever Toodles!! MONA