TO OUR GRANDSON, WITH LOVE!

Over the past 17 years  we have made numerous guesses as to what our grandchildren might like for a Christmas gift or a birthday gift.  But it wasn't until THIS year that one of them said, "THANK YOU" in his "OWN" handwriting! 

Some of our grand kids are just now learning how to print. Traditionally, their parents were always prompt with a generous amount of appreciation.  They have never neglected to instruct their children to say, "Thank You!" Three siblings, on their most recent birthday, (all in September!!) gave us a very special SKYPE "Thank You."  We were able to see the children, with their gifts!   One of their gifts was a Tomy Megasketcher.  In the few short months since their birthdays,  the children have learned to write their names on their Megasketchers!  Written "Thank Yous" are now just a few steps away.  Soon, like their older cousin, Nico, 7, they will be able to send their very own handwritten "Thank Yous." 

Our two Aussie grandchildren are also still too young to write, yet are encouraged to phone their Mimi and Papa with their words of thanks.  Oftentimes, their mum will share their happiness with a certain gift with us by email.  They too are being taught how to express their thanks. 

It surely wasn't the gift we sent our 7 year-old grandson, Nico, that resulted in his display of gratitude because we have sent all of the grandchildren gifts of equal or greater value throughout the years.  Since he is of a tender age, we can't help but credit his mommy and daddy for instilling this wonderful quality of of thankfulness in him.  By their diligence in making sure that no gift goes by without a courteous "Thank You," we have great hopes that he will grow up continuing to be appreciative of the kindness of others.

In the past, when he was too young to write, his mom would send us emails with photos of him opening his gift with a huge smile!  She would always write a kind note of thanks, and have Nico phone us to personally thank us.

 Now, following her lead, here is what we received yesterday in overseas post for his most recent birthday gift:

                     What a wonderful gift to give to your children, thankfulness. 

In this season of Thanksgiving, while we are all inspired to think about what we are thankful for, my husband and I have to say that these grandchildren don't let an opportunity go by without thanking those who have been kind to them. They are shining examples of what the holiday is all about.    

I think you can tell how very proud we are of them!   Thank you, my darlings!  (And of course, thank you to their mommies and daddies as well, you are doing a wonderful job!)

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ABSENCE

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One of the sayings that my mother always pounded into my head as I was growing up was, "If all of your

friends jumped off a bridge, would you jump too?" She had many more like, "You have champagne taste and a beer pocketbook," which meant nothing to me as a young teenager other than I wasn't going to be able to get whatever it was that I was begging her for in the department store. She was a colorful communicator, yet she often resorted to popular phrases when she had an important point to make. She didn't always have to use them. She had the unique ability to create her own sayings to make illustrate or teach us a lesson.

For example, when the twins were very active and very small, they would race around the house. It was at times like these that she would yell, "Do you two always have to go racing around the house like mad-ass ducks?" For years we kids wondered what a "mad-ass duck" looked like

The one phrase that I hated was, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder." To a teenager this meant one of two things:

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  You are hanging out with your friends too much and I need you here to help with the chores.


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  That boyfriend of yours is bad news, get rid of him.

It wasn't until the 19th century that the phrase began to be used more widely, with Thomas Haynes Bayly's (1797-1839) song Isle of Beauty, published posthumously in 1850:
"Absence makes the heart grow fonder, Isle of Beauty, Fare thee well!"

I hated that saying and I just knew that whenever she spoke it, something bad was to follow. How could staying away from a person you like to be around be a good thing? How could you be around them too much? Would being around them too often make them not want to be with you anymore? It was all too confusing and all too elusive for a young girl to conceive.

Through the years I have experienced the wisdom of this common saying, but not in the way that my mother had intended. When applied to a place, rather than a person, it becomes unbelievably clear to me. When I am in Munich, I so much want to be back home in the states. Now that I'm here in the states, I really want to return to Munich. It's such a contradiction!

What is it about not being somewhere that makes you long for it even when you're perfectly content where you are? I am so longing for the German simplicity of life. All I had to do there was decide was what time I wanted to exercise, go to town to do shopping, get a manicure or pedicure, work on my German, see friends, or play. Yet, when I was in Germany and doing these very things, I longed to be back in Ohio where I could see my dear friends, visit my beautiful grandchildren, visit our extended family, and catch up with some unfinished business back in the states.

Now, I absolutely know that I won't be back in Munich for less than 24 hours and I'll be wishing I was right back here...... where all of my loved ones are. But, I have to be truthful, with Germany comes a lot of "me" time and "us" time that equally fulfills me and strengthens our marriage.

I now believe that absence does make the heart grow fonder.... I do miss Munich.