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Hunker Down with Kes

It’s A Wonderful Life

Posted

“KK, you can’t write about me in those newspaper things anymore. I’m thirteen now.” Luke was serious as a heart attack and wasted no time setting me straight. His father was still unloading Christmas presents from the car. They don’t come as often as they used to. Too busy with life; as it is with young families.
Luke is my favorite grandchild. He was our first. And you can not believe how quickly he reached his teenage years. I think all those summers floating down the Cascade River with Tom, Joke, Bill, KK and Grover Cleveland Alexander made him old before his time.
I didn’t bother to explain that he didn’t have to worry. I don’t write about grandchildren or dogs. Most folks have got their own pets and grandchildren stories that top mine by a country mile! And if his name accidently gets mentioned in a future story I apologized in advance—you can’t embarrass your all time best good buddy!
Addison Grace was already here. Her family had driven down the day before. Addie is my princess. Our first granddaughter is just fifteen months younger than her cousin. And one glimpse at that angelic face and beautiful smile and you would realize why she is my all time favorite. Addie is our horse lover. If her dad wasn’t such a stick in the mud, I a’had a golden palomino tied to that Christmas tree.
We took Addie and Luke to a dude ranch once. They bounced up on those big steeds like they were born to it. They thundered down trails and raced across open fields with reckless abandon. “Come on, KK,” they’d laugh as they passed, “are you going to ride or just lead that horse around all day?”
Luke’s twin sisters near ’bout bowled me over as they threw their arms around my neck. Their story goes back to 1962. That’s when I fell in love with the girl in “Parent Trap.” Both of them! Nonnie turned my head when I first saw her because she looked like Hayley Mills. Before we married I made only one small request. I wanted to have twin girls as fast as we could. She explained rather bluntly that it didn’t work that way.
We had to “make do” with the two boys God picked out for us. Until 2009! I can tell you with all my heart, Hayden and Hannah were worth the wait. Double fun, double trouble, double laughter, double everything! It is no wonder they are my favorites.
Heck, they will call on the phone and share whatever they are into with Nonnie. It’s more like friends than grandmother talk. And all three of them will roll their eyes every time I start in telling them about me and Elvis singing together out at Frank’s Dairy Bar. They will place a finger on their nose and extend it out like Pinocchio’s when my lie grows past believability. The music never stops with these guys...

Avery Lee is next in line. She came into this world the year Mom left it. I lost one...and gained one. Life is more unbelievably deep and astounding the closer you examine it. And, just as if it was determined from the beginning of time, she’s the spitting image of Mom. No one will ever be more special in my life than Avery Lee Colbert. You talk about a built in all time favorite!
She’s the free spirit of the group. Life is uncomplicated and fun for her. What you see is what you get. I can’t wait to sit down with her in a couple of years and spend a month telling her about the great grandmother she replaced...
Max is the last. I think Addie and Avery prayed for a little brother. Well, they got one, in spades! He has two gears; asleep and full speed ahead! He also may be the end of the line. That automatically makes him my favorite.
Max-a-Million is in control of his house, our house and life in general. When he looks up and says, “KK”, I hop to his every whim. It makes my son fighting mad; for two reasons. First, he thinks discipline and not getting your way all the time is important in Max’s upbringing. And secondly, Jess is upset because I didn’t do it for him when he was that age.
It is a blessing beyond belief to be the granddaddy!
All six have asked what Santa brought me this year. They have no clue! I just laugh and tell them another Rumblestiltskin or Elvis story...
Respectfully,
KK
PS: A hundred years, Hannah, one hundred years!

Kes