Sunday, April 08, 2012

In Sync



I am was staying in the hoitty toitty Palm Beach area of Florida.  The mansions are multi-million dollar monstrosities, the shopping is fantastic if you have the reserves, and just outside the luxurious resort areas are some very striking neighborhoods of poverty and crime. Yesterday afternoon, within a few blocks of the infinity edge swimming pool at one of the hotels, stood an inebriated woman dressed for her night work outside a nightclub, if you get my drift.

The place where I am staying is a place where people (usually from Chicago or New York) wear rather elaborate jaw-dropping jewelry to the swimming pool.  Their children are stocky verging on fat and have rather intense attitudes about who is in charge of their lives...they or their parents.  Then the parents open their mouths and you wonder where they got their education as well and you forgive the children.  (Sorry for my prejudices.)  Still the place is really uncrowded for an Easter week and my grandchildren can find plenty of room for fun either at the beach or one of the two pools or the playground. 



As I sit on the balcony of the condo where we are staying, I have my little grandson who will turn one in a few days in my lap with his heavy head resting against my breasts.  He is fighting stomach flu and lying lethargically with the side of his face tucked into my arm as he watches the waves greet the shore.  We are sitting outside because every time he sees one of his parents he demands they take him away from this old lady, but once they are out of sight, he is my little surrendered lover.  The only sound is that of  the soothing waves and some distant music from the swimming pools fifteen stories below us.  I am enjoying the way he has given himself over totally to my arms in spite of being in that stage where mommy and daddy are the preferred mode of transportation and rest.

An ocean breeze floats wisps of his baby hair up and down near my cheek. 

I sing a little lullaby and even though I am off-key he looks up at me with such adoration that I keep on singing.  He has that honest innocence of love in his eyes that your dog has when he sees you each day.  The kind of love you probably do not fully deserve, but are more than willing to take.



There is a three-quarter moon hanging in the mid-morning sky and the gang of 12 pelicans is making their routine morning rounds up and down catching the rising air drifts over the beach.  We both watch them wishing we could fly like kites up high.

I have caught his stomach flu and not been able to enjoy any of the expensive and inexpensive meals we have eaten out.  I have been on a liquid diet for 4 days with no appetite for anything including my favorite wine, but I really do not care when he is in my arms and we are avoiding the beach packing chaos that is taking place back inside the condo.  For this brief precious time in his life and mine, we are in sync and I am totally happy.

21 comments:

  1. Totally happy despite stomach flu - the weight of a grandchild in your arms can do that to you. Hope you're both feeling better!

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  2. Sublime bliss. I love a baby in my arms.

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  3. Sublime bliss. I love a baby in my arms.

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  4. So interesteing to read your observations. Must admit, I have all the riches I need in my friends and family and the countryside where I live and work. Hope you feel much better soon.

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  5. A tender moment so well conveyed. This really touches me and I relate. I'd take a kiss and cuddle any day from my grandkids even knowing they are passing on illness.

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  6. So sweet a time together even if it was created by the tummy troubles. Hope you and the little one have recovered.

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  7. Anonymous12:27 PM

    I babysit my 2 year old grandson 4 times a week, so I can relate to what you have written. I even blog about him! Lol.

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  8. I'm sorry you are both feeling so bad, especially while on vacation in such a lovely spot. But hopefully you will both feel much better spending time together...

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  9. I miss holding my grandchildren when they were babies. I miss being the child that was held in my grandmother's arms.

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  10. Tabor, I miss holding a baby and there is nothing compared to the way they look at you, feel and their baby fresh scent.
    So sorry you are both under the weather. Get well wishes sent to you.

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  11. such a sweet account. despite the stomach bug, you've made it sound like an unforgettable moment. i hope you feel better soon - both of you.

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  12. So sorry you are sick! I hope you were able to enjoy more rather than less of your trip, but love the description of this wonderful interlude with your grandson. There is nothing in the world that compare with holding a grandchild close. Even though mine are older, I love to hold them in my lap still. Sending you good thoughts!

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  13. I can identify with the loving joy of holding your grandson since I had the same experience last fall with my new little one. Such energy! Fortunately, I didn't catch any germs but children do have a way of being exposed to many and bringing them home to the family. Hope you're better now.

    Lovely photos!

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  14. Somehow, despite the flu, your time sounds perfect. I hope you're both feeling better before too long. He's such a little cutie.

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  15. The moment I read that he was sick, I planned to tel you that I hoped you could avoid catching it, but I see that is unnecessary.
    So poignant.

    A perfect excuse to avoid those over-accessorized ladies & their families by the pool.

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  16. The little guy does not look well. Hope you are all feeling better today.

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  17. Sounds so lovely to have a baby in your arms... I hope you and the baby have recovered soon.

    Love your reflection: "He has that honest innocence of love in his eyes that your dog has when he sees you each day". Just beautiful!

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  18. Isn't it strange that one can be sick and blissful at the same time. He is so precious. I love to cuddle with my 19 month old granddaughter whom I keep while her mother works.

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  19. Oh, oh, oh dear. It obviously sounds as if it isn't the 24 hour bug either. That was more than kind of you to hold him and love him. How awful that the young man said he was too broke to pay for dinners that you couldn't eat anyway.

    Yes, he doesn't look well. And didn't you catch a cold recently too. Or was that just the leg. Perhaps you should hide from others for a while. I'm so frightened of catching another bug before we go to DC.

    Yes, I do think my dear G just forgot to do the balancing. Did I mention that I have severe financial insecurity issues? LOL Sometimes all I can do is laugh at myself.

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  20. Cutie- Lucky you felt okay so sick do to the company... Grandbabies are the best, I think! Mine are getting older n very active now- but at least still hug me.

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  21. "We are sitting outside because every time he sees one of his parents he demands they take him away from this old lady, but once they are out of sight, he is my little surrendered lover."

    Just love the way you've crafted this line:)

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