GRANDPARENTS WILL GET THIS.
Circa 2007,
We were down in Syracuse Indiana visiting with our son Thomas Shelby and his young family. We all zipped through the local k-mart grabbing a few groceries.
Our FIRST Grandchild Benjamin Shelby was not yet 2. He saw this big display of Woody Dolls from the movie Toy Story. He picked up one of the boxes and stared at Woody behind the plastic window for several minutes before putting it back. He NEVER ask for it. About that time his Daddy walked up, reached down to take hold of Benjamins hand and began to walk out of the store. Our whole family was going to grab a burger and then head back to their house to visit a little while longer. Ben turned his head sideways as far as he could and began waving. He wasn’t waving at his Omie and Papa, or his Aunt Tonya or Aunt Cate. I can STILL hear his little voice saying “Bye bye Woody “.
Twenty minutes later, we were all sitting together sharing a lunch at McDonalds. I had already made up my mind. I was going back for Woody!
Twenty-some-odd years ago, 25.00 was more like 40.00 today, and though I knew we didn’t have the extra money in the bank. (Yes… We lived that tight, and yes, I knew there was a chance the check might bounce) but I went back to Walmart, and tried my hand at that “beat the check to the bank” game. When everyone left McDonalds and headed to Thoms house, I motioned that we would be right there. Back to Walmart I raced.
The look and squeal from our little Benjamin when I walked into his house and handed Woody to him made it all worthwhile. He was beyond elated, and so were we just seeing the happiness on his little round face. Ben has always been a tender heart, and an appreciate little boy. He hugged my legs so tight that day. Several times.
It was the sweetest thing to watch Ben carry Woody everywhere for months. As grew older, Ben lost interest in Woody and moved on to the movie Cars. A year or so later, I was cleaning the second story playhouse we built here on the farm for all our grandchildren. And there was Woody. He was nestled among many other dolls and toy trucks and cars. That was when I wrote Ben’s name on the bottom of Woody’s other boot and brought him inside for safe keeping. The other grandchildren were able to play with him, but for the last several years, Woody is a decoration around the family Christmas tree. That tree is full of family memorabilia. Baby hats, first black church shoes, sippy cup lids, bracelets and necklaces made by our grand girls for me. I am constantly trying to save or preserve all the beautiful memories from these moments in my life. I have always been a keeper of precious, silly things that touch my heart. Our three children, their wonderful spouses, and our beautiful 12 grandchildren have always made my heart blossom.
Now for the rest of the story.
Did the check bounce? Yep, and I kept it for posterity in my journal. Would I do it again? Yep, in a New York minute.
We all love our children and struggled to raise them and provide all the basics…. by the time our grand babies descend upon our hearts, it is an incredible precious time. It’s a second chance… to love our children again, to see the world through the eyes of babies one more time. OH THE MAGIC IN THE ORDINARY DAYS…….when we stop running around, going constantly, and buying everything that doesn’t make us happy. Look at all you have to be thankful for within your own backyard……within a hugs reach.
Our Ben is a grown married man now, with a beautiful wife……and time continues to speed by like a phantom Jet.
shs/Dec 2024