A Sentimental Day

A Sentimental Day

Our last day at Sara's began the same as they often do.  "Good morning Grandma!  Time to get up."  Even if I'm awake, I quickly pull the covers up and pretend to be asleep just to get this special treatment.  Sometimes we talk about what we dreamt about last night and sometimes we talk about what we're going to do today. It's a fleeting, special, cozy moment.

But today I knew our time here was soon to be over.  Joe's delayed flight yesterday meant that today would be another day of getting ready to say good-bye.  The day is anything but routine.  Analiese goes to pre-school for 'brown day' all dressed in her pink cowgirl boots, brown skirt, and green puppy          t-shirt.  She skips in happily and begins coloring brown cookies, monkeys, and barrels and we return home.  Everyone's packing, cleaning, working on computer stuff-we keep busy until pre-school's over.

Time after lunch moves at a quicker pace and soon it's time to head to the airport.  This has been a special time together.  Snuggle time, story time, play time, meal time, family picture time, not enough time.  We head to the airport and say our good byes.  A few tears, quickly brushed away, and Joe moves beyond the airport doors and we move on.  A few routine errands, dinner at the deli brings a sense of normalcy to the evening.

Back home it's pajama time - story time - snuggle time with Analiese.  Five Little Ladybugs and Hansel and Gretel bring her day to a close.  We learn how to send our wishes out at the end of the night.  She says, "I love mom and I love dad and Jasmine, and Nico, and Lena (the pets) and I love grandma and grandpa.  I wish everyone to be happy and safe."  She blows her kisses into the air and I catch some.  She throws her arms into the air and catches some kisses too.  "Grandma, you're the best!", she giggles.

The rest of the evening is wrapping up lose ends,  packing and getting ready to leave.  Photoshop consumes Sara and Jack's time.  We end the night with a little TV.  My heart wants to stay and help my 'little girl', but she's not a little girl anymore.  I will always be here for her when she needs me, but she's quite capable of moving through the coming months.  She's an adult.  A strong, capable, competent adult.