I’m a serious sports nut. Serious. Nut. I’m also a serious grandma. Serious. Nut. So what a day I had when I combined the two. It all started when my grandsons said, “We’re bored.” The girls and I were looking through some purses and baubles a friend had given them for dress up and we were all out in the yard. I suggested, “Play some ball.” Of course, using the bored term seems to produce whines. ”But it’s hot and we don’t have a ball.” Ah, challenge. I march right in and grab a soccer ball, a basketball, Frisbee and a small Nerf football.
After a little moaning and groaning they select the football and start kicking it around. I go back to ooohing over purse contents when I hear the ever present, “Grandma, watch!” My oldest grandson, seven, kicks the ball. It was a nice kick. High…long…I could feel a slight pumping of my blood. My youngest grandson, age five, charges after the ball and tries to kick it back…Hmmm…he didn’t get it back to his brother, but that’s no problem. They kick it around for a while and I am soon wearing a straw hat, sparkly brooch and a scarf that made me look absolutely loverly. I glanced up…Oooh, nice kick…and the return…still a little shaky. ”Grandma, I can’t kick it very good.” The five-year-old whines. “Well, try throwing it.” I offer.
I smile as his busy little body charges after the ball. He picks it up, adjusts it in his hands and then…HE BARRELS A PERFECT SPIRAL FIFTY FEET TO HIS BROTHER! His brother then LEAPS INTO THE AIR AND GRABS THE BALL! Oh, my gosh! I start screaming…whooping…jumping around. The boys think I’ve set my hiney in a pile of ants. ”What’s wrong, Grandma?” I get my breath back. ”That was amazing! What a throw! What a catch!” We high five and I keep squealing. The five-year-old grabs the ball again. His brother jogs down across yard…There is no pumping the ball or taking a few steps to get the power…no, he just BARRELS ANOTHER PERFECT SPIRAL…THIS TIME INTO HIS BROTHER’S CHEST! Okay, I’m starting to get high now. I love watching great athletic acts and this had to one of my all time favorites. Five-year-old…PERFECT SPIRAL…Seven-year-old…AMAZING CATCH…once in a while he would have a hard time catching it because it came in so hard and fast…and hit him in the hands and chest so hard he couldn’t catch it…but…the next one he would scoop up…sometimes on a run. Okay, I’m still in mourning over Brett Favre retiring, but this was good. This was a moment like the long bombs of Elway and Favre and Montana…bombs to make an old lady’s heart sing…catches Jerry Rice would have been proud of…catches for my highlight reel. Hmmm, let’s see. Yeah, a senior wide receiver and a sophomore quarterback…how many years until high school…maybe I should start calling scouts now.
2 Comments
June 16, 2008 at 1:52 am
It appears that we may have another Andy …….
Glad to hear that your Granddaughter has inherited her Great Grandmother’s wonderful traits……..
September 30, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Yep…I have a pretty amazing son. I’ve seen that perfect spiral and it is PERFECT!! I think athletics are for sure in his future.