On Saturdays, I usually wake up to a “cooing” noise coming from the baby monitor. The coos signal that it’s time to brew some coffee, make a formula bottle, and head upstairs to see about a girl.
I find a little bear named Charlie standing up in the corner of her crib, clutching the railing, and grinning from ear to ear. Her big smile generally turns into a stutter step dance upon my arrival.
The bear and I hang out in our rocking chair as she guzzles the bottle. Then, we get changed for the day, make each other giggle with some funny faces and tummy raspberries, and chase each other around the room on our hands and knees.
Once we get settled, we head down for breakfast with Mom. We sit at the table, and amidst the bacon and eggs, we soak in the view out the kitchen bay window.
Once Charlie falls back asleep for her morning nap, Jordan and I take the monitor out to the tennis court to work on our game until the little bear wakes up again. For the next few hours, Jordan and Charlie will fill the house with pumpkins and other fall decorations, while I hop on the tractor to cut the grass or grab the weed whacker to clean up around the pond.
When we’re all done with the housework, we’ll take a long walk as a family on Meadowbrook Lane or through Hershey’s Mill or around Grand Oak to enjoy one of the last warm days of the year.
Finally, we relax with drinks on the back deck feeling satisfied with our productive day. It’s just nice to be home. Across the backyard, we see mom and dad approaching because they can sense a happy hour from a mile (or in this case 500 feet) away. They’ll also take up any opportunity to hang with their granddaughter.
That to me is a pretty special day. That to me is the dream. That to me feels like home. But none of that would be possible without my grandparents.
Pop Pop, today you would’ve turned 90. In the spirit of your birthday, I just want to thank you again for the life we get to live, the family we get to love, and the home we get to have.
After all, some of the best memories I have growing up involve sitting in the same kitchen with you and Grandmom looking out the same window at the same beautiful view.
It was on this tennis court where you showed me that you’re never too young or too old to start “working on your game.” It was around this pond where you showed me the importance of working hard, making things last, and taking pride in what you own.
It was on this street where you showed me how great it felt to take a nice long walk or bike ride. It was on this back deck where you showed me that there’s nothing better than relaxing with family and being outside for the last few nice days of the year. It was through this same backyard where you showed me how special it is as a kid to live so close to your grandparents.
Finally, it was in this home where you showed me how to be a loving father, a devoted husband, and a stand up role model.
Even though you’re gone, we now get to enjoy the life and home that you built for us. We get to live by the lessons and the model that you showed us. Charlotte and her GG (Grandmom) have become the best of friends, and nobody loves this home more than our little girl. Admittedly, there are now baby gates blocking the hallways, your wood shop is where we keep the kitty litter, and Bachelor in Paradise has taken the place of Larry King Live. But other than that, we are doing our best to make the most of what you’ve started and do right by you every day.
Happy Birthday Pop Pop. We miss you and we thank you for making us feel right at home.
The Janiec Reflection 