I've fought the title "Grand" anything, until now.  See it's only been lately that I realized how much my grandpa really loved me.  When I was little, I'm talking 5 or so, we lived in Rapid City.  My dad's father died of a heart attack a few weeks before I was born, so I only grew up with one Grandpa.  He was the best grandpa in the world.  Even though he owned the Ford Service Garage at the dealership in Rapid, he was always taking me places, playing checkers, getting burgers and floats and just being my bud.

It wasn't until Emery came into our lives that I realized just how much a grandpa could be attached to a grandson.  See I have two grand daughters and they are two of the most wonderful little ladies on the planet and I love them to death (what a phrase).  But there is a bond with a grandson and "M" as we call him has special things he does with me.  He's my travel buddy (check the blog titled "Love is a French Fry" and my mowing help.

We have allot of yard and I mean 3+ acres of the stuff.  So we have two riding mowers and they get used. About a month ago I took "M" on his first extended ride on the mower.  Since then, if I start to head for the shed he has his face pasted to the window watching and waiting to see if he gets to ride. To his credit, he does think he's working.

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Last night, I went to the shed to get the mower out.  While I was at the shed he was going from window to window as fast as his little legs could take him, he wasn't going to miss mowing. As I came around the back yard on the mower, I saw him looking through the dining room window, his eyes huge, hoping I would stop.  Even though it's more of a chore to have him ride, there is now way I could say no.

He ran to the door, climbed into my arms and we were off mowing the lawn together.  He's learning how to just steer right now, since his feet can't reach the pedals.But he is determined and really listens when I tell him to steer left or right.  It's allot like Alan Jackson's song "Drive."

It was during last nights ride on the mower that I suddenly realized the title Grandpa isn't one about age, but one about having a little one again to watch, spoil, protect, love and see the world through their eyes.  It's a parent do-over with the knowledge you didn't have the first time.

Someday when "M" looks back and remembers living at the ranch, I can only hope he realizes just how much I do love him. As for Grandpa, where ever you are, I know now what I didn't know then and I'm ready.

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Kevin

 

 

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