OK, if someone gave me a million dollars, I wouldn’t turn it down. But there are some things much more valuable than mere money.
Last weekend we trekked to south Georgia for Grandparents Day at second-grader Livvy’s school. It’s the third time we have been to this event where the school opens its doors to grandparents (and other supporters) to show us what is happening in the education life of our grandchildren.
The morning began with a breakfast for guests in the school auditorium. The visitors sat at tables and took part in a light meal of breakfast casserole, fruit and mini-cinnamon rolls. As we emptied our plates, upper school students come around to collect the trash and offer us refills of beverages.
The dean of the lower school (3K-fourth grade) then welcomed us to the school and talked briefly about some of the things the students had been learning and places they have visited. Then we were dismissed to the Quad to find our grandchildren’s classes.
Teachers for each grade had assembled their students with kindergarten and first grade just outside the door and other classes scattered around. I scanned the area for second grade and a glimpse of Livvy so we could head in her direction. Before I spotted her, Livvy saw us about 40 yards away. She broke away from her class and sprinted – yes, sprinted – toward us with arms outstretched and a huge smile on her face.
A near tackle and a huge hug followed. That thing above about the million dollars? Nothing compares to the joy of a grandparent when his/her own grandchild takes such joy in seeing them.
We visited the classroom, met the teacher, took part in an interview by Livvy and then went to the book fair where our second grader had already decided on books she wanted and the location of each. Isn’t it amazing that the annual book fair just happens to coincide with Grandparents Day? My wife, a retired elementary school teacher and school librarian, never denies her grandchildren when books are involved.
We got Livvy back to the classroom (the teacher told us in no uncertain terms that we were to have her there no later than 10:15) to prepare for the lower school program presentation. Then Mary Lou and I went to the gymnasium building to get a seat for the musical production.
Kids played instruments, sang songs and took part in dances to the delight of those of us in the audience. They concluded the morning with a rousing version of “We Are the World,” a fitting way of shifting the global focus from us old folks to the next generation that will build this country.
But that wasn’t the only treasure the weekend held for me.
The following day after a morning of picking blueberries and shopping for the ingredients for a Low Country boil, we returned to our daughter’s home to find our great-granddaughter and her parents.
Rosie is closing in on 2 years old, and she knows us from our visits and occasional FaceTime calls. As I walked into the living room, the toddler approached me, raised her arms and gave me a hug around my knees. I’ve been mindful not to force myself into her personal space, so a Rosie-inspired embrace meant a lot.
An hour or so later, Livvy and I were outside watering some recently planted shrubs, when Rosie toddled into the backyard and came to watch. This time she reached out her hand to grab onto an extended index finger and held on tight.
Would I trade any of those experiences? Not for a million bucks.