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Memories That Last For Always

The sun was shining in the dark blue Kansas skies. The day was a calm, beautiful 56 degrees. A flock of geese flew over head making their way south. A cow mooed off in the distance. All was still. All that was left of four beautiful days were the memories. The little ghosts dancing and talking all around us.

"Good bye Grandpa"  "Come give Grandma a hug."  "Where is K. Grandpa?"  "We have to go now kids."   "Did you go to the bathroom?"   "Go in and take one more look around to make sure you have everything."  "Can we take a little bag of Lucky Charms for a snack Grandma?"  All these little commands were sounding around me as I stood there watching our six little people be loaded into the cars.  One was going east, and the other heading west. Leaving Grandpa and me here on the farm alone once more.

As we stood together there on the porch, first the white car backed up and pulled slowly out of the drive way, little arms waving out the back window.  Then the van made a U-turn, honked, waved, and pulled out the drive way, cross the bridge, up the hill and out of sight. For a long time Grandpa and I just stood there listening to the quiet. It was as if the world stood still. We just stood there looking off into the distance, where our hearts had gone, somewhere in the back seat of those two vehicles, tucked down under all the suitcases, coats, and blankets.

"Well Grandma, do you suppose we better go feed the cows their mineral." Grandpa said to me, breaking the silence.

"Yes I think that would be a good idea." I answered back, wiping the tears from my eyes.

You know, sometimes Grandpa's and Grandma's have Christmas presents that last long after Christmas day is gone and the farm gets back to  normal. Those presents are the memories that dance all around the farm and bounce off the walls of every room in the farm house.

As we made our way out to the pasture, I remember a little voice saying to me. "Grandma can I honk the horn just like you do to call the cows?"  In my minds eye, I see her reach over and push the horn. look back and say. "They are coming Grandma." as her little eyes shine up at me.

As we pass by the rows of hay bales on top of the hill, I see little people running down the length of the rows, they jump from row to row, there under the warm Kansas sunshine. "This is my kingdom!" one shouts to the other.  "I want to be in your kingdom with you." another little voice says. "Know you can have that kingdom down there."  In my minds eye I can see that little green wagon setting off to the side, in the middle of the lane that runs past the bales.

I remember one afternoon I drove the pickup up to that same bunch of bales. There sat the two four wheelers, one still running, cause Grandpa told them to not turn it off, cause it wouldn't start. The other one sat not far away. There on top of the bales were two little boys. They just sat there side by side under that open sky, talking about life, school and whatever little boys talk about.

"I get the white four wheeler." One little fellow says, his eyes as big as saucers.  "Ok I like the blue one better anyway."   "Now you all listen really good," I said giving orders. "You must keep them in low gear, and stay away from each other. I want you to have fun but I don't want to take anyone to the hospital."  "We know Grandma. You worry to much."   "Well I mean it, OK"

Off they go in low gear. Boy those machines sure can make lots of noise in low!  They roar past the living room window, then around the brome patch and back again.  I don't know how many times I would step outside and shake my finger. Away they would go. Down the path, past the machine shed, and into the north pasture. It was really fun to get their attention and tell them it was time to eat dinner or supper.

One afternoon Grandpa took the boys on a hike out into the pasture, through the trees, and around the pond.  "Grandpa, this sure is a prickly path." one little fellow said, as they walked along. Behind was the other little boys, swinging their arms, constant chatter, just walking along under the blue, warm skies.  "Grandpa, when we get home can I ride the four wheeler please?" came one little voice. Somebody LOVES four wheelers.

Little B and I took our own hike. We made our way over to see the neighbors duck and chickens. Then on up around the pond and back down the lane past the neighbors little shed. "I want to sit on that old tractor Grandma." So up she went. "What's that Grandma?"   " Its the clutch."  "What's the clutch?" On and on we went until we had pretty well covered the whole machine. 

Then there was the trips up to the neighbors to see the Christmas display. There were donkeys, sheep, goats, camels, people, and Baby Jesus.  I think we made at least three trips up there. They were all worth it though.  "I want to touch the donkey's noise."  So over we would go and little hands would reach up, touch the soft nose and then bend over and laugh.  "The goat's tried to eat our sleeves Grandpa."  they would say that night around the supper table. "Silly goat's." 

Then there were mattress's on the floor. Blankets and pillows. There were lap tops, bouncing balls, puzzles, and secret hiding places. There were paint sets, brushes and a mixture of paint, flour and sugar.  It looked good but...."It is very dangerous to drink Grandma."   "Can I have a cup of soap?"  So much went into that important mixture!!  It was very thick!  "It looks like slime Grandma. Don't you think?"

"Grandma   Would you please play this game with me?" our little sweetheart said to me in his slow drawn out voice, looking up at me with his big eyes.

"Well I will as soon as I get this potato dish in the oven. I think we will have some hungry little people soon." I said looking at the clock.

About five minutes later that same little voice and those same little eyes looked at me and asked "Grandma would you play this game with me please."  At that I slopped the hash browns in the dish, covered them with white sauce, stuck them in the oven, washed my hands, and we sat at the table playing UNO while the dinner cooked.

So yes,  tonight Grandpa and I are sitting here alone once again. He is working on some bills, I am typing this blog post.  But all we have to do is look over on the top of the piano, or into the corner where six 8 x 10 silver frames set. There we see the smiling faces of our six little pumpkins. As we look our minds fly back to those days of the past. We see once again their little sparkling eyes, and hear those little voices.  So Grandpa and Grandma's Christmas lives on for always. As long as memories last.









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