The Love of a Grandchild

I came home from work one evening to something that brought back some memories for me. I always come in through the garage and step up into our kitchen. One night in particular as I stepped up into the kitchen, peering around the refrigerator was my granddaughter Kahlia with such a look of excitement in her eyes because Papa was home from work. She then turn around and ran squealing as she went and then began twirling in circles. Her excitement could not be be contained any longer. What a welcome home!!

I then began a trip down memory lane, thinking back to my own childhood and times spent at my grandparents houses. My maternal grandparents lived in the farmlands that surrounded my hometown of Chillicothe, Ohio. In the afternoon when it was time for Grandpa to come home from work all of us grand kids would stand at the edge of the property and watch for his red truck to come around the bend of the country road they lived on. I remember there being squeals of excitement of delight as the truck came into view. He would then stop and let us get into the back of his pickup and ride the short distance into their driveway. It was the highlight of our day.

Our paternal grandparents lived in a small village called South Bloomingville, Ohio, nestled in the hills of Hocking County. It had a general store, a row of houses on both sides of the street, a church and a beer joint. The total number of houses on the street were about eight. Grandpa worked for Columbia Gas of Ohio which had a pumping station in South Bloomingville. His drive to work was about three minutes. We would wait for him watching down the street as he rolled to a stop at the stop sign and then to the house. He always had some little joke to tell and laughed right along with us. Sometime after dinner he would take us to Weaver's Store for ice cream. As in many small towns I'm sure, he would stand and talk about the news of the day for a few minutes as we kids happily devoured our treats. Grandpa Shaw left us in 1999 and the remaining grandparents left us in 2003, Grandma Shaw in May and Grandma & Grandpa Music within 3 weeks of each other in November.

I often sit and think of many times we had as kids with our grandparents and the love they displayed to us in many different ways.

As I watched Kahlia that night and hearing her say Papa with such excitement and joy I also remembered the excitement my own children would display when Nana & Frandad would come to visit or we would go to their house. We didn't live around Donna's mom but, in the times when she would come to visit or we could make it back to see her the kids were always excited. Although she didn't have as much interaction with them both the older kids asked as to whether she would be at their weddings. The look in their eyes when looking at their grandparents was and is unforgettable.

We have had the privilege of having our daughter Stephanie and Kahlia live with us since Kahila's birth. I can't bring myself to think about the day when they leave us for their own place, not being able to see this little one on a daily basis. She has brought all of us such joy. I wasn't sure about the name Papa for myself until the first time I heard her say it and knowing she knew what she was saying. It took on a whole new meaning. You love your children and they love you but, I never knew that the love of a grandchild could take you to a whole new level in life!