Last week I posted about my plan to go trick-or-treating with my grandsons– as we’d done for three out of the past four years. I imagined meeting at their neighborhood clubhouse where folks gathered for picture taking before heading down the streets. I envisioned the houses and garages that were made into mini-haunted houses and had fabulous inflatables. Afterwards I’d go with them to their friends’ house for a potluck dinner, along with the other grandparents.
But Saturday morning when I got to Baker’s soccer game, things changed. I didn’t know my son, Brooks wouldn’t be there due to a special work event. My daughter-in-law, Emily and Parks were home sick. Baker was the only one to talk with about the plans for that evening. I’d made assumptions about this year based on the previous ones and Baker, who’s now a third grader, didn’t say anything otherwise.
Mid-afternoon, I texted Brooks to clarify. I was surprised to learn they weren’t going to the clubhouse to meet up with the other family. This year they would gather with their alleyway friends and then just trick-or-treat with Baker’s friend from baseball. This year they’d avoid the close quarters of the potluck since they’d been dealing with illness.
I was disappointed and a bit startled that I hadn’t considered things could be different. I asked Brooks if I could come over for a while before they headed out–since I had my “Old Granny” costume and wanted to see the boys. For good measure, I stopped to get each of them a bag of candy–my treat for them in lieu of us collecting it door-to-door.
On the thirty minute drive to their house, I thought about the past years and how my grandsons have changed so much. Baker and Parks love being able to go over to the alleyway friends’ houses and meet up to play at the nearby park. Now the alleyway kids and their parents must be like a “sub-group” of their large, child-filled neighborhood. I knew that eventually I wouldn’t be traipsing down the street with them on Halloween, but I didn’t expect it so soon. It’s a natural evolution, the way kids grow up and are focused on their friends. Nowadays, kids in elementary school have such a strong network of friends through school and various activities.
Part of me felt sad that my night wasn’t going to be like I’d expected. I’d only have a short time with them before they had to leave. But then I thought that what mattered was that it was a memorable time with their Grammy. I’d gone all out with each detail of my costume. Like I said last week, “if they want an old Granny, I’ll show them old!”
I parked down the street and put on my mask and Old Granny clothes, then practiced walking bent over with my cane down the alleyway. When I knocked on Brooks’ porch door, Baker was inside coming down the steps. He looked out at me and stopped in his tracks. Parks was standing next to Brooks sitting at the kitchen table. Parks didn’t move. He’d been afraid of mask in the past but Brooks assured me that he thought my granny mask would be okay. I knocked a second time and called out to them.
“Go open the door for your Grammy, Baker,” Brooks told him.
Baker hesitated then came to let me in. Parks stayed beside his dad but did come close to get his bag of candy. They both wanted me to take the mask off and then Baker ran his hands over the face and Parks tried walking with my cane.
Overall, I felt I’d made a lasting impression this Halloween. When I left with them to go to meet with their alleyway group, I watched Baker run to catch up with friends and Parks, still not feeling well, hanging back.
On the way home, driving over Jordan Lake, I remembered a time with my Aunt Polly that changed how I viewed her. She moved back to North Carolina and lived with us when I was in 5th grade. She’d often bring us treats, especially if she went uptown on Saturdays. I remember I was outside playing near the pump house. Aunt Polly walked over to me holding a brown paper sack. I was excited because I expected it to be the dime store candy they weighed out, probably one of my favorites–candy corn.
I opened the sack and started reaching in for that candy and was startled that it was filled with frogs!
It was unbelievable that my Aunt Polly, who was an “old-maid” and five years older than Daddy, had caught those frogs to play that trick on me. At first I was speechless, and then she broke out laughing and I joined her. What a fun moment, one I’d never forgotten. It didn’t last long, but it had lasted for a lifetime.
Now, I hope that Baker and Parks will have that same type of lasting memory, from just those few moments, maybe thirty minutes, with their “Old Granny” on Halloween when they were in 3rd and 1st grade. Remembering the impression Polly’s prank had made on me, helped me to accept how things had changed last Saturday night. My grandsons were growing the way they were supposed to and I could go home and watch the Carolina football game. Now I wouldn’t spend the evening trying to keep up with them going up and down streets in bedroom slippers, supported by a cane.
Best to you all in making memorable moments with the ones you love.
Connie
