THE GRANDCHILDREN

They came, they played and they left their footprints in our hearts. Now that the children and grandchildren have gone home, I have more time to reflect on the characters of my 2 grandchildren. 

Grace the Drama Queen :

I would describe Grace as a feisty girl. She certainly knows what she doesn't like and would not hesitate to let you know. I just loved to see her enduring, melt your heart smiles and gurgles - the smiles that could easily turn to tears. First will be the trembling of the mouth. The upturn mouth then suddenly turned downwards, then tears would well up in those large luxurious eyes. She reminded me of those Japanese animated figures. Oh how she would cry so piteously. Rivers of tears streamed down her cheeks. But with a bit of distraction, she would suddenly stop crying and once more, she was all smiles again. What a drama queen.

Nathan the Effervescent :

If there's one word to describe Nathan, that would be the word. From the moment he was up, you could hear him pottering about the house, playing and talking to himself, to the maid, to the dog. I just loved the mornings when he would bounce in to our room , proclaiming : "The sun wake up already." I would mumble : "Not yet.... Po po still sleeping..." "But the sun already sitting on my bed!" 

Some of the notable conversation we had in the morning :-

Nathan : Po po, I am Dr. Samy (their dentist in Perth). Please open your mouth

Po po  obliged and the boy switched on the bedside lamp. The boy proceeded to do something with granny's teeth.

Nathan : Okay... spit out the water. (then some more fiddling)

Nathan : Spit out again ....... good... all done!

Another morning :

Nathan : Po po wake up. I am Dr. Nathan today. Are you hurt?

Po po   : Yes Dr. Nathan, my hand hurts

Nathan : Oh....I put some medicine for you. (pretends to rub ointment on my hand) Better now?

Po po   : Yes. Thank you Dr. Nathan.

Nathan : You are welcome.

One grey day I had a notable conversation I had with him :

Po po   : Look at the clouds Nathan. What colour is the cloud?

Nathan : Hmm.... white?

Po po   : No, it's not white. What is the colour?

Nathan : Hmmmm.... I am thinking....

Po po   : Have you finished thinking? 

Nathan : No... I am still thinking

Po po   : Finished thinking? Can you tell me the colour?

Nathan : Yes, but I am not telling you.

Po po   : Oh, why? (By now I realised he didn't know the colour grey)

Nathan : Cos... I am not talking to you !!

What a sneaky way to wriggle from a tricky situation!

One day Nathan came bouncing up to me. 

Nathan : Po po, Toto and I are best friends now!

Po po   : Really? What did you do?

Nathan : I touch his head and he put his face in my face! Come, I show you!

(And we went out. Two of the stood close together. Nathan holding Toto's head and Toto trying to lick Nathan's face.)
 He adopted many different characters. One day he was the chef - cooking up a storm -
Nathan : Po po what do you want to eat?
Po po   : Oh I want fish...
Nathan : And.......
Po po   : And meat....
Nathan : And.......what else?.....
Po po   : And vegetables.....
Nathan : Okay.... now I cook

The next hour he was Bob the builder, Another time he was the Fireman, or the Garbage Truck driver. At other times, he would be Dr. Nathan or Dr. Samy the dentist. Then he would be one of the Little Pigs.
Grandchildren - you see the wonder of the world through their eyes, They make you appreciate the little things in life.