Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Has It Really Been Six Months? I Hope Somebody Stopped by to Feed the Dog

Hello, is anybody there?

It has been more than six months since our last transmission, and I suppose that all the people who used to follow this blog regularly have long since passed into the Great Beyond. Either that, or your uncaring children have dumped you into a nursing home to live out your remaining days without a drop of beer. So I guess that means I should offer a hearty welcome to the uncaring children and selfish grandchildren of our former readers!

You may have heard from your elders that Granny and I have the most frickin' adorable granddaughter around. To recap, when she first arrived in the world some 18 months ago, she looked like this:Then, on her first birthday, around the time of the last post before this one, she looked like this:
Now, six months after her first birthday, she looks like this:Yes, yes, I know what you're saying to yourself right now. "She's more frickin' adorable than ever. Boy, that Gramps can really teach 'em how to be cute." And she's smart, and she's curious, and she really loves her grandpa. That last one may have something to do with the fact that I'm the only one who lets her drink beer.

So what's the problem, you ask?

I'm not really sure how to begin. A heck of a lot has happened over these past months, and the whole story would fill up two whole Internets, even if I used a 4-point font. So let me start with this...neither the granddaughter nor her mother live with us anymore. I am as conflicted about their moving out as I was over the whole idea of being a grandfather in the first place. Two weeks ago, the two of them moved into an apartment about an hour and a half away from us. The Daughter now has her own space and her own freedom, but no furniture. AND SHE'S GOT MY GRANDDAUGHTER!

Of course, every parent wishes for this day, when the little ones will finally tumble out of the nest. I want her to live her own life on her own two feet, mostly so I can use her room as a shrine to the Xbox 360. But I also want her to be a whole, healthy and happy human being, and I hope that she is ready for that. There's also the thing about missing my granddaughter, which strikes me as an odd sensation for a man who generally detests people.

Right now, we have the little one for a few days, but until yesterday, I hadn't seen her in two weeks. I have to say, that was worse than going without beer. It was a wonderful feeling, though, when we finally did see her. The Daughter was carrying her along the path toward us, and when they were about twenty yards away, she put down her daughter. When The Granddaughter recognized Granny, the baby ran--she RAN--toward us, shouting for joy all the way. It put a smile on my face and made my...what's that thing?...you know, that thing in the middle of your chest...right, my "heart"...it made my heart feel all warm.

So we have her for a few days, and it is really nice to have her here. Soon, though, she'll go back to her mom, and they will continue to build that life apart from us. That's right and the way it should be, but damn! I don't always like it that way. At least I still have Granny by my side, and two other children to drive me crazy, and so I'll try to appreciate them as much as possible until they move out. (Note to Drama Queen and Xboy: PLEASE MOVE OUT!)

I'll fill you in on the other traumatic events of the past six months (including a disaster of a yellow hat and some Christmas zombies) as we go forward. So please stay tuned, and maybe we can all get through this granddaughterless time together. In the meantime, please enjoy one last picture of our 18-month-old wonder:

7 comments:

Sizzle said...

She sure has gotten cuter! Welcome back. :-)

LVGurl said...

Hey, you're back! I hope everything is okay with you all.

Granddaughter is a cutie!

Anonymous said...

Did someone say BEER?!?
It's Cinco de Mayo and I can't have a beer... or a margarita... because I'm giving blood this evening. Who thought up this scenario, anyway? Sheesh.
And now to find out that Miss Adorable Apfelpfankuchen-cheeks is no longer in your humble abode! Well, that is really too much to bear. (I suppose I might know this if I actually hung out on facebook a little more often.)
My oldest hasn't yet moved out, but he has managed to crash his car and choose a college. Happy Spring!

Gramps said...

Thanks, Siz and LV. We're glad to be back. Hope you all are well.

Actually, kc, I think beer is better if you drink a few immediately after you've donated blood.

Jennifer Leeland said...

I'm so glad you're back and she is SO CUTE.

Cate S said...

Awww, she looks so grown-up! You must miss her terribly, it's lovely that she comes to stay.

Have the T-shirt said...

Late to join back in, but good to hear from you.

I know it must be hard to have your frickin' adorable granddaughter living away from you, but that sadly is the way it's meant to play out, huh?