Paint and Sip
I went to an event the other night for work – a networking “Paint and Sip activity. We all gathered together, about 20 of us, and introduced ourselves, our jobs, our passions, and then tried to follow along with our paint instructor.
The thing is – the picture we were trying to copy was dark and sad – I’m not about that, these days. I’m about hopeful and positive. So I changed it – and mine won the ‘best painting’ award of the evening. I just tweaked a couple of things – a red bird instead of a black one, some red berries, and not so much black in the background. It was fun.
It’s been a wild week – this third week of December is full of year-end ‘jolly’ events, heavy with fudge, hot chocolate, chocolate themed parties…I’m allergic to the stuff, so no temptation for me. It’s odd to me, this pageant of entertainment – I’ve never seen anything quite like it. In NYC the other night – a wine event (as usual), complete with waffle cones stuffed with pepperoni, cheeses and other meats – very festive in its presentation. NYC is completely over the top at the holidays, which is super fun for a recovering curmudgeon like me. It is fun to partake in the pomp and circumstance and have no responsibility for it, whatsoever.
And then today. Let’s get right to it. I got to spend the afternoon with Arthur, the beloved grandson. I left my home at noon to get there by 2. It is 5 miles away, but it includes the George Washington Bridge, and then holiday Manhattan, NY, traffic. I got there at 2:14. I hated being late. But I parked right in front of my son and daughter in law’s home, ran in, got a special note from the concierge so I could park right outside, and ran up.
My lovely daughter-in-law, and her mom, ran out to their appointment, and my sweet grandson performed his ‘I’m being abandoned forever” routine for a second, until I started reading “Peek-a-boo House” and he was immediately relieved and comfy with me.
He will be two on 1-23-25, and to see the weekly growth of this precious person is one of the greatest gifts of my life. He now can identify and collect any book you ask for – and bring it to you expectantly. He always grins at the “Peek-a-boo, whooooo?” question.
He is also very keen on identifying his ears, nose and eyes. We laugh hysterically when reading about monkeys and making the sounds that monkeys make. He also loves donkey sounds, cow’s mooing, and wolf howls.
Most joyfully, he knows me. He knows who I am, and that he’s safe and sound with me. He takes my hand and guides it to what he wants…whether his baggie of goldfish, his cucumber slices, or his water – or to a game or a book or even his beloved teddy bear, Moooshie.
Such a time of contentment and peace. I can hardly wait for tomorrow to see what this weekend will bring. And before we know it, Arthur and I will be out exploring the big, wide world. Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales – Barbados, Turks and Kakos, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, wherever he wants, the world…the world. I can’t wait to know his voice, and his opinion, as we gad around the globe. What a gift – this life – my children - their peeps - my sister and BIL, nieces - this family – this grandson. Bliss.
