Bested by a 4 and 6-year old

A few months ago, I had three of my grandchildren staying at my house for a two nights while their parents went away. I have plenty of rooms and beds and hoped that I would have plenty of energy to take care of the three little girls, ranging in ages: two, four, and six.

 

Since I had a few children myself, nine to be exact, this should be pretty easy for me. I had stocked up on the foods that they like and I had a few treats as well. For Saturday morning, I planned on bacon and pancakes for breakfast. While watching videos, I planned on popcorn and juice.  I also bought new coloring books, crayons, a board game, and the Dance videos for the Wii game. Everything was in order, everything but the weather. It turned out to be a rainy and cold day and that sabotaged filling up the wading pool and having the girls play outdoors.

 

When I needed to open the girls’ suitcase, I realized that it was an one of those old-fashioned suitcases with snaps. I needed their clothes and toothbrushes, but the more I tried to press the snaps, or slide them, or work the buttons - nothing happened. I decided to resort to a knife but decided I would wreck the suitcase. Looking at the clock, I still had plenty of time to call my son before he boarded his airplane.

 

I explained the problem and my son started to laugh, and said, “Mom, it’s old school. Just slide the buttons and you’re in.”

 

I went back and still couldn’t open the suitcase. But then my 6-year-old granddaughter stepped in and opened the suitcase. At first I stared at her in disbelief. But when my 6-year-old and 4-year-old started to laugh – I did too. With that, the 2-year-old laughed along.

 

Oh, by the way, my granddaughters were the ones who figured out how to get the Wii game to work, too. When it came to preparing the food, and entertaining the girls with the old-fashioned board games, coloring books, movie, and popcorn – I managed quite well. I managed in my “old school” way.

 

But as for the electronic games and suitcase, my granddaughters “bested” me on both!

Yarn

I love yarn. I don’t know what it is about yarn. But I truly love it. I use yarn to knit. Knitting gives me a sense of comfort and release. It de-stresses me.

 

Maybe it is all the different colors of the rainbow, in all the colors found on the color wheel, and more. Nothing is just black or white. The colors are any that an artist or painter could think of or create.

 

Then again, maybe it is how the yarn feels to my touch. I always have to touch the yarn. It is usually the softest ones that I work with. Like quilters, who collect those quarter squares of fabric, as a knitter, I collect yarn. I have at least three large plastic bins, overflowing with every imaginable color and yarn style. I also have two large craft bags stuffed with more yarn and needles. My needles range from short ones, long ones, aluminum, bamboo, and circular ones.

 

 Although, I usually start my knitting projects when the weather gets colder, I do work on a knitting project at other times, too. I have a lot of scarves in different colors and styles and give them away as part of my Christmas or birthday presents to my family or friends.

 

Maybe my love for knitting comes from my mother. She is the person who taught me how to knit. Maybe that is why I feel so connected to knitting because it makes me feel closer to her.

 

But whatever the reason – I love the colors and weights of the yarn. I love their softness and beauty. I love making things with my hands and I can’t think of a better thing to do at night, while, watching television in the evenings, then knitting.

Lance Armstrong

Lance Armstrong has been stripped of his seven Tour de France cycling titles. Now what? He has been found guilty of what? Of course he’s guilty because he grew weary and tired of all the years of accusations piling up against him by the US Anti-Doping Agency. Since he would no longer fight them on these accusations, the committee members said that showed his guilt. Really?

 

For me, Lance Armstrong was an incredible man; a courageous man who in 1996 was diagnosed with testicular cancer, and given less than a 40% chance of survival. My awe and admiration continues with his survival and his Seven Tour de France titles. To ride a bike was something but to ride in those grueling races and win was something else.

 

He rode not just for himself but he set up his foundation to help and inspire other cancer victims. He taught a lesson of survival to others. Armstrong had nothing to prove and what he has accomplished is amazing for himself, for others and for the sport of cycling.

 

It’s amazing how people always seem to look for heroes, and forget that they are mortal human beings. We settle on athletes that we seem to revere, and raise them and others to lofty positions. We enjoy watching them rise to the top. Yet, we are there to be the first to tear them down when we grow tired of them and are ready to move on. We love to watch them crash and burn. Why?  Maybe it is our boredom with them. We seem to take great pleasure in watching them rise to the top, as well as fall down in flames. Then we move on to someone new.  Why is it so important to take such pleasure when someone gets destroyed? I don’t know the answer to that. Maybe they are reminders that we are all human and not super human. That we all share common fragilities. Even our heroes that we have supported show they are not superhuman, but like us – mere mortals.

 

I still believe in Armstrong and wonder now – who will be next on that list to build up and tear down?