With the holidays fast approaching, I’ve been giving some consideration to what we could give to our grandson, Patrick, who will be one year old, (already!), a few days before Christmas.
Here he is, sitting on a tractor, in Indiana.
Today, some kids have everything! Patrick will not recall the events of his early life and will only re-live them later, in photos, but he’s already been to Denmark, Sweden, and England, and to many places in the United States. He has had the chance to go swimming in a lake, and in a pool. He has been on a boat and in airplanes. He has a dog and two kitties. His every need is anticipated by watchful parents. He is fed, kept warm, and his legs and arms are strong from exercise.
By comparison, my life as a child was dull and boring. I had dolls that I would line up like schoolchildren on chairs in the basement of the family home, so I could “teach” them how to write their letters and do math. No wonder I became a teacher. I had lots of experience!
I also was given a bicycle when I was eight, courtesy of a former neighbor. As I got older, I took horsebackriding lessons. However, for everyday entertainment, I had to content myself with playing in a sandbox, building a snowman, or playing “tag” or jump rope. I also embroidered until my eyes almost crossed. I made bureau scarves, doilies, and a Sampler.
Of course, hoola-hoops were “in” when I was a child, and being able to buy a few of the latest 45 rpm records, of folks like Elvis or the Beatles, was also a treat, when I advanced to the early teen years.
I never owned many plastic toys. Neither did my brothers. Their toy cars and trucks and fire engines were solid metal and very heavy. You wouldn’t want to drop any of them on your big toe. They had a railroad track, too, that was a challenge to get running.
Thinking back, it is refreshing to realize that we amused ourselves without expensive Nintendos, playstations, ipods, our own cell phones, etc. Trying to climb a pine tree without getting full of pitch was a goal, and going for a boat ride at Massabesic Lake in Manchester was a fun thing to do, after church. That was before anyone realized that the gas emissions polluted that lake which is, after all, the water reservoir for the city.
As I have aged, I find myself “gift-challenged.” I never know what to give anyone. We all have too much stuff. I have to chuckle when I hear the expression, “A person spends half his life accumulating material goods and the other half, trying to get rid of them.” It’s bad enough that we collect various things because it is our choice. Personally, I have come to own a few things that are too good to throw away, too sentimental to give away, and too cumbersome to try to sell. I digress.
I suppose I’m back to square one. I’m still stumped as to how best to honor my grandson and celebrate his birthday and Christmas through the presentation of some obligatory gifts. I can’t think of a thing he needs or would enjoy. He is already the best cared for and doted upon child in the universe. He has my total love. I just wonder whatever happened to LOVE being enough? All suggestions welcome.
Muddling through,
Grammy Pat
