THE PLOT THICKENS!

It must have been yesterday when Doña Duchess called on that marvel called the cell phone you can talk on while you proceed down the road in the wagon. This old man wishes he had thought of that idea. It is sad to be so poor but Grandma Sancha and Grandpa Sancho have not been reduced to begging yet. In fact, we kind of enjoy our lives. Oh well, we would like to be closer to our grandkids, and don’t forget our kids as well. But, one cannot make them live in the same place and this is a really big world. If Grandpa Sancho had invented the cell phone we would all be rich. We could fly everywhere. These wagons are so slow. Everyone you see has one of those cell phones sticking out of their ear; which, incidentally, brings this old share cropper to today’s tale.

Doña Duchess called to discuss plans to meet in the Key City of West Texas, which is not really in West Texas. This old Grandma and Grandpa are really in West Texas. We plan to go to Abilene this weekend for an overnighter for us and a one day adventure for them.

This old knight’s squire heard Don Andrew from the back seat of the Suburban wagon, I need to talk to my Grandpa! So, going down the road, and I don’t know how she does it, Doña Duchess gave the cell phone to Don Andrew. Hi Grandpa! Two more days and Abilene. We are going to play with swords and have fun. We can be Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. Hey Grandpa, do you know my teacher? I really never quite understood why Don Andrew wanted to know about whether or not I knew his teacher. I do know that he is constantly learning. He takes after his ancient Grandpa for he is a child prodigy at the very least. Isn’t that what most grandparents think? We have a right to think that too.

Great Grandma Floy has been really sick with an upper respiratory infection. Grandpa Sancho talked to her today. She was very ill last evening but with the prospect of three boys coming to see her, she has perked up quite nicely and feels much better after her medicine kicked in and the thought of missing those Great Grandkids helped as well. At 93 she is even older than Grandpa Sancho.

We look forward to a great time. Just think three grandsons will be there. That’s more than this old man can think about at this late hour. I’m just like Don Andrew. Just think, two more days and Abilene! Now, that makes this old man happy.

THE PLAN

Don Andrew always has a plan for his old Grandpa Sancho. Three times this week he has gotten on the telephone and told his ancient squire how Grandpa Sancho can come see him tomorrow. The best this old sharecropper can figure is that tomorrow is 4-year old talk for pretty soon. This boy wants to be with his old Grandpa so we can play Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. Do you suppose he was humoring this old man?

One night last week Doña Duchess was preparing to read Don Andrew his bedtime story when he began to pucker up. Don Andrew has the best pucker up of nearly any kid you have ever seen. You know he means business. He did not want to read a story but he wanted the Duchess to tell him a story. What story would you like to hear, Andrew? Tell me a story about Grandpa’s scar. Don Andrew is worried about his old squire’s leg and if it will allow him to play with Don Andrew.

This evening Don Andrew called. Grandpa, we are going to the Key City of West Texas (which isn’t even really in West Texas) to visit Great Grandma Floy and we can go to the park and play Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. Now really, who knows what we will play. But, we will play and we will have a barrel of fun just because we can be together. He can be with his old Grandpa.

This ancient one knows there will come a time when there will be other interests for this young knight than his old squire Grandpa Sancho. Don Andrew will go on to bigger and better things. We go through that time with our kids and we must go through the same time with our grandchildren. But, isn’t it great while it lasts? And, other times are just as good. We might cease to be the center of attention and we might not be allowed to make them the center of our attention in the same way, but those times will be good too.

Being a grandparent brings tears to the eye every now and then. It’s tough, but somebody has to do it. This old Grandpa loves it.

THE OBSERVATIONS OF DON ANDREW IN THE ABSENSE OF GRANDPA SANCHO

Can you imagine how this ancient knight’s squire misses getting to see all his grand kids? Grandma Sancha shares those feelings. It’s really tough really living in west Texas—not Where the West Begins nor The Key City of West Texas, but really in west Texas 250-450 miles west of those cities that brag so much. And, there is 225 miles of Texas west of us. Figure that one out.

Stories help us a lot. Grandpa Sancho hears quite a few Don Andrew stories. His family is so fortunate to have Bluebonnets in their yard. This old Texan recently told Don Andrew the Bluebonnet was Texas’ state flower and we could not cut them. You live in Texas, Andrew. No Grandpa, I live in Granbury. But Andrew. . .Grandpa, I. . .live. . .in. . .Granbury. Okay!

One day the family went for a walk. Don Andrew was heard to say. Look at the pink bonnets. Look at the yellow bonnets.

Recently Don Andrew must have had a sore throat and he couldn’t whistle anymore. Doña Duchess was reading our young knight his nightly story when the little fellow puckered up and said, Mommy, do you think someone stole my whistle? A few days later this old sharecropper was talking to his daughter. He told the duchess to ask Don Andrew to whistle for grandpa. He replied, No Grandpa, I’ve already done that.

Yesterday Don Andrew ran into that day care holding facility which is for kids who aren’t old enough to attend elementary schools or institutions of higher learning. He approached his teacher with one of his very deep and challenging questions, What makes a tree stand up straight? They all had to go out and dig up a small tree just to see. Doña Duchess said, Guess what we have in our backpack today? A tree root.

Don Andrew told his old Grandpa the other day, Grandpa, we are going to have go get us some real suits and real swords and go fight some real windmills. Do you suppose he is attempting to humor his ancient squire? There is no end to the contemplations of the mind of a four year old boy. The sky is the limit.