Oldest grandson has just turned 12. He’s in middle school and adolescence is knocking at the door.
He and I have always been close, so when I recently visited Colorado and found him reluctant to engage with me I was taken aback. Heartbroken might be the better description. I did understand what was going on and just had to wait it out.
On Day 2 of my visit I was sitting on my bed petting dear Siggy, the family’s bernedoodle. He is just one big ball of love and affection and I’m always threatening (with a smile) to put him in my suitcase and bring him home. Grandson could hear me talking to him and came into the room and sat down. Just so you get a clear picture, all 3 of us were on the bed, with Siggy in the middle. Pretty soon Grandson and I were both petting Siggy and saying those silly things we all say to dogs and then Grandson was talking to me! My heart leapt just a bit…and we kept on talking, our hands petting Siggy all the while, and soon it was just like old times.
Oh Siggy, thank you! You were the perfect bridge and I love you even more for it! Grandson and I went on to do our favorite things together-a trip to Poor Richard’s to look at books and toys, ice cream cones at Josh and John’s, drives on backroads and late night conversations when everyone else was in bed. As I was leaving for Maine he said When will you be back?
