Looking forward to seeing girls (01/12/2009)

The day after tomorrow is a day I have been looking forward to for months. We are flying to Houston to see our daughter and granddaughter. Lest you think of peeking in our windows while we are gone, you should know that we will have returned home by the time you read this.

Our granddaughter, Emma, turned three on Sunday. She probably won't recognize us so we will have to go through the process of making friends with her all over again.

That is one problem with living so far away. Little girls don't know their grandparents. Of course, it also makes it more difficult for the grandparents to openly criticize child-raising or other decisions made by people in the child's life. It is far less confusing for the kid in question this way, and less irritation for the parents.

Having said that. I absolutely can't wait to see my girls again. I long to hug my pregnant daughter. I want to play with Emma. I want to see them both in person and be able to touch them. I want to rock Emma to sleep if she will let me. I miss having a baby to rock. Yes, I know. A three-year-old is hardly a baby.

A customer came in today and wanted some birth announcements laminated. I looked at the tiny footprints on the pages and marveled at how they could be so small yet so perfect.

When Emma was first born my daughter was fascinated with her feet. At one time I had a collection of foot pictures. I think I had more pictures of the baby's feet than of the rest of her. Now, the pictures feature brown curls framing a cute face. I haven't received any feet pictures for a while.

Whether they are pictures of faces or feet, pictures don't compare with seeing them in person. It is such a treat to be ale to talk to them without mentally tabulating how much the phone call is costing.

Plus Emma tends to answer questions with body language, which doesn't translate so well over the phone. Maybe we need to hurry technology along so that picture phones become more practical and universal.

Picture phones would present a bit of a problem to people who insist on using the devices while they drive or worse yet while they are in the bathroom. Perhaps that is why technology is dawdling.

I checked the weather channel and the forecast for Houston is much warmer than where I live. I think we will be able to comfortably wear short sleeves much of the time. That will make coming home that much more difficult.

January and February in Indiana are not that pleasant. I doubt if the hawk that lives in our back yard cares about that. He (or is it she?) seems perfectly happy. I expect it will still be hanging around when we get home.

I am not worried about a hawk today. All I am worried about is getting packed so we can go see our girls. The fact that it is going to be warmer there than here is merely an added bonus. Family is what is important.[[In-content Ad]]