I love the quietness and solitude when I’m with Mother Nature. But there are times in life when I need some noise, especially the sound of children running about the house. You see, Vicky and I live in a suite in the same house as our grandchildren Oliver and Luca, who are four and two years old, respectively. We look after them four or five days a week when their parents are at work. Yes, we are exhausted by the end of the day, but the joy and laughter they bring into our lives is something to behold, and then the exhaustion somehow becomes bearable when we think of the craziness that went on during the day. Ever chase a four-year-old and a two-year-old around for eight hours a day at any age? If you have, then you know what I’m talking about. Vicky and I are both in our seventies and doing well. We still have our health and positive energy that we love to share with our two darling grandkids.
The day usually starts with a tour of Yaya’s garden (Vicky is Yaya, and I’m Baba) to see what is ready to eat. Peas, beans, berries, carrots, etc. After checking out the garden, it is most likely an activity like riding our bikes on the trail near our house and looking for blackberries, which are just starting to ripen. Ollie can ride a pedal bike and Luca rides his strider bike. At this time of year we also go to the beach which is just a ten-minute drive from our house. In the spring, summer, and fall it’s important to spend most of our time outside. The boys love being in the outdoors. Also, this summer, Tyler put together a playground which has swings, a rock climbing wall, a tree house and slide, plus a little kitchen area. It’s pretty neat and the boys love it. Also, Brittany bought a boy’s swimming pool that they’ve spent a lot of time in. At any rate, weather permitting, we’ll be outdoors doing activities Ollie and Luca love to participate in. It’s always a full day, whatever we decide to do.
The boys have been gone five days now visiting their auntie over on the mainland and it’s been eerily quiet around here. They will be home later today and I can’t wait to hear their footsteps again coming down the stairs to pay us a visit. To hear their voices again as we count our blessings. Yes, peace and quiet is something to cherish, don’t get me wrong. The tranquility of sitting by a waterfall or any body of water, for that matter, listening to a river flow, or ocean waves. Beautiful. Relaxing in an old-growth forest among the ferns and listening to the birds, or simply enjoying the quietude. I, personally never get tired of those moments. Peace and quiet, ah, good for the soul. Right now, as we wait for the boys to get home and bring us some much needed noise and joy to our hearts, I’ll enjoy this peace and quiet we’re having as we anticipate once again those footsteps coming down the stairs. Hurry home, boys! We’ve missed you so much. The peace and quiet will come again in time, no doubt.
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