"Moment in the Sunshine"

            I live in a very special complex in Springfield, and many of us have been here a while. A small back yard for barbeques and the kids and we all pretty much know each other and engage in pleasantries from day to day be it “How was your day?” to the children playing or calling “Can you come out to play?” I always engage with the kids for playing is fun, they are my friends. It is so in this day, today that I do what I usually do. I hear children playing and go out to watch. I had seen my neighbor’s grandmother unloading the two boys earlier and a new face, a cousin. I had met her on an occasion and treated her with high regard for my neighbor converse on many occasions and references to her place her in matriarch standing. She was sitting in the sun in the back yard today and the three boys were playing games all separate or together. The youngest with the long pony tail was batting a ball the grandma keep tossing to him. The oldest was over by the “V” of the tree were I stash Sasha our resident tame squirrel nuts, attempting in a boyish game to lodge a basket ball in the “V’’ over and over for display for his great grandma for which he was rather successful even though his misses left him running wildly after the ball, and his younger brother was determined to pull a spin around 360 in the grass  on a skateboard (which is almost impossible and the mere fact heat he could keep both feet on and maintain his balance was a agreement with gravity that young children have, not adults). Grandma as I and the children refer to her was doing an admiral job to each action of heroics to cheer the children on individually while being pitcher with a little red whiffle ball. Grandmas are the ultimate multi-taskers. I had given both the brothers batting coaching until they both could whack the tennis ball pretty good and yelled over to the oldest how come was after a few tries my self I realized the bat was just heavier than the kid if he got a full swing. Grandma was still the pitcher. Well after a bit he got it, except his feet, so he had to sort of run after the bat when he swung. I told the younger brother “look out” as his younger still cousin was thrashing the air wildly with his knew found skill. Then he was ready. He ran right up to grandma, I mean right up to grandma like 3 feet away made his stance with the bat over his shoulder and said “Throw it!” We both said, “No!” “Back up!” He did whacked a few more and than ran off in some other direction tossing the bat. Grandma snaps at him real quick for second a snap with a smile (Grandma power) “you hold on to that bat stop letting it fly! I backed away and watched the kids were playing their hearts out, a special moment in the sunshine with grandma watching on a very calm happy smile on her face. A smile that’s hard to place a smile that come from a life time of love, and to witness it for a fleeting moment as she watched the kids it forever will be in my mind. I left them playing laughing, and doing all the things boys do that are part of fun or being with grandma

            My neighbor stopped by a few minuets ago and that’s what prompted this story. He said, “I’m going to the hospital it’s my Grandma.” I had heard talk of someone having a stroke and losing “her” left side, but… “The lady in the yard today?” the question with a shocked look leapt from my mouth.

 “Yes. She has had three strokes in the last couple days they don’t think she will last the night. I’m going to say goodbye.”

“My prayers go with you” We looked at each other a moment he nodded to said thanks.

THOR    May 8, 2012