by Jane Coryell

Created on: October 02, 2008

An Outing With My Granddaughter

She was born on a crisp fall day. Maybe that is why she loves this park so much. From the first time I strolled her along these paths as an infant she seemed, even then, to love this place. Bundled up and tucked safely in her carriage, I didn't know that this would become our routine. As she grew, we kept returning. It became our favorite place, she would always ask to come here for the special days we spent together. Each season found us doing something to celebrate it's awakening. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /

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Spring would find us rolling down the big hill, just like I did as a kid. We would giggle and laugh and I would always let her be the first to reach the bottom. And then we would sit for a minute, looking back up. "Wanna do that again Mimi?" she would say with much excitement! And we would get up, dust ourselves off and make the trek back up to do it all over again.

Summer meant watching the big boys play basketball while we sat on the big rock nearby. If the ball went out of bounds, she would always run and catch it and throw it back onto the court. Then we would walk around the big circled walkway to the small pond and bridge. She knew I always brought a bag of bread just to feed the ducks. We'd find a stick and poke it into the shallow water. And though I would bring her a bottle of water, she always loved to drink from the old-fashioned fountain.

Winter meant dragging the sleds from the car and climbing that big hill. I'd climb on the sled first and then she would get on, always in front. Feeling ever too old for this, she'd tell me " Don't be scared Mimi" and we'd shove off, laughing hysterically as we slid to the bottom. She soon got brave enough to go it alone, racing the other kids. When her mittens got soaked and cold, we would pack it all up and head back to the car. Hot chocolate was waiting in the thermos. I'd take off her little mittens and put warm ones on and cover her with a little blanket. Soon, on the trip home, I'd look into the rearview mirror and see her little curly head tilting to one side. She was fast asleep! Those were cozy times!

Leaves falling from the trees, today at four, she crunches them under her feet. We look for treasures beneath the covered ground. Her little hands gently touch the shiny, broken acorn. "Oh Mimi look!", she is in awe of each one. She uncovers them and places them safely in her pocket. The leaves scatter across the hill as she runs to catch them. Her little laughter trails off as she quickly gets ahead of me to chase a squirrel climbing up a distant oak tree. Soft brown curls dance on her little head with each jumping leap.

As she searches for treasures, I realize what a treasure she is to me, this curious little girl, my first grandchild. She doesn't even realize how she has changed my life. We run up the big hill, all the way to the top. She beats me, but once I catch up to her, we stand there looking down. Dogs run freely, chasing frisbees. The ice cream truck clanks it's bells as it strolls on by and the little make-believe train that she loves to steer are all below us. She takes in each one with such wonder, pointing them out to me.

I watch her, that little face and dancing blue eyes. I know that time will move oh so fast and this day will soon be a memory. But for now, on this day while she is four, we are here.

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