My Granddaughter...Now And Then

I am moving a little slow this morning and I feel like I didn’t have a weekend.  I was in the office at 5:45 AM on Saturday so I could avoid the estimated 10,000 people who showed up downtown for the annual Color Run 5K race.  Occasionally I looked down upon the masses from my 11^th floor observatory.  It was a quiet, uneventful morning at work.  By the time I left all the runners and walkers had gone home.  Soon after I got home I headed for my couch to enjoy a nap.  I was deep into dreamland when I was suddenly awakened by my granddaughter jumping on me.  She is the only person who can do that to me and get away with it.  Everyone knows I dearly love my granddaughter.  In a few short weeks she will be ten years old.  She is growing up very fast.  It is a joy to see her turn into a unique individual but it is also a little sad.  Chloe the child is turning into Chloe the soon to be teen-ager.  Like most children she is breaking fee and trying to assert her independence.  This weekend we had a mild confrontation and disagreement.  Afterwards I felt terrible and I was sorry it happened.  I apologized for being grumpy and told her I loved her very much.  As always she forgave me and we parted on good terms.  As she heads towards the teen-age years I hope I can be patient  and understand of her and the challenges of growing up in today’s world.  On many levels she’s had a tough time her first ten years.  As she gets older I hope I can be a good listener and counselor.  I had a difficult time getting to sleep last night so it will be a long day for me.  I see my couch in my mind and I cannot wait for another nap.  Since it is a work night I don’t expect Chloe to jump and me and awaken me.  Granny won’t do it either because she will be napping in her chair.