Grandma & Grandpa P
My first husband and I parted ways soon after we moved into our first purchased home. At that time I decided I was moving back to Long Island. My mom was supportive of the three of us moving in with her. After a few weeks of looking I landed a job on Wall St. I was excited about the prospect of working in the big city.
Although I had decided I’d take this job I had one more interview and felt I should keep it. As I was driving to the interview I became trapped behind a trash truck that was collecting rubbish. As I waited for him to move on his rounds, I suddenly realized he was rolling back not moving forward. I feverishly leaned on the horn, but the damage was done – my car was now a foot shorter. I jumped out of the car dressed to the nines, realizing there was no way to make the interview.
The woman at the house where the incident happened allowed me to use her phone to call my mom. Mom called those I was to interview with and explained the situation and came to retrieve me as my car was towed to the shop.
A week of making phone calls and appointments, to resolve the car situation made me realize I’d been away from the New York pace too long to return to it. It also gave me time to reflect with commute and work hours I wouldn’t really get to see my kids. I’d be waking them in the morning to take them to day care and returning home to tuck them in. I wasn’t willing to spend that much time away from them.
I had a great friend network in Maryland and could make this work on my own.
There was an older couple across the street from me; they had one grandchild who lived in Texas. My girls had no local grandparents. After careful deliberation they opted to adopt each other. In an unofficial ceremony in their living room everyone proclaimed their intentions and love for each other.
Frequently, Grandpa P would request the girls to join him for waffles in the morning then he would drive them to school. Grandma P would come to the house and stay with the girls when I had to be away. When my girls started coming home from school alone Grandma & Grandpa P would always be sure to be home before the bus and spy on them as they safely made their way into the house. The morning ritual included watching them out their kitchen window as they waited for the bus. Any event that called for grandparents they would join us – recitals, communions, horseback competitions, gymnastics, and so on.
One spring as I was heading to my car in the morning I noticed my grass was getting very green in a strange pattern. Upon investigation I learned Grandpa P had fertilized HI in the hill in front of my house so the world would greet me with a big hello every day.
When it came to his wife, he was the ultimate romantic. Where he had fertilized my yard with HI, he fertilized I LOVE YOU for her. Every year on their anniversary he gave her as many long stem red roses as years they were married. I vividly remember the year there were four dozen. So many legacy moments with Grandma & Grandpa P.
