When Lydia and Jeff were only 12 hours away, it was not difficult to attempt the trip to see grandchildren at a moment's notice, and getting there was something that seemed to be as exciting as the trip itself--seeing Lydia with Tommy in hand and Anna in her arms. Both little ones waved their hands enthusiastically. Tommy jumped up and down.
Eventually, the trip to Minnesota was a bit longer. It always involved an overnight stay, but the trip was fun too.
The ride through Montana and Wyoming and the Dakotas offered scenic views of
open grassland, and the sound of killdeer and meadowlarks and frogs at stops along the way was something I enjoyed.
However, it was never about the trip. The anticipation, the excitement, the joy of seeing family after a long period of time was what made things so fun.
Tommy and Anna would sit for long periods of time in front of a picture window, lined with pterosaurs and sauropods and other carnivorous model dinosaurs I sent him.
Anna collected things while we were there or while she visited us--pretty rocks, pine cones--anything that seemed to catch her eye.
It was fun for me to find things like that, either while we visited them or after they visited us.
Almost a year after their last time in Idaho Falls, Anna's imaginary friend's name still stands on a small chalkboard note accessory by the kitchen phone.
"What's Ema?" I looked at Ann when it first happened last summer, and my Sweetie smiled. She whispered the answer in my ear, and the name still is on our board. It will be there for a long time, but just in case someone erases it, we took a picture to remind us of the moment it represents.
The only thing I regret is knowing that children change so quickly. Once Anna's change in clothing happened four or five times daily.
Pink was her color, and she was like a tiny rainbow. Granted, sometimes things didn't match, but it was fun to see her pick and choose things--not to say she didn't have a sense of style or colors.
When I bought Tommy a cowboy hat, Anna was trying one on too. And yes, it was pink. She also found matching boots. Luckily, Ann talked some sense into my ear, because I would have bought those $85 boots in an instant. They not only completed the outfit she had on at that moment in the store, but the boots also matched the hat perfectly in every way--style, cut, mood. Anna will be a shopper, and she will always look beautiful, not just in Pop Pop's point of view.
Spring has suddenly arrived in Idaho, and each year it suddenly became the time, when we anticipated the drive to see the Zollinger crew, but this year is out of the question. It's just too far, not that we couldn't do it. Our cars are at a point that driving that far would not be wise.
Besides, we are excited, that in just a little over four weeks, Lydia and Tommy and Sammy will be out here for a visit. Yes, suddenly we have another little one, just as fun and just as exciting and just as creative in every way as Tommy and Anna. And then in a few weeks, Jeff and Anna will join us for a short time.
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