Halloween at Grandma and Pop Pop's House

The year that Jeff was doing "rounds" gave Lydia a chance to stay with us during times when things would get very busy, and what made it fun was getting to see Tommy and Anna. The last year they stayed with us was a great one, because we made Jack-O-Lanterns for all three grandchildren. Grandma took a picture at night to show how well the little carving project worked.

But the fun did not stop there. The boys discovered the fun of playing in leaves, and where could a person find more leaves than grandma and Pop Pop's house. Years ago a neighbor who was worked at the nuclear site for the U.S. Navy lived behind us. He was abusive. He was creepy. But the worst thing was his lack of knowledge about what would happen if you plant poplar trees too close to a fence. After only two years, the tree was over one hundred feet tall. The leaves each fall are unbearable, yet the shade during the summer has been nice.

The boys spent hours playing in the back yard. Each one perfected ways of covering themselves and jumping out to scare anyone who did not know where they were, but then as quickly as it seemed Lydia came for a visit, it was time to go again. The waiting at the door was the worst, even at times when my Annie and I knew we would see them in a few weeks, either in California, when they were in Ontario, or in Minnesota, now that they live in a house there.

We will always have these pictures and memories, and we will always have the damn leaves too. They just are not as fun anymore, especially now that both Jack and Tommy are at an age when they do not like playing in them. I keep hoping that a day will come when all three grandchildren and maybe more can visit at Halloween all at the same time, but with Tommy starting school in the fall and Anna not far behind, it will be a long time before that happens. But at least we have the fun memories--a time when laughter and leaves went "hand in hand."