MONDAY MUSINGS

April 21, 2008

Anna’s Birthday

The family gathered in Dublin, OH on Saturday to celebrate Anna’s 4^th birthday.  She is the youngest of our ten grandchildren, the last of this generation that is comprised of one grandson and nine granddaughters.  Our last grandbaby is growing up!

Do you remember what it is like to be 4 years old?  The world is much less complicated, for there usually are loving adults who smooth the way and strive to make all the right decisions.  Clothes are readily available, clean and neat even if in her case there are plentiful hand-me-downs from two older sisters.  Food miraculously appears at meal time.  There is ample play time and even significant parent time as the older siblings are away at school.  Nap times are now negotiable and even bed time has more flexibility.  The sheets are clean, the pillow soft, and the stuffed dog and rabbit with the special blankets are assurances that all is well. 

I did some painting in Dublin this past Thursday and Friday, partly to get the last pieces in place for the family gathering on Saturday and partly to finish up some projects that needed completion.  I brought Anna home with me on Friday afternoon for a brief overnight visit with us before returning on Saturday morning for the big event.  This was her first venture alone and she did just fine.  Yes, we did find some special treats, as grandparents often do.  Yes, she did stay up a bit later than is the custom when she is home.  The nap in the car on Saturday morning was just enough to keep her in high gear when the family gathered for the big party. 

She is blessed with a full compliment of grandparents, multiple aunts, uncles and cousins plus adoring siblings and parents.  The new pink bicycle with training wheels will be a challenge but Anna will take that in stride.  She had learned to play very well by herself and she now has a new collection of toys and trinkets to amuse her.  The day was rainy and gloomy outdoors but that did not dampen the spirit of the family as we ate and laughed and played and reminisced.  “And a good time was had by all.”

I don’t remember anything about being four years old, but that may mean that nothing awful or traumatic happened to me in those tender times.  I trust we can leave a world for Anna and her generation that will be full of possibilities, not greatly compromised by short-sighted or foolish choices on our part.  What we do today will be so influential for the world she will inherit.  Peace.  John Krueger