Okay, I know. It's not the most flattering picture but it's the one I got. Besides, how's a girl supposed to look when she's learing how to work the Learning Leap Frog for Ms. Abby?That's Ms. MacKenna Jane, growing as tall as a weed and just as fast, Ms. Abba-Dabba (in the ADORABLE hat) and Ms. Melina, herself.
Are they not three lovely roses in my Secret Garden of Hope or what?
So, the Award for "Best Line of the Day" goes, of course, to Ms. Mackenna Jane.
We had finished Little Christmas Dinner and were headed into the rectory living room to open presents. Someone asked, "Okay, how are we going to do this?"
One of the adult men answered, "The adults go first and all the kids have to wait."
Gales of giggles from the girls and a deep chortle from our grandson, Maxx.
"No, no, no, you sillies," I said. "It's the children first."
There ensued a hearty chorus of little voices chirping, "Yippee! Hooray! Yahoo!"
"Okay," I said, "we'll start with the eldest first."
"Goodie!" squealed Ms. MacKenna Jane, clapping her hands with glee.
After four months of living with a baby sister, she's just gotten her head wrapped around the fact that being the oldest comes with some benefits: a later bedtime than Abby, certain refridgerator and cupboard privileges, etc.
I looked over at our grandson, tall and handsome and reading quite well to his baby sister, Melina. "Okay, Maxx," I said, "hit it, sweetie."
At which point, Ms. MacKenna Jane stopped dead in her tracks as a momentary glaze of confusion came over her eyes. Suddenly, she realized what had happened. She looked me square in the eyes, and with genuine disappointment dripping off every word said . . . (Are you ready for this? I wasn't.) . . . .
"But, Nana! You LOVE me!"
I quickly pulled her into my arms (so she wouldn't see the expression on my face or that of her mother), and said, "Of course I do, my darling, but fair is fair. Maxx is the oldest of the grandchildren."
She sighed deeply and said, "It's okay, Nana. I understand." And then, went on to watch excitedly as Maxx opened his first present, the anticipation mounting perceptively as she was trying to decide which one of her presents to open first.
Am I not the luckiest Nana in the entire universe?
5 comments:
awwwhhh -- too cute - but not sure about the shower cap look. The story of the year goes to the man who, after attending a service on Christmas eve, asked his daughter if she believed that the story of the virgin birth is true. She said, "Daddy, it's such a beautiful story that I believe it whether it happened or not."
What a messy house.
You should have a word with the servants - they're obviously a bunch of slackers. Though I understand it is very difficult to hire quality staff nowadays.
By the way, I hate Mark Harris and I think I may challenge him to a bout of fisticuffs. If I'm going to have an unrequited, long-distance affair with a lesbian I do not want any competition (especially such eloquent competition).
MP -
I'm convinced that the only place to get good servants is in the UK. You bred them over there, don't you, for this specific purpose and lot in life.
That, and chimney-sweeps, I'm told.
Had we been in London celebrating "Little Christmas," the servants would have been in the background, at the ready to clean up the mess before it landed on the floor.
BTW, is it true what Bette Middler says? That, when it strikes midnight on a New Year, it's still always 1948 in England?
Oh, and as to your last point. I did say: "An intelligent mind is the best aphrodisiac, no matter how it comes packaged."
Which is why, sight unseen, I adore you, my love.
Maddie - You made me laugh out loud!
How can anyone hate Mark Harris? I've never met him and I love him too!
Elizabeth - I think my daughter Jenna is the same age as your older granddaughter (5ish). She would so say something just like that.
And probably the only Nana who feels luckier than you is my mom, who feels like she is the luckiest Nana in the world!
Interesting! My grandmother called Ephany "little Christmas." I thought she had invented the idea.
FWIW
jimB
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